Holmes had been "moping" through the course of the game, not listening to quarterback Mark Sanchez, according to players. One veteran player approached him before he was yanked by the coaches and told him to get off the field if he wasn't going to help the team.
"Let me just say that there were guys in the huddle that were unhappy with Tone’s demeanor," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "And when you have a group of guys who are fighting their butts off, and one guy who – for whatever reason, his demeanor isn’t with ‘em – you’ll have guys try to say something to him, just pretty much tell him how they feel. That’s what you got today."
Tomlinson added: "The worst thing that can happen, the worst thing, is when your teammates start to question your passion for the game. That’s the worst thing. And I think in that huddle, that’s what you saw. When guys looked in his eyes, and he didn’t have that fire in his eyes, guys were turned off about that ... The demeanor is, 'I quit,' or whatever it may be."
According to one player, who asked to remain nameless, it wasn't just this game.
"He quit," the player said. "It's happened for the past two to three weeks. It's happened all season."
Edit: Per this afternoon's press conference, Rex says he expects Santonio will be back and that "There's a lot of positive things about Santonio".
This guy cannot be serious. I'm just hoping he's saying stuff to save a little face and preserve a shred of trade value.
This guy cannot be serious. I'm just hoping he's saying stuff to save a little face and preserve a shred of trade value.
1 comment:
This article from ESPN identifies Wayne Hunter as the player who was arguing with Holmes in the huddle, and gives some specifics about Santonio bailing on extra game planning sessions that Sanchez set up for QB and receivers.
The guy cannot be allowed to come back next year under any circumstances. Even if he does/says the right thing now, it undermines the QB and coaching staff to let him come back.
Post a Comment