The news surrounding the New York Jets has been centered around the team’s locker room drama as of late. One figure in particular that is believed to have played a key role in the mess is WR Santonio Holmes.
New York locked him up last season to a five-year deal worth $45 million but it’s not the total value of the contract that’s the issue; it’s the amount of guaranteed money that they’ve included in his deal. The Jets can avoid paying Holmes $15 million in guarantee’s if they release him before next Wednesday (February 8), via ESPN New York.
Holmes is already guaranteed $7.75 million for 2012 season but this could be the only way out of a contract that could turn into an albatross in the coming seasons.
So far the Jets have said that they have no intentions to release Holmes despite his rift with QB Mark Sanchez. Plaxico Burress is not expected to be back with the team next season and releasing Holmes would leave them in desperate need of help at the wide receiver position.
This is a terrible mess to be in and the Jets coaching staff and front office are at fault for creating it. Remember that the only reason that they chose to include these guarantees in Holmes’ contract was so they could pursue CB Nnamdi Asomugha who ultimately signed with the Eagles. By doing this, they included extra guarantees in a number of players contracts and almost lost Antonio Cromartie, who actually wanted to return to the Jets, in the process.
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