NFL Rumors: New York Jets Locked into Controversial Wideout Santonio Holmes?

Whether you like him or not, New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes won't be playing elsewhere in 2012.

At least, it seems that way.

After a disappointing 2011 in which he set a career low with 654 receiving yards, which coincided with continual bickering between he and occasionally erratic quarterback Mark Sanchez, speculation arose that Holmes had played his last down for Gang Green. 

Whether the front office wants him on the team any longer or not, there's a great chance he's playing for the Jets in 2012 due to all the guaranteed money he's still owed. 

Brian Costello of the New York Post explained the Holmes-Jets financial situation in a recent article:

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Holmes, whose season ended with a benching in Miami, is guaranteed $7.5 million of his $11 million 2013 salary if he still is on the Jets’ roster this morning.

That means the Jets owe the wide receiver $15.25 million of guaranteed money, an amount that means he won’t be going anywhere. 

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He also got some good quotes from Jets head coach Rex Ryan in regards to Holmes' future with the team. 

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"I think first off, to dismiss some of the good things that Santonio has done for the two years he’s been here, he’s been a tremendous player for us,” coach Rex Ryan said Jan. 2, the day after the season ended. “He’s won a ton of games for this franchise. And he’s been a good teammate. ... Are there some things that we need to get corrected? Absolutely. And it’s not just with him, but others as well; myself, I’m the first one that looks at we have to change some things and we will change.

“Those are things we will look at in the offseason, and we will find a way to get this done, but I believe Santonio will be back next year."

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There's no doubting Holmes' ability as a wideout or propensity to come up with the huge play in crunch time. However, New York cannot move forward with such a rift between their star receiver and young quarterback. We saw how the team self-destructed in 2011.

Because of Holmes' large contract and the contracts of his teammates, which are loaded with guaranteed money, the Jets aren't likely to be huge buyers in this year's free agency period. That makes Holmes' maturation process even more critical.

Costello also cited a quote from Ryan that Sanchez and Holmes are planning to get together during the offseason to talk everything and settle their differences.

They'll need to if the Jets want to return to contender status in the AFC.

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