Steelers Bench Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress Now Looks Like He'll Play for Giants

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This offseason, the Steelers cut Cedrick Wilson after he got into a physical altercation with his girlfriend at a local Mexican eatery. Later, the club pretended it wasn't paying attention when Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison was charged with slapping his girlfriend, and the media soon accused the team of having different rules for different players.

Apparently, that's changed; last night, Santonio Holmes was arrested for marijuana possession and the Steelers have decided to deactivate their big-play threat for this Sunday's matchup against the Giants.

"When you're a great team, there will be distractions," head coach Mike Tomlin told Pittsburgh's WPXI. Well, there are other distractions to add to the list: left tackle Marvel Smith, cornerback Bryant McFadden, and running back Willie Parker will all be out with injuries, and defensive end Aaron Smith will also miss the game for personal reasons. Oh, and Troy Polamalu is probably still punch drunk after cracking noggins with the Bengals' Cedric Benson last week. On the upside, Ben Roethlisberger feels great!

Nate Washington will replace Holmes, and both Dallas Baker, who spent last year on the practice squad, and rookie second-rounder Limas Sweed, will be on the game-day roster.

As for the Giants, barring a setback, it looks like Plaxico Burress will play. He was in the hospital yesterday morning, but practiced earlier today. So there's that.

And I suppose it's safe to assume that Pittsburgh police officer James Vogel didn't explain to the Steelers organization that getting caught with weed isn't a crime worthy of suspension. Thanks, James. For nothing.

Hat tip: PFT

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-24-2008 @ 3:37PM

A.J. said...

Knee jerk? Mind finding out if it's actually Holmes' marijuana before deactivating him? Perhaps we'd better look at another receiver's troubles. At the beginning of this year, the Jaguars' much-maligned Matt Jones was caught with drugs in his ride. Since he was already in Del Rio's doghouse, everyone was waiting with bated breath for either Del Rio to cut him, Goodell to suspend him, or both...

...Until they found out that the drugs weren't Matt's.

I could understand this if Santonio Holmes had a reputation as a pothead. But there's this little concept called "innocent until proven guilty" that people around the NFL seem to have forgotten these days. For my own reasons, I'm rooting for the Steelers to win that game, but if they're willing to bench one of their best guys BEFORE proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's the guilty party - especially as banged-up as they are - I'm not quite sure they deserve it.

10-24-2008 @ 3:38PM

Tom said...

He admitted to the police when he got pulled over that he had the pot in his car stuffed into cigars and one had already been smoked, no one else in the car with him kinda rules out that it was n't anyone else's weed.

th said...

he admitted to smoking the day before, willingly showed the cops the blunts, in his car, handed over everything willingly....who's do you think it was?? No investigation needed when a player admits to the offense....

10-24-2008 @ 4:29PM

rj said...

great team?...that's a guarantee right?

10-24-2008 @ 4:48PM

Matt said...

AJ - Ryan isn't implying that Holmes should be cut. He's saying that a star player got an immediate reprimand from the team, seemingly unlike what happpened with James Harrison earlier this year.

10-24-2008 @ 5:11PM

Okay, I'll give you that.

But Ryan Wilson is implying that the Steelers should cut Santonio Holmes outright.

His case is that Cedrick Wilson's release was solely because of his altercation with his girlfriend - if you remember, his girlfriend later admitted that the whole incident had been blown out of proportion.

Cedrick Wilson wasn't cut directly because of that. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Nate Washington and Santonio Holmes began to develop their skills, while Wilson's production fell off. The fact that he was starting to have trouble with the law was perfect timing to wash their hands of him, but it's very likely that, with a good training camp by Limas Sweed and some of the other guys, Cedrick Wilson (who was now overpaid for being a #4 receiver) was simply expendable.

My point is, if this is such a glaring offense, Goodell and his goons (who love going after individual players whenever they get the chance) will handle it anyway. Why hurt yourself at this juncture by benching him before you know how things are going to play out? The fact that Holmes was completely cooperative with the police - something that's cited by the guys that searched his car themselves - should count for something.

10-24-2008 @ 5:12PM

ryan said...

A.J.,

I'm implying what? Wow, that's exactly the opposite of what I was implying. See Matt's comment above.

Steel Wheel said...

This is precisely what makes the Pittsburgh Steelers the most responsible team in the NFL. You would NEVER get this responsible action from a Jerry Jones or Robert Kraft. Can we now recognize how a real PROFESSIONAL football team is run?

10-24-2008 @ 6:19PM

lowridersteeler said...

you'er absolutely right,professional ,from top to bottom,but it does disapoint me that this talented person would put his career on the line for drugs,i have to say it ,"what an idiot "!,the coach should bench him for at least a month, without pay ,to let him know that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.

10-24-2008 @ 10:34PM

Sports Fan said...

I respect an organization that sets the rules for its players and lives by them. The whole team no doubt is behind the decision of management. This makes a team stronger because they feel responsibility towards their teammates.
The Steelers will respond well, as did the Giants when they benched Plax for 2 weeks. Both organizations are class acts.

10-25-2008 @ 2:27PM

aa said...

I agree, what a disappointed for the Steelers organization. I agree with the outcome for Holmes. No respect for his fellow players, the implications for this game.. nothing... so what if he admitted it to the police... what did he admit? smoke in the car was pretty apparent that he was quilty and benching him was the thing to do... I would sit him without pay for the rest of the year... then trade him... He will be in trouble again... this after all is his 3rd offense during his time with the Steelers.