Holmes been waiting to prove Steelers wrong

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Santonio Holmes probably singed the calendar as if he was using X-ray vision, given how many times his eyes likely fixated on Sunday's date every time he peered at the Jets' schedule.

"It's been on my mind for quite some time and I just never let it play a factor until now," the wideout said Wednesday. "Now is the time to get a chance to play against these guys and I spent four years there. It's definitely time to show these guys, 'Why let me go?' "

Fed up with off-the-field issues during his four seasons and knowing he was going to be suspended for the season's first four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, Pittsburgh shipped Holmes to the Jets in April for a fifth-round pick - after posting 79 catches for 1,248 yards in 2009 and being named Super Bowl XLIII MVP.

"We thought it was best for all parties involved," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "Obviously, he had one year remaining on his contract, a portion of which he was going to miss. We had an opportunity to get value for him. We realized we were potentially going to weaken ourselves at one position. Our hope was we would eventually strengthen ourselves at another position, which is ultimately what we did.

"We used that pick to acquire Bryant McFadden, who's a starting corner for us. We were optimistic about what Mike Wallace was capable of becoming. I think he and some others have done a nice job in stepping up and making the kind of plays Santonio is capable of."

Still, Tomlin couldn't deny Holmes, who had that brutal drop in the end zone Sunday but has had a direct hand in four Jets wins, is as good as ever.

"He's a dynamic playmaker," Tomlin said, "no doubt."

The Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger was "shocked" when Holmes was traded to the Jets. The two built a bond. Every offseason, they would spend two days out of the week by themselves, whipping the ball around, talking about life and putting things into perspective.

"Tone was a great teammate, a great football player and he brought a lot to help me every week on Sundays, whether it was a bailout guy or a guy to throw it deep to, make plays, really a special kind of football player," Roethlisberger said. "I'm glad that he's doing well up there in New York . . . he's missed."

Holmes keeps in contact with former receivers coach Scottie Montgomery, who texts him each Saturday, and he also speaks with Roethlisberger, Ike Taylor and William Gay. He talks frequently with Hines Ward, whom he partially credits for his success.

"He was the one who took me under his wings and showed me the ropes," Holmes said. "He taught me how to be a football player, he taught me how to be a professional, he taught me how to be father, he taught me how to be a leader . . . He's helped me out so much."

But don't expect Holmes to throw a bouquet at anyone on defense. Instead, he's preparing to torch them.

"It won't be pretty for them because they haven't seen me, not since my rookie year," he said. "We never really ran against our 'ones' defense as much as you would probably think. But it's probably going to be totally different for them seeing me now as an opponent as opposed to being on their sideline."

Here's something that won't be different: Holmes doing his thing on punt returns at Heinz Field.

"Those guys know how I feel like returning punts in that stadium," he said. "Those guys know. If they give me an opportunity, trust me, I'm going to take advantage of it."

In what way?

"If they give me a crease," he said, "I'm going to take it to the house."