Cutting Santonio Holmes would be a costly decision for the Jets

Posted by on Jan 2, 2012 in Main, Opinion | 3 comments

Cutting Santonio Holmes would be a costly decision for the Jets

Many people are upset with Jets WR Santonio Holmes’ debacle yesterday and are gunning for the Jets to dump him but it’s not that simple.  With the deal they just made last year it’s a very difficult decision and one that will cost them in the wallet if they do pull the trigger:

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Holmes is due to receive a guaranteed base salary of $7.75 million in 2012.  It’s fully guaranteed, for injury, skill, and salary cap.

And here’s where the decision gets even thornier.  If he’s on the roster on the second day of the 2012 league year, $7.5 million of his $11 million base salary in 2013 becomes fully guaranteed, too.

And so the Jets have to decide whether to cut him loose and owe him only $7.75 million, or whether to keep him and owe him a fully guaranteed $7.75 million for 2012 and a fully guaranteed $7.5 million for 2013.

Kudos to Holmes’ agent for this contract.  If he’s on the roster for day 2 of 2012 (league year) he’s guaranteed another year (2013).  So it’s not like they can try him out for one more year and then cut him, they need to either cut ties now or be stuck with him for 2 more years.  With the way that he gelled with Mark Sanchez this year, the Jets need to make sure what’s more important:  The progression and success of the offense with Mark Sanchez or a gamble that Santonio Holmes will buy into whatever decisions the Jets make in 2012 and hope he plays 100% this tiime.

Whew, this is a tough one here.  Going by my gut and emotion today, I say trade him for a fire sale and ask for a 4th or 5th and wish for the best.

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  • StatenIslandseasontickets

    cutting holmes would be a salary cap fiasco. Short leash and a chance to redeem himself through preseason. If possible trade at that point not when his stock is at such a low

  • Charley

    You are right about the $$$, but this guy is a cancer.  He dragged Plaxico with him, so let him go too.  Hell, Cotchery took a 50% pay cut just to get out of New York cause he knew this team was a horror at WR.  If he returns after what he did this year as a self centered jerk, he will be even more empowered and even harder to have around – write off 2012 already – and 2013 too if you keep him.  So is two years of hell worth the money they pay the whole team?  Hopefully they can deal him, maybe take on half his pay and make it half as painful.  

    • http://www.jetstwit.com/ Erik Manassy

      I agree with the Cotchery statement.  I have no proof but I think he saw it a million miles away and wanted it out.  That’s a character guy right there.