Jets' Holmes gets last work before suspension starts
Trevard Lindley #35 and Macho Harris #24 of the Philadelphia Eagles take down Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets. (Sept. 2, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA - While the rest of his big-name offensive teammates toiled in front of him, Santonio Holmes sat on the bench waiting for the Jets' reserve defenders to close out the game's first series.
Holmes likely was trying to remain calm, knowing he was about to hit the field for the last time until the second week of October. That's when he'll return from his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, and that probably can't come soon enough for the Jets.
Holmes caught four passes for 97 yards, including a 51-yard TD from Mark Brunell, in a 21-17 preseason win over the Eagles. "I just wanted to get the job done for the team today, knowing I was going to miss four games now," he said.
Child's play
Rex Ryan made good on his promise to let Mark Sanchez call some plays. The second-year quarterback, who didn't play a single snap, assumed the role of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer in the second quarter. Sanchez donned the headset and read straight off the playsheet, sending in plays during the second and third quarters. He might be tough for the staff to deal with after calling a successful five-play, 15-yard scoring drive that helped the Jets cut the Eagles' lead to 10-7.
"It was good," Sanchez said. "It's more difficult than you think. You feel bad for Schotty now because he has so much pressure to get certain guys the ball, to put in the right formation, the right personnel on the field."
Extra points
DL Matt Kroul led the team with six tackles, two sacks and a quarterback hit . . . The Jets fumbled four times, losing three.
