Santonio Holmes Puts on Weight, Has Big Plans for 2009

When the Steelers drafted Santonio Holmes three years ago, he was arrested twice before training camp. An inauspicious start for a player new to an organization with a history of avoiding guys with "character concerns."

Now, almost five months removed from his Super Bowl MVP performance (and, for the record, eight months removed from his last arrest, although the charges were later dropped), Holmes seems more focused than ever on his day job. Maybe he has matured, or maybe Hines Ward has rubbed off on him. Or maybe both, given his current physical state.

"I tipped the scales (Monday) at 201 (pounds),'' Holmes said proudly following his workout at Tom Shaw Performance at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.

That's an all-time high for Holmes, who played in the 190s last season and joined the league weighing considerably less.

Holmes added, "I've got to be physical, I've got to still continue with my speed, I've got to have the great conditioning to last 16 games, play throughout the playoffs and be able to put in about 60-70 plays every week. I come here with great intentions of putting on weight.''

I applaud his commitment, although part of me wonders if Holmes is bulking up too much. I know he says he played at 195 pounds last season, and if so, six more won't make much of a difference. But I saw him at training camp as a rookie and he looked like he might have weighed 185.

In general, the weight gain isn't a problem. And there are worse role models than Ward or Anquan Boldin (or, hell, Larry Fitzgerald). Plus, if Holmes can't carry the weight, he'll drop it. Or maybe he'll just keep working out until he looks like David Boston.