Around the NFL
Holmes trade perhaps dictated by Steelers' other problems
Posted Apr. 12 at 05:22 AM
Turns out there was no validity to the idea that Leon Washington (or anyone else) was involved in Pittsburgh's shipping Santonio Holmes out of town for a fifth-round pick. Had they not been able to get that, Pittsburgh might very well have simply released him.
That's according to this story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, apparently a reaction to Holmes' recent off-field incident (a woman claiming he threw a glass in her face at an Orlando nightclub) and likely his four-game suspension from the NFL for violating the substance abuse policy. Holmes had already been suspended by the team two years ago, for one game following a marijuana arrest (charges were later dropped).
Holmes will serve a four-game suspension to start the season, and is one misstep from a year-long suspension. That makes it a little more understandable why a fifth-round pick was the best deal Pittsburgh could get.
The Steelers might also have felt a need to move quickly, given that their roster looks like an episode of Judge Judy these days. The local Sports pages are adorned with headlines about Ben Roethlisberger (charges won't be filed by the D.A. following his latest accusation of sexual assault, although he could still be disciplined by the team or league), and also Jeff Reed (remaining charges dropped in his arrest last fall).
It seems, then, as if Pittsburgh dealt Holmes in part to send a message that they're tired of having players in the news for the wrong reasons. Roethlisberger won't be traded, but some form of team or league discipline may still occur.
--Andy Richardson
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