Former Pittsburgh Steeler Santonio Holmes has been traded to the New York Jets for a fifth round pick in the upcoming draft. I guess they wanted to get rid of him bad if that's all the Steelers got.
Holmes is a Super Bowl MVP who is coming off his best statistical year as a pro. Last season he caught 79 catches for 1248 yards and five touchdowns. It's not typical for a team to trade their best receiver in their prime unless there are underlying issues.
Let's get this on the table now. Holmes has had some brushes with the law. In 2006 he was involved in a domestic dispute. The misdemeanor charges were dropped. In 2008 he was arrested for possession of marijuana.
Holmes is currently being sued by an Orlando woman who alleges he threw a bottle at her face and cut her. Recently a witness for Holmes came forward and admitted to throwing the bottle at the woman.
Holmes will also have to wait four games to play for the Jets because he violated the leagues substance abuse policy.
In any event the best pass catcher on the team is gone. What do the Steelers do with their troubled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger?
The Steelers seem to be cleaning house. They are ridding themselves of troubled players who don't fit the Steeler mold. Well, if that's the case then Roethlisberger should start packing his bags as well.
It's was just announced Roethlisberger won't be charged with sexual assault. Is anyone surprised here? Big Ben was protected by the media and the law just like his offensive line protects him in the pocket.
This time around, armed with a good lawyer and a cooperative law enforcement team in Georgia, Roethlisberger averted charges. Big Ben is facing a lawsuit from an alleged sexual assault in 2008. Anyone remember? The media doesn't talk about it much so I figured I'd remind everyone.
While Roethlisberger wasn't charged this time around he's clearly cast a cloud over the Steeler organization. Like Holmes, Roethlisberger has been in headlines for things other than stellar play on the field.
The Steelers set a precedent by ridding themselves of their best receiver. Should they get rid of their best quarterback as well?
Yes.
What's good for the goose is good for gander. Holmes has had brushes with the law and so has Roethlisberger. If the Steelers organization believes their best receiver is too much trouble then Roethlisberger should be sent packing as well.
But we all know Roethlisberger won't be dealt. There are separate manuals for African-American athletes and white athletes. White athletes like Roethlisberger are typically protected. African-American athletes like Holmes are treated more harshly in the media the commentary for the vastly white media often induces a player to be traded.
Writers also report in a way that facilitates the stereotype that African-American athletes are gifted on the field but are often troubled off it. Because of reporting they become a cancer to the team. It's a part of the module sports writers inherently feel and it shows in their coverage.
How can Holmes is being depicted as a cancer and not Roethlisberger?
Since the March 5 incident involving Roethlisberger he's been quiet and in hiding. AP reports of the situation have been vague and short. Mainstream television coverage has been scant to say the least.
The mainstream media is comprised vastly of white males. They often report in a fashion that reinforces stereotypes of the African-American athlete while simultaneously diminishing the wrong-doing of the white athlete.
If 94, 88, and 89 percent respectively of the newspapers Sports Editors, Columnists and Copy Editors are white what else do you expect?
Familiarity breeds content. If there were more African-Americans in the media some of the negative coverage can be replaced with balance.
In closing, I have a lot of respect for the Steeler organization. The Steelers historically have embraced diversity. They started an African-American quarterback in "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam in 1974.
They are loyal to their head coaches in having three in their entire history. No one knew head coach Mike Tomlin. No team wanted to hire him but the Steelers did. Tomlin got them a Super Bowl in his second season as coach.
What's needed here is a level of consistency and not diversity. If Holmes brushes with law contributed to the organization pulling the trigger on a trade then Big Ben should endure the same fate and be traded as well.
What do you think?