Santonio Holmes Hosts Player Workout

Sometimes, when someone has been a bad apple in the past, everything negative or controversial they do is put under a magnifying glass, while everything good that the same person does is swept under a rug or just outright dismissed by critics.

Such is the case this week, as The Star-Ledger reported to little fanfare that Holmes was hosting a player workout in Orlando, Florida according to Santonio's trainer Tom Shaw. Holmes typically spends his offseasons in the popular tourism hub in Central Fla, and this year he invited Mark Sanchez, Dustin Keller, and Patrick Turner down to participate in workouts. Titans running back Chris Johnson and former Jet Larry Taylor also joined them. Joe McKnight was invited as well and may join them at a later date. From one of my favorite ladies/beat reporters; Jenny Vrentas:

The players arrived Monday and will work out together all week, before heading up to New Jersey for the start of the offseason program. Today's session was for five hours, on the long side because Sanchez led a throwing session at the end. The Jets don't have their new playbooks from new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano yet, but Shaw said Sanchez was calling out routes and plays from his own notes -- possibly those notes he he took when he met with former Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington to learn Sparano's system.

Shaw himself divulged a number of juicy and highly encouraging tidbits, such as:

Mark was in charge, everyone was listening to his instructions," Shaw said. "Guys from other teams, too...Once we finished the workout for the day, Sanchez took over. He was in charge of the whole offensive part. He is working hard, and he's doing everything he can to get better."

I imagine this will instantly stir bitterness and criticism from memories of the relative ineffectiveness of "Jets West Camp" hosted by Mark Sanchez in So Cal in the wake of the lockout uncertainty and negotiations. This was also in David's flight connections but Santonio Holmes gets so much negative press (and rightfully so after the end of last season) that I felt old 'Tone deserves some positive scrutiny for a proactive approach.

Dustin Keller had this to say to his teammates after the session:

"we got that good work in today!!"

This is how men mend fences. Not through fancy NYC dinners or long emotional conversations or public apologies/crow eating. Beefs are best settled among friends and colleagues through silent, constructive mutual activity. The players also will visit Walt Disney World and the area theme parks for some fun in the sun before heading back North.

I've been a pretty vocal critic of Holmes in the aftermath of the 2011-12 season and his role in it, but this solution-oriented way of taking charge in fixing things deserves applause. We're stuck with each other at least through this season, and both parties need to make the absolute most of it. Santonio, I salute you.