Steelers trade Santonio Holmes to Jets for draft picks

[WilliamPitt]

Per ESPN.

The AFC East is going to be interesting this year.

P.S. Big Ben will find out today if he's going to face charges...so the AFC North could be pretty wild, too.

[JonLP24]

1. Steelers are crazy

I was about to post this.

Edit-All I'm reading is they got a 5th round pick for this years draft. Unless you get very, very, very lucky, you won't get anyone to match Holmes production.

[WilliamPitt]

3. They must think he's going to be a liability

given his legal troubles. That's all I can imagine. He's a stud on the field, and they'll have trouble filling that void. Hines Ward can only do so much, and given the fact that the Steelers have drafted over the last years to re-make themselves as a throwing team for Rothleisberger, this decision is odd in the extreme.

Plus, I hate the goddam Jets. :)

[JonLP24]

4. I thought that

but it looks like the lawsuit will end favorably for Holmes. The woman gave conflicting stories initially which is why police didn't press charges and a man took responsibility for throwing the glass because she grabbed his arm which in the suit, she claims Holmes threw it.

Other than that he hasn't been in any trouble since his cannabis possession charge from a year and a half ago.

It certainly is a surprise.

[WilliamPitt]

5. This might explain it

Holmes, on the other hand, did not land in such a soft spot. At least not in Pittsburgh.

It didn't matter that Holmes' attorney, Adam Swickle, says he has proof that another man threw the glass in the woman's face in Orlando. The Steelers were furious because of Holmes' past problems -- charges of disorderly conduct, domestic violence and marijuana possession were dropped against him in three separate incidents -- and because of some outrageous comments he made on Twitter after news of the Orlando allegation broke. There also was an unconfirmed report this past weekend on ProFootballTalk.com that he will be suspended for four games by the NFL for violating its substance-abuse policy.

Clearly, the Steelers decided enough was enough.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10102/1049716-87.stm

[JonLP24]

7. I see

ESPN just mentioned the report about the substance abuse violation. It could mean two things that he tested positive for something or he skipped a test. Either way it's a 4 game suspension which could explain the low price. Anyways if I was a GM I would have offered a 4th rounder. ;)

[Auggie]

14. I can't imagine the Rooneys condoning this behavior

[WilliamPitt]

16. Word has it Mr. Rooney is thermonuclear pissed at Rothleisberger.

They're talking about suspending him after the disposition of his Georgia issue, and Goodell sounds like he wants to take some whacks at him as well.

When did the Steelers become the Bengals?

[PRETZEL]

17. When Art Sr. died, n/t

[Auggie]

18. Sounds like the heirs are kicking ass now

[JonLP24]

19. If he isn't charged

There isn't anything they can really do. Players union will back him up as well and appeal any suspension. If they charge him then all bets are off.

[Auggie]

20. They can bench or trade him

[JonLP24]

21. They can trade him

but you never get full value for a superstar which Ben is. I can't think of any reason why they can't bench him, I don't know if Ben can file a grievance for a benching because they can't suspend him. There isn't anything that I can imagine where the NFLPA can force a team to play a player so you're right. They can bench him if they plan on losing which I don't think they will do. (If charges won't be filed officially)

[trumad]

2. I gotta hand it to the stinkin Jets..

They're loading up... although sometimes loading up with expensive free agents and aging players can backfire.

Rumor has it that Ben won't be charged.... Another dodged bullet for the knucklehead.

[PRETZEL]

6. Not too thrilled but,

there's also a rumors coming out of Pittsburgh that Leon Washington is also part of the deal.

Holmes is in his contract year, he'll want big bucks. He won't get in Pittsburgh.

Mike Wallace was a huge suprise for them last year. I think they have a great deal of confidence in him.

Holmes may be subjected to league suspension for repeated offenses.

Ben's situation didn't help.

[WilliamPitt]

8. Who do the Pens get in the playoffs?

And did you see highlights from the Bruins game on Saturday? Three short-handed goals during the same penalty in 1:04. Deranged.

P.S. That Cooke knockout was eloquent proof of the existence of a kind and loving God. :P

[PRETZEL]

9. Didn't get much sports in over the weekend,

weather was too nice and had too much yard work to get done,

Pittsburgh gets Ottawa. We've gotten them the last 3 years now.

Got a glimpse of that shorthanded bonanza from Boston. That was crazy.

Boston getting Buffalo? That'll be a hell of a series. Not much loved lost there?

I'll have to find the Cooke knockout. He's not my favorite player so it won't bother that much.

[WilliamPitt]

10. One-punch knockout. Here's a link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WKAY7BETEg

Wham and splatter. They almost took him off the ice on a stretcher. :)

Buffalo should be a good series, and a boon for us. They're the only team we have a chance of beating. Otherwise we're a first-round out, no question. What a frustrating year.

Congrats on Crosby's 50.

[PRETZEL]

11. Thanks for the link.

will have to watch it later since youtube's blocked here at work.

Who decked him? Someone will give him a nice little bonus.

Well, Crosby was trying to be too much a playmaker instead of scorer. That was Pittsburgh's one issue with him, he wasn't shooting enough.

Geez, us Pens fans have been frustrated with the way the team played this year, so I guess I better not complain too much since we did finish 4th.

I'm really not too thrilled with our chances though. We have been pretty inconsistent at times, especially against Jersey and Washington.

[WilliamPitt]

12. You won the Cup *and* the Super Bowl last year.

My heart bleeds. ;)

[PRETZEL]

13. We get spoiled sometimes,

besides, we also got the Bucco's.

[WilliamPitt]

15. Yeah, I know about spoiled.

Been to six championship parades since 2001. Not the worst period of my life. :)

If the ever Bruins win the Cup, I may never watch sports again.

Well, no. :)