Why Couldn’t The Bucs Grab Santonio Holmes?
April 12th, 2010
It’s just before midnight and Joe checked his Twitter account as he is wont to do for late-night breaking news.
Ding! The Steelers traded former first round pick, Super Bowl hero and noted weed smoker Santonio Holmes, 26, to the Jets for a fifth round pick.
That is not a typo: A fifth round pick. Fifth round!!!
Now Joe understands this guy has loads of baggage, including being accused of slapping around women, telling fans they should commit suicide, bragging about “waking and baking” and his reputation of being a left-handed cigarette smoker.
But we’re talking a fifth round pick.
For a fifth round pick, it was beyond worth the Bucs trading for Holmes. He’s better than Brandon Marshall (who Denver has trouble trading for a second round pick) and instantly would be Josh Freeman’s go-to guy.
Joe is just stunned. Holmes could have been had for a fifth round pick, and the Bucs, desperate for a wide receiver, did nothing!
Look, we’re not talking about high crimes here. Yes, Joe understands Holmes will likely start the season with a four-game suspension. His biggest problem is the dude cannot put down the bong. Surely Steelers coach Mike Tomlin tipped off Raheem the Dream that Holmes, a former first round pick from Ohio State who is from Belle Glade, could be had for cheap.
And the Bucs, who have a wide receiver corps that is not much better than Florida State’s, couldn’t cough up a fifth round pick for Holmes? Seriously?!
Joe is just aghast!
April 12th, 2010 at 12:26 am
I was about to email you about this Joe. You beat me to it. This is unbelievable. Only a 5th round pick for this guy. Heck I would have traded a 3rd round pick for him. And I agree that Holmes is better than Marshall. Marshall is all about quantity. Holmes brings the quality and he had his best season last year. Yes he isn’t a solid citizen, but he surely is less than a douchebag than Marshall is.
It sounds like the Steelers just wanted to get rid of him and the Jets may have inquired about him before. Where was Mark D in all of this? Shouldn’t he had inquired about him too? The Bucs could have offered a much higher pick than the Jets. This makes no sense. This was a risk worth taking. Man alive I am ticked.
April 12th, 2010 at 12:55 am
My only hope is that the Jets initiated these conversations and threatened to pull out if anyone else was contacted. I’m not big on guys with off the field trouble, but for a 5th round pick, it would definitely be worth it. I will be keeping track of the 5th round pick this year to see how he compares to Santonio over the next couple years.
April 12th, 2010 at 1:34 am
He has a 4 game suspension, but I would take him in a heartbeat for a 5th.
Brandon Marshall is still the superior player compared to S. Holmes not sure what you are talking about.
April 12th, 2010 at 1:35 am
This can only mean good news for the brandon marshall situation. If santonio holmes was traded for a 5th that has to lower marshall’s value a little.
April 12th, 2010 at 1:38 am
I believe Holmes is in the final year of his contract. So maybe that’s a factor.
There also I would think have to be something else to it. Obviously you would think there would be numerous teams that would trade for Holmes for a 5th round pick. Had the Steelers shopped him, they could have gotten possibly even a 2nd.
Looks like Pittsburgh just wanted to dump the guy to the first person to pick up their phone on a late Sunday night.
April 12th, 2010 at 2:01 am
Every day for the past mmm 5 years I log in to this site hoping…praying that finally one day the main head line will read something like: “Bucs release/trade WR Clayton” when!!! when!!! will this happen. I pray to GOD every day I guess faith is my motivation and hopefully one day this clown CCC who’s the biggest conman ever since he pretends to be a football player will be gone!
Quick question I no longer live in Tampa but do people at the stadium boo him when he gets announced?
April 12th, 2010 at 2:05 am
The only thing Marshall is better than Holmes in is the amount of balls thrown to him. He can handle a high volume. All of the other factors favor Holmes in a big way. Holmes caught about 20 less passes than Marshall in ’09, but still outgained him by quite a lot.
April 12th, 2010 at 2:28 am
He may have smoked a little Pot & made Brash comments, but he failed to beat on a cab driver, so Raheem didn’t want him. He wasn’t “tought” enough!
April 12th, 2010 at 2:55 am
If you think Holmes is better than Marshall, you and Santonio must have the same dealer. Holmes had ONE good year – a year that Pittsburgh threw the ball way more than they ran it. Marshall has 3 straight years of 100 catches. Volume or not, they aren’t comparable. Not to mention they aren’t the same type of receiver, as Marshall has the ability to be both a deep threat and a possession receiver. Marshall may be a douche, but he’s a far better receiver.
April 12th, 2010 at 5:26 am
I love the reaching for excuses. Why the comparisons to Marshall? We don’t have him either! I do agree a fifth for Holmes is a better trade than a second for marshall, but thats all academic.
The point is that Holmes would have been a huge upgrade to what we have now, and far and away the number one receiver, for a lousy fifth rounder.
Two obvious reasons it didnt happen, which merge into one.
$ for Holmes
Clayton’s guaranteed contract
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
April 12th, 2010 at 6:26 am
The only way the Glazers…I mean Mark Dominik would have considered trading a 5th round pick for Holmes is if he could have paid him a 5th round picks’ salary.
You can now stop talking about acquiring Brandon Marshall. Is it obvious that the Bucs aren’t going to do that yet?
April 12th, 2010 at 7:05 am
Not sure why your suprised anymore Joe. It’s obvious Dominik is not only making this team worse, he’s not even doing his job. There is no way this team will draft someone better than holmes in the 5th round but it’s painfully obvious the only new players are coming from the draf only.
April 12th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Hey don’t worry guys, didn’t you know its all part of the “plan”. What a joke this organization has become. The only way the Bucs get out of this one without looking cheap and/or foolish is if they end up landing Marshall. However, I am not holding my breath on that one.
April 12th, 2010 at 7:48 am
uhhhh, cause maybe holmes didnt want to come to this 3-13 mess of a franchise? ever consider that??
April 12th, 2010 at 7:49 am
No offense guys, but I think you’re all crazy. Holmes:
1) Is not better than Marshall
2) Is potentially a worse locker room guy than Marshall
3) Is going to be out the first 4 games, a punch away from a year
4) Has been arrested three times in the past 4 years
He is the next Plax. He is not a part of the solution, but part of the problem.
I’ll pass.
April 12th, 2010 at 8:03 am
Do I really believe Tomlin would call Morris and give Holmes a ringing endorosement? I doubt Tomlin even bothered to call collegues he respected about Holmes when he himself considers the player a major probelm. I know sometimes in sports people forget this is a business, not Madden football.
April 12th, 2010 at 8:29 am
All you do is whine like a little Bitch. All of you. Wah Wah.
April 12th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Holmes better than Marshall? Absolutely.
He’s the No. 1 reciver on one of the best teams in the NFL which won a Super Bowl title two years ago, largely due to Holmes. In his last seven games against the NFL’s best defense, the Ravens, Holmes had 27 catches, 520 yards and eight touchdowns.
Additionally, he was never benched/suspended by the team when the Steelers needed him the most.
That, my friends, is an elite receiver. Clutch. For a friggin’ fifth round pick!
April 12th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Rob:
So are you suggesting we should break out the pom-pons and have a cookie party for the Bucs?
April 12th, 2010 at 9:05 am
Joe: “Holmes better than Marshall? Absolutely.”
I totally lost you there Joe. While Holmes is a better receiver than each of our receivers, he is not even close to the likes of Marshall. Marshall is as good as Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. Marshall is not a slot receiver like Welker and still has three consecutive seasons with 100+ receptions. He is one among 4 guys all time to achieve that feat. Holmes is just better than mediocre and being #1 on a good team does not make him one of the best receivers in NFL. Also Hines Ward has been the #1 until 08 for Steelers. That team is good because of their defense anyways.
April 12th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Jonny:
Ward hasn’t been the No. 1 receiver for a couple of years. Also notice that two years ago in the AFC title game Ward was injured (he’s been hobbled a lot in recent years — don’t get Joe wrong, Joe loves Ward and not only can he block, he can also catch the ball) and in the Super Bowl Ward was limited with his injury after the opening minutes of the game.
It was all Holmes.
Additionally, this morning Peter King wrote that it’s no secret Rex Ryan considers Holmes the most dangerous receiver his has faced as a coach.
April 12th, 2010 at 9:17 am
@Rob, For many years we had teams competing for Division Titles, NFC Titles, and For World Title. All we have now is competition for the Toilet Bowl. We have every right to complain because we’ve spent our hard earned money year after year supporting our team, only to have the team dismantled & placed into the hands of 3 greedy Sons & amatuers running our team.
As for the Whine like a little Bitch remark, a dumb “little Bitch”, after being slapped around, will do as she’s told. But that same dumb little Bitch, like all abused women, like to see someone else get slapped around too! So go purchase your tickets to see our “amatuer” team being slapped around by a Real NFL team. I’m sure you will enjoy it! And break out the Visa! The Glazer’s need the money!
April 12th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Michael Clayton doesn’t get announced before home games. They usually try to sneak him on the field in a security uniform or large trench coat. One game they even Velcro’d a “1” over the zero on his jersey to help protect him.
April 12th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Why get Santonio Holmes for a 5th when you can get Reggie Brown for a 6th.
Dumbinik has a plan…
April 12th, 2010 at 10:07 am
Is it just me or does this not send a very clear message that the Bucs are in major financial trouble. This also doesnt bode well for them actually making the 3rd selection their own, I would be suprised now if they actually dont trade out of that position, for peanuts like the Browns did last year. The Glazer’s nightmare is Suh being available at 3.
April 12th, 2010 at 10:14 am
I for one fully intend to keep whining like a little bitch.
Hey, thats what Clayton did to get Chucky fired wasn’t it? Along with all the fans that didn’t like winning seasons, Division Titles, and playoff losses?
Can you imagine the thermonuclear meltdown if management informed JG they declined to get Holmes for a fifth rounder?
If he were still around, we would likely have AB AND Holmes, Mcnabb and the Blocking icon and Leftwich would be washing cars where they belong. That is, if Clayton didnt drop the sponge.
April 12th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Every time I read news like this that the Bucs have missed out on another quality player I can’t help but to wonder if Dominik and Morris even talk about these players and come up with the conclusion that they are all “OVER Qualified” to be a Buccaneer!!!
From looking over the current roster and with every deal that passes it sure seems to be more and more the case!
April 12th, 2010 at 11:53 am
I think people get way too consumed with the amount of catches Marshall gets. KC Joyner is one of my favorite football writers and he comments all the time about Marshall not being as good as some think. Marshall is simply a possession receiver. Nothing wrong with that. He’s more like Boldin, not like Fitzgerald, Johnson or Wayne.
This was a time for the Bucs to take a chance. They are taking a chance of resurrecting the corpse of Reggie Brown, why not go for a dynamic receiver in his mid 20s that has proven himself every year he has been in the league? Heck Holmes worst year was better than Brown’s best year! Reports are saying the Steelers called everyone. So I don’t get Mark D. I really don’t. Yes the 4 game suspension is troubling and 1 more strike and he is out for a year. I still think it was worth a shot. I don’t get this team. A 5th round pick for crying out loud!!