In this week’s Sports Illustrated cover story, agent Josh Luchs says Jets receiver Santonio Holmes admitted receiving money from an agent when he was at Ohio State. Holmes says that’s a lie.
“I had no recognition of it until I was contacted by my agent and by PR,” Holmes told ESPNNewYork.com. “It was probably something thrown out there to further tarnish my career. But everything happens for a reason. The allegations are false that were made by this guy, whoever this reporter is who said that I took money. It’s all false.”
Sports Illustrated, however, says that both Luchs and another agent, Steve Feldman, recall Holmes admitting to getting money from an agent.
“Listen, I want to save you the time,” Holmes is quoted by Sports Illustrated as telling the agents when they offered him money under the table. “We don’t need to meet. I’ve been taking money from [an agent] the last couple years, and he’s been taking care of my family too.”
Holmes says doing something like that is not in his character.
“I’m in my fifth year in the NFL. I’m a Super Bowl MVP,” Holmes said. “I have not been to the table to take any money from anybody from any team, and I asked to take money from a guy I didn’t even know? Seriously? It’s self-explanatory.”
The Sports Illustrated story does not name the agent who supposedly gave Holmes money.