It’s been a little more than six years since Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hooked up with wide receiver Santonio Holmes for the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals. On Sunday, the anniversary of the play, Holmes tweeted Roethlisberger to tell him he’d like to make history again with him.
@_BigBen7 let's make history again!
— Santonio Holmes (@ToneTime10) February 1, 2015
Holmes, who spent some time with the Chicago Bears last season, will soon be 31 years old and is currently a street free agent. While he’d probably like to return to Steelers, I doubt the feeling is mutual.
What’s funny is that Holmes will forever be linked to the Steelers new star wide receiver Antonio Brown. Facing a four-game suspension to start the 2010 season, Holmes was traded to the New York Jets just prior to the draft that year. That fifth round pick was then dealt to the Cardinals during the draft for cornerback Bryant McFadden and their sixth-round pick, the195th overall selection, which the Steelers used to draft Brown.
The Steelers will enter the 2015 season in good shape at the wide receiver position as Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant both showed last season that they are more than capable of playing supporting roles to Brown. The team still has veteran Lance Moore under contract for 2015, but he’s reportedly already asked the team to release him prior to the start of the new league year.
While many might think that Holmes still has value as a No. 4 wide receiver and a punt returner in the league, he really never showed that last season with the Bears. He returned nine punts in Chicago for 50 yards with a long of 22. He also fair-caught five others. He also only caught 8 passes for 67 yards.
Just prior to Super Bowl XLIX, Holmes was photographed training in Florida alongside Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor at the Wide World of Sports complex under the watchful eye of trainer Tom Shaw. I’m willing to bet that Holmes asked Taylor to put in a good word for him with the Steelers while the two were together.
Sure, Holmes wouldn’t cost a lot to sign, but I really think his chance of making history with Roethlisberger again vanished in 2010. Hey, you can’t blame Holmes for trying, right?
