Santonio Holmes’s days with the Jets are done.
The team officially announced on Monday afternoon that Holmes has been released. The move had been widely expected and saves the Jets more than $8 million on the 2014 salary cap.
“I appreciate Tone’s contributions over the last four seasons,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said in a statement. “I’ve always admired his knack for making the clutch play. He’s a tremendous competitor who wants the ball in his hands when the game is on the line. I wish him nothing but the best.”
After Holmes had an outstanding 2009 season with the Steelers, Pittsburgh traded him to the Jets. A year later, the Jets signed Holmes to a five-year, $45 million contract. But Holmes never had the kind of production with the Jets that he had with the Steelers. His numbers have declined since his first season with the Jets, and he’s been plagued with injuries the last couple years while often seeming to be an unhappy camper.
Now the 30-year-old Holmes will become an unrestricted free agent. On the right team, he may still be able to contribute. Even if it was past time for him to move on from the Jets.