Quantcast
Jets release wide receiver Santonio Holmes, unlikely to return – Metro US

Jets release wide receiver Santonio Holmes, unlikely to return

Santonio Holmes Santonio Holmes will not be back with the Jets next season.
Credit: Getty Images

The clock struck midnight on “Tone Time.”

The Jets unceremoniously announced they’ve released wide receiver Santonio Holmes on Monday, ending a four-year tenure filled with many lows and and few highs.

Holmes got off to a promising start to his Jets career in 2010, including fourth quarter heroics that led to the nickname “Tone Time.” But that disintegrated the following year with him the center of locker room bickering. With injuries plaguing him the next two years, Holmes and his cap number of $10.75 million were too great a burden for a team continuing its rebuilding.

The Jets made the announcement on Twitter, simply announcing “WR Santonio Holmes has been released.” A longer story appeared on their website which highlighted the free agent wide receivers available on the market at the end of the story.

A team source tells Metro the Jets “are not interested in offering Santonio a contract for a lesser dollar amount at the current time.”

“His recent injury history is a concern and he’s not a fit for the team anymore,” the source said. “The odds of him returning as a Jet? Less than 10 percent.”

Holmes was limited to just 15 games over the past two seasons, but he did lead the Jets with 19.8 yards per catch in 2013. He expressed an interest late last season in returning to the Jets for a reduced salary.

“I appreciate Tone’s contributions over the last four seasons,” head 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.”

The Jets also announced on Monday linebacker Nick Bellore, a special teams standout on the two-deep, has been tendered a contract as a restricted free agent.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.