WR Santonio Holmes (Super Bowl XLIII MVP)

[Buckskin86]

Steelers' Holmes bulks up for coming season
Buzz up!By John Harris, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, June 30, 2009

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. His huskiness makes him more resemble a running back than the slim receiver who was selected No. 25 by the Steelers in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Santonio Holmes' physical remake, particularly around his neck and through his shoulders, is the next step in the development of the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII.

The increase in Holmes' upper body is becoming so pronounced that he's beginning to look like an entirely different player.

"I tipped the scales (Monday) at 201 (pounds),'' Holmes said proudly following his workout at Tom Shaw Performance at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.

That's an all-time high for Holmes, who played in the 190s last season and joined the league weighing considerably less.

Holmes' calculated weight gain addresses his long-term goal to increase his upper-body strength and speed under the tutelage of Shaw, a conditioning coach who also trains teammates James Farrior, Ike Taylor and William Gay.

"I look at it as if I have to be a complete receiver,'' said Holmes, who had nine receptions for 131 yards and the game-winning touchdown against Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII.

"I've got to be physical, I've got to still continue with my speed, I've got to have the great conditioning to last 16 games, play throughout the playoffs and be able to put in about 60-70 plays every week. I come here with great intentions of putting on weight.''

By building up his body, Holmes is also building his confidence for the upcoming season. However, he admits he may have to cut back some on bulking up.

"I wasn't expecting that, so I think I've got to slow down a little bit what I've been eating lately,'' Holmes said. "I'm looking forward to coming to (training) camp around this weight, because I know I'll probably shed about 8-10 pounds throughout camp.

"I'll play at about 195 for the season. I'll still have my strength, but losing the weight.''

Steelers' Holmes bulks up for coming season - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

video interview with Tone...

TribLive Story Player

 

[osucollegebuck]

Pretty funny, although I liked the other version I saw on TV the other night.

Bestads.TV - ESPN ESPY AWARDS 2009 Samuel L. Jackson And Santonio Holmes

 

[Buckskin86]

Steelers' Holmes expects return to Super Bowl
Buzz up!By John Harris, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, July 3, 2009

Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes expects the Steelers to defend their world champion title. Holmes, who caught the winning touchdown in the game, is working during the off-season toward accomplishing that goal.
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - To wide receiver Santonio Holmes, it isn't a question of his Steelers making it back to Super Bowl XLIIII in Miami.

"We're not wondering will we make it back, if we'll make it back," said Holmes, the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XLIII. "We look forward to going back to the Super Bowl.''

Holmes is one of several Steelers working out at Tom Shaw Performance at Disney's Wide World of Sports. The players are preparing for the first day of training camp on July 31 at St. Vincent College, and, ultimately, the team's season opener against the Tennessee Titans Sept. 10 in a Thursday night game at Heinz Field.

"At the start of that first game, it's definitely going to be a blessing to see these guys (that) did it last year,'' Holmes said. "But we know (with) the hard work that we put in, we're looking forward to going."

Steelers' Holmes expects return to Super Bowl - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

 

[Buckskin86]

Updated: July 6, 2009

This article appears in the July 13th issue of ESPN The Magazine.

Just a few days after winning Super Bowl MVP honors, the Steelers receiver is backstage, prepping to appear on Live! with Regis and Kelly, his pin-striped suit jacket on a nearby hanger. A production assistant comes in with a thick brush. Holmes shakes his head, laughs. "Tell them they got some black people up in here," he says, smiling and patting down the back of his head.

Regis Philbin pops in, congratulates Holmes on his acrobatic, game-winning catch, tells him how breathtaking the moment was. Holmes says thank you, that he was as thrilled as anyone, that he was just doing his job.

The show begins. Holmes signs Reebok shoes and magazines as he waits for his cue. His friend and former barber, Renny Razor, shears his hair. Holmes watches closely, swatting away the falling pieces. "Not too tight," he says, laughing. "This ain't no Flowbee situation."

Moments later, Holmes walks onto the Live set to a standing ovation. "What a great moment in sports history," says Kelly Ripa. "What a great moment in my life," Holmes responds, grinning. The audience laughs. "Are you single?" a woman shouts from the crowd. Holmes nods, gives a shy grin.

In the wings, producers watch and marvel. "He's such a natural," one coos. "Really. Forget football. That man should be on television."

Leaving the stage, Holmes is pumped. "I love the spotlight," he says, his shoulders shimmying. He climbs into a waiting black Escalade. Autograph seekers bang on the sides of the car as it inches down a New York street on which the 25-year-old Holmes would have been unnoticed a year ago.

Santonio Holmes loves the spotlight - Allison Glock, ESPN The Magazine - ESPN

Tone Video..

ESPN Video: Watch Sports Videos and Highlights Online - ESPN

 

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Steelers' Holmes spreading the message
Buzz up!By John Harris, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, July 12, 2009

Santonio Holmes
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review


LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. ? As a youngster, Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes experienced pain that racked his body similar to what his seven-year-old son endures today.

As a child, Holmes didn't know the source of that pain ? but he knows now.

His son has sickle-cell disease.

"I went through the same thing as a kid ? same pain in my stomach all the time, arms just start hurting for no reason," Holmes said following a recent workout at Disney's Wide World of Sports. "I never knew what it was until I just found out in May that I have sickle cell ? 25 years. Now, I know why he's going through all those things I did."

Holmes was born with the sickle-cell trait, a genetically inherited blood disease. His son, Santonio III, has sickle-cell disease, which appears in one out of every 5,000 people, mostly affecting African-Americans. Steelers safety Ryan Clark also has the sickle-cell trait.

Following his game-winning touchdown catch in the Steelers' 27-23 win against Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII, Holmes auctioned the gloves he wore in the game and donated all of the proceeds ? $70,200 ? to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.

"My seven-year-old is doing a lot better," Holmes said. "He's healthy. It's almost to the point it can be controlled. We didn't have enough money to keep me in and out of the hospital like I do now for him. So I had to deal with it.

"He definitely has to take medicine, probably for the rest of his life."

Steelers' Holmes spreading the message - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

video interview with Tone...

TribLive Story Player

 

[Buckskin86]

WR Holmes knows Steelers favors run game
Buzz up!By John Harris, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, July 26, 2009

Santonio Holmes
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review

Santonio Holmes is still seeking his first 1,000-yard receiving season in the NFL. More catches wouldn't hurt, either.

Holmes was matter-of-fact when discussing his goals for the 2009 season, and how he thinks he fits in the Steelers' offense.

While optimistic about being on track to have his best NFL season, Holmes said he has only so much leeway in the team's run-oriented attack.

"Everybody runs different systems in their offense," he said. "Our system happens to be run first. So we have to take the punches when they come, be able to deliver when they throw us the ball."

Holmes, who is concluding his workouts at Disney's Wide World of Sports in preparation for the opening of training camp on Friday, has gained weight this offseason in anticipation of facing more double teams.

He caught nine passes for 131 yards and the game-winning touchdown against Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII, earning MVP honors. He was the Steelers' top playmaker in the postseason overall, scoring a touchdown in each playoff game.

Holmes, who also finished second on the team in receptions (55), receiving yards (821) and touchdown receptions (five) during the regular season, said he is learning to be more patient.

"I can only do so much with the opportunities the coaches give me,'' he said. "I've got to continue to have that trust from my quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger), that he can trust me to get that ball to me. And no matter what kind of coverage, I'm going to perform the way I'm supposed to.

"The more opportunities I get from the coaches to touch the ball ? to do punt returns, whatever it is ? I think that will definitely dictate how well my season goes.''

WR Holmes knows Steelers favors run game - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

 

[Buckskin86]

Harris: Holmes is putting the team first
By John Harris, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Forgive Santonio Holmes for his exuberance after scoring the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII and earning MVP honors with nine receptions for 131 yards in the Steelers' 27-23 victory over Arizona in Tampa.

Understandably, Holmes, who trains at Disney's Wide World of Sports ? 90 miles up the road from Tampa ? during the offseason, was feeling confident about having a more prominent role in the offense when he told the Tribune-Review in late June, "I can only do it with the opportunities the coaches give me. The more opportunities I get from the coaches to touch the ball, I think that will definitely dictate how well my season goes.''

Holmes extended an olive branch to the coaching staff because he fully understands the Steelers are a run-first, pass-second offense. The chances of him hiking his receiving total from 55 in 2008 to, say, 100 in 2009 are slim and none. Knowing that, Holmes will settle for some kind of happy medium.

So far, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians isn't taking the bait.

"Everything we do is to try to win the game,'' Arians said Monday. "It's not about stats. I think all of our guys know that. If we play well, they're going to have enough stats.

"Tone broke out in the playoffs last year and became the player we all knew he'd be. People want to put 100 catches on a guy. You can go to the worst team in the league and catch 100 balls because they're throwing every down. You get your respect from your peers just beating them, winning.''

Holmes said it isn't about the number of catches for him as much as it is the quality of catches.

"We're not concerned about being compared to other guys. All we want to do is win a Super Bowl,'' Holmes said. "If Ben (Roethlisberger) and I can work on the same page and win another Super Bowl, that's what we want to do. We're not going to worry about being compared to other quarterbacks and receivers, or is our package ? me and Hines (Ward) ? better than the other guys?''

Holmes had three or fewer receptions in eight regular-season games in 2008. It's difficult to determine if that's what the playbook dictated, although Arians said Holmes was double-teamed a lot last season.

In fact, Arians suggested that Holmes is playing more slot receiver during training camp because it's difficult for teams to double the inside receiver. Holmes is taking reps from Ward, who despite being OK physically, has been held out of practices.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_636786.html

 

[Dryden]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3-Hb3FDKzM&feature=related]YouTube - Reebok Fantasy Files: Santonio Holmes[/ame]

 

[korchiki]

YouTube - Reebok Fantasy Files: Santonio Holmes

awesome!!!

 

[Buckskin86]

Harris: Holmes hardly noticeable this preseason
Buzz up!By John Harris, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, August 27, 2009

Santonio Holmes
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review

So far this preseason, Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes may as well be invisible.

The Steelers wide receiver has one reception for 16 yards, and he's been targeted only twice in the first two exhibition games.

Holmes hasn't gone diva on the coaching staff, as many of the elite pass catchers in the NFL are prone to do. Not once has Holmes delivered a "do you know who I am?" proclamation to the team via the media.

The difference between Holmes and many of his peers is that Holmes mostly keeps his thoughts private.

Holmes loves catching the ball, but he appears to love winning even more.

"We're not bickering and (complaining) about anything in the preseason. I don't have any focus on if I catch a pass or I don't in the preseason," Holmes said. "It's not going in the stat book. It's not going to count toward us winning the Super Bowl."

The Steelers know what Holmes can do. They're not so sure about Limas Sweed and rookie Mike Wallace. They know what Shaun McDonald can do, but McDonald can't stretch the secondary the way that Wallace can.

McDonald has been thrown to a team-high 11 times, Sweed has been targeted nine times and Wallace eight times. Hines Ward has been thrown to five times.

"It's more so just been the play-calling. We really don't have much (offense) in," Holmes said. "I catch maybe six to eight balls every day in practice. Me going up against the No. 1 defense in the world, it doesn't hurt to not catch a ball in the preseason.

Harris: Holmes hardly noticeable this preseason - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

 

[naptownbuck]

Throwback Vid: Santonio Holmes vs Michigan

They say you are remembered for how you play in The Game. Well Holmes was pretty damn good.

In three games he had 17 receptions, 243 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns.

Jeremy Lesueur - Toast
Leon Hall - Toast
Marlin Jackson - Ha! No chance
Brandon Englemon & Prescott Burgess? - Ya might want to put a cover guy on #4 scUM. :)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDoVCjsWPhc"]YouTube - Santonio Holmes vs Michigan Part One[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77LGTyqhC-Y"]YouTube - Santonio Holmes vs Michigan Part Two[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Steelers' Holmes held out with back injury
Buzz up!By Scott Brown, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Steelers held wide receiver Santonio Holmes out of Saturday night's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills because of a tender back.

Holmes took a helmet to the back in last Saturday's 17-13 loss to the Redskins, and the Steelers didn't want to risk the Super Bowl MVP making the injury worse in an exhibition game.

Steelers' Holmes held out with back injury - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

 

[Buckskin86]

Steelers' Holmes to raise funds for sickle-cell research
Friday, September 04, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press


Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes.Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes will be the host for a celebrity bowl-a-thon tomorrow to raise funds for sickle-cell disease research and to assist families that have been affected by the disease.

The event will benefit the III & Long Foundation, which Holmes established in March in honor of his son, Santonio III, who has sickle-cell disease.

Holmes, 25, learned in May that his son carries the sickle-cell trait.

"My 7-year-old is doing a lot better. It is almost to the point of being controllable. He has to take medication every day and probably will for the rest of his life," Holmes said.

"I know how expensive the medications and the hospital visits can be, so one of our goals in establishing the foundation is to assist families that have been affected by the disease along with helping in the research to find a cure for SCD."

Read more: Steelers' Holmes to raise funds for sickle-cell research

Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes takes the high road, keeps low
By Chris Harry
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
September 4, 2009

Consider the confluence of circumstances required for an episode of Live with Regis and Kelly to feature Eurythmics lead singer Annie Lennox alongside Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes.

Hint: throw out parallel universes and apocalypses.

It can only be one thing.

The same thing that got Holmes, who grew up chasing rabbits through the Belle Glade mud, a seat next to Jennifer Aniston on Jay Leno's couch last February.

"It's been pretty crazy," the reigning Super Bowl MVP has said over and over the last nine months. "Been pretty fun, too."

Holmes' life changed forever last Feb. 1 when he leaped into the cool Tampa night and caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 35 seconds on the Raymond James Stadium clock.

The play capped a pulsating, game-winning drive and gave the Steelers a one-for-the-ages 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII and immediately placed Holmes among the likes of Dwight Clark, Lynn Swann and David Tyree as recipients of the most famous catches in league history.

"It was really something to marvel at," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

Mere moments after Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald split the Steelers secondary for a 64-yard touchdown to give his team the lead with barely three minutes left, Holmes approached Roethlisberger on the sidelines with a message.

"Get me the ball," he said.

Holmes, who starred at Glades Central and Ohio State, caught four passes on the ensuing drive, finishing with nine receptions for 131 yards, capped by some graceful acrobatics worthy of Cirque du Soleil.

Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes takes the high road, keeps low profile -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Holmes eyes big season

[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]This article has been read 20 times.[/FONT]
By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer
[email protected]
PITTSBURGH - Santonio Holmes was a guest on the Tonight Show and attended star-studded events in the months after winning Super Bowl MVP honors following his game-winning touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals in February.
Now, the 25-year-old Holmes has one more event he'd like to attend - a Pro Bowl.
To achieve that, the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver will have to do something he never did in high school, at The Ohio State University or in his first three years with the Steelers. And that's have a 1,000-yard season.
That's right, not even at Ohio State, where Holmes was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in his final season.
"I think that one still kind of eats me up inside," Holmes said Monday as the Steelers prepared to open the 2009 season Thursday at Heinz Field against the Tennessee Titans.
"That touches me more than having the touchdowns, having the catches, just doing that one time in my career. Whenever it happens, I'm going to be excited and push for more."
Regardless of his statistics, Holmes enters the 2009 season with a little more attention from opponents, the fans and media.
That's what happens when you make one of the greatest game-winning touchdown receptions in NFL playoff history to go with a nine catches for 131 yards in the Super Bowl.
"Everywhere I go, even on MySpace, I get, 'Man, that was a great catch. That was a great game.' It's been a big part of my life ever since that happened," Holmes said.

Cont...

 

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On the Steelers: Holmes forever measured by the company he keeps
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Matt Freed
Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes pulls in the winning touchdown pass against the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.Move over, Maz and Franco, you have a third member of the perpetual Pittsburgh superhero club.

Bill Mazeroski and Franco Harris report that not a day goes by without someone asking them about their famous World Series home run or Immaculate Reception. The two feats, performed 12 years apart, could never be surpassed. Except now there are three in Pittsburgh.

Santonio Holmes' Super Bowl-winning catch Feb. 1 deserves equal time with Maz's home run that smote the mighty New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series and with Franco's Immaculate Reception in 1972 that brought the Steelers their first playoff victory.

As with those two men, Holmes forever will be linked to one unforgettable play in Pittsburgh sports history.

"That's going to be a tag for the rest of my life, when I'm dead and gone," Holmes said yesterday as the Super Bowl MVP prepares for his fourth NFL season.

All were young players when they performed their Pittsburgh miracles. Mazeroski was 25, Harris 22 and in his rookie season, Holmes 24.

Mazeroski and Harris, the Steelers' first Super Bowl MVP, went on to their respective sport's Halls of Fame. They still say they gladly endure people asking them about their one-play feats over these so many years. Perhaps Holmes will get tired of it some day, but it does not sound as if he will.

"Everywhere I go in public, even on my Facebook, MySpace, everybody sending messages, 'Man, that was a great catch, that was a great game.' So it's definitely been part of my life ever since it happened."

Holmes believes the winning Super Bowl catch -- when he performed his version of another Pittsburgher, Gene Kelly, by tapping both toes inbounds -- has brought him more stature in his locker room. He is now "able to speak my mind to coaches and the team, and everybody believes in me and knows I'm capable of getting the job done."

He has not been able to get it done lately, though, because he took a helmet to the back Aug. 22 in Washington and missed the final two preseason games.

"He's been hurt for a while, and we tried to knock the rust off this week in practice," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "If he could start where he left off, he was going to have a great year. If he has to regress and restart again, it's going to be a slow September."

No matter what happens from here, Holmes should never have to pay for another drink in this town. And, like Mazeroski and Harris, you can always remind him about the moment that is etched right next to theirs.

"I always have to smile when somebody talks about the Super Bowl," Holmes said, "because that's a significant part of my life that will stick with me and stick with my kids until it's over."

Read more: On the Steelers: Holmes forever measured by the company he keeps

Steelers' Homes ready to keep returning punts
Buzz up!By Scott Brown, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, September 8, 2009

? Santonio Holmes isn't ready to cede all of the punt-returning duties to preseason sensation Stefan Logan just yet.

"I don't think anybody said I was not going to be returning punts this year," the Steelers wide receiver said. "That's not completely out of the picture."

Holmes said he would like to serve as a situational punt returner as he did last season.

He has averaged 8.2 yards on punt returns during his career. Holmes returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in the Steelers' 35-24 win over the San Diego Chargers in an AFC divisional playoff game last January.

"That's a part of my game," Holmes said of returning punts. "That's a part that gets me excited about going out every Sunday and playing in a game. I feel like I've got more control with the ball in my hands as a punt returner than I do just out there trying to catch passes."

Steelers' Homes ready to keep returning punts - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review