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Santonio Holmes Benched After Argument

Santonio Holmes
New York Jets’ Santonio Holmes leaves the Jets’ locker room in Florham Park, N.J., Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. The Jets season ended without a playoff game after a season filled with inconsistent play, some in-fighting and lost opportunities. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
holmes
New York Jets' Santonio Holmes leaves the Jets' locker room in Florham Park, N.J., Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. The Jets season ended without a playoff game after a season filled with inconsistent play, some in-fighting and lost opportunities. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

It wasn’t bad enough that the Jets arrived in Florham Park on Monday with the bad taste in their mouth after their season ended earlier than expected on Sunday, but players and coaches also had to deal with unwanted questions about team chemistry, and more specifically, wide receiver Santonio Holmes’ benching late during their season-ending loss to the Miami Dolphins.

The receiver’s benching was enough to overshadow a disappointing season by the Jets, who were supposed to be in the Super Bowl, according to Jets coach Rex Ryan.

No Super Bowl. No Playoffs.

Instead, the Jets are now left with questions about the future of a number of players, including Holmes, who when asked after the game if he wants to return to New York next season, walked away from the podium and said “thank you,” to the media.

There were reports after the Jets disappointing loss that Holmes, 27, voiced his frustration to his teammates in the offensive huddle during the fourth quarter while the team was trying to engineer a comeback victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Holmes, a team captain, was reportedly benched in the fourth quarter by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

But according to reports that came out on Monday, Holmes’ frustration has been building, and Sunday’s shouting match with teammates may have been the tipping point of his frustration with his participation on offense, or lackthereof.

Mutliple news outlets quoted anonymous sources who said Mark Sanchez and Holmes exchanged words during a receivers and quarterback meeting last week.

One report, from the New York Daily News said, “he went back and forth with Mark at the meeting.”

Multiple reports said the receiver did not show up at the meeting the next day.

And it seems like some players on the team are growing frustrated with Holmes and his complaints.

One player told the Daily News that Holmes is “a cancer. It’s like dealing with a 10 year old.”

Holmes’ 51 receptions this season was his lowest total since his rookie season in 2006. Last season, he had 52 receptions in four fewer games.