ejsteeler
10-30-2008, 11:25 AM
NFLPA: Discipline of Holmes improper (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08304/923971-66.stm)
NFLPA: Discipline of Holmes improper
Players union may file grievance against Steelers for 'improper suspension and fine'
Thursday, October 30, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As Santonio Holmes talked yesterday about how he might have made a difference in the Steelers' 21-14 loss to the New York Giants, his union talked about what it called the "improper" discipline imposed on the wide receiver by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
An NFL Players Association official said the union may file a grievance over the fine Tomlin issued to Holmes along with making him inactive for Sunday's game.
"After speaking with our attorney, we have had discussions with his agent Joel Segal regarding the possibility of filing a grievance against the Steelers improper suspension and fine by the club," the NFLPA's Carl Francis wrote in an e-mail to the Post-Gazette yesterday.
Holmes, in his first public interview since he was charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana last Thursday, would not say if he were upset with being deactivated for the game by Tomlin.
"I can't comment on that question. That's almost a personal question on both sides, so I think I'll leave that question unanswered."
Tomlin would not confirm that he fined Holmes -- the receiver lost no money for being deactivated Sunday. The coach was not bashful, though, about how he felt regarding the union's unhappiness with the disciplinary actions he took.
"I'm not concerned about their view about whether we chose to activate him," Tomlin said. "We've got 53 men on the team. We choose to activate 45 for a particular game. That's what we chose to do and we move forward."
Holmes, the starting split end in his third NFL season, is the second-leading receiver on the team with 22 receptions for 360 yards. Hines Ward is first with 31 catches for 406 yards. With Holmes banished Sunday, Nate Washington moved up to start and rookie Limas Sweed, playing in just his second game, moved up to No. 3.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had his worst day of the season. He completed 13 of 29 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown pass, four interceptions, five sacks and a 38.5 passer rating.
Ward caught three passes for 30 yards, Sweed three for 28 and Washington one for a 65-yard touchdown.
Holmes believes his presence in that game would have made a difference.
"I know I would ... yes, but I wasn't there to help the team," he said.
"Having a young guy in with Sweed filling in and not being on the same page with Ben, not having as many reps throughout practice and not having the experience being in that tough situation, I feel I could have made big progress with the team," Holmes said.
He said watching the Steelers lose to the Giants was "real tough."
"It really hurts, this is my first time ever having to sit down and watch my team play," Holmes said, not counting when he was injured. "It's all personal feelings that can't even be described."
Holmes said he does not care whether some people doubt him now.
"Who cares? I really don't. I'm here to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and I'm pretty sure all my guys in this locker room believe I'm capable of getting out on the field Monday night and producing for these guys."
Teammates backed him on that.
"Him and I have really come a long way, both on and off the field," Roethlisberger said. "He's a weapon for us and it will be fun to have him back out there."
"I think he definitely regrets what happened," tight end Heath Miller said, "and we don't expect that to happen again so in our mind it's over and done with."
Holmes seemed contrite when he spoke to his teammates Monday, some said. He said he asked Tomlin if he could talk to them and that team union player representative Charlie Batch also suggested it to Holmes.
"He made a mistake," fullback Carey Davis said. "We all understand it's an unfortunate situation what he went through. I know he's hurt more than a lot of people think. He really didn't want to let the team down like that, he didn't want to let himself down.
"Especially since we lost, not being able to help us and be a part of it really hurt him. I expect some big things from him this week."
F*** the NFLPA!!!!! This is the kind of bs attitude that keeps idiots like Pacman Jones in the league.............:evilshake:
NFLPA: Discipline of Holmes improper
Players union may file grievance against Steelers for 'improper suspension and fine'
Thursday, October 30, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As Santonio Holmes talked yesterday about how he might have made a difference in the Steelers' 21-14 loss to the New York Giants, his union talked about what it called the "improper" discipline imposed on the wide receiver by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
An NFL Players Association official said the union may file a grievance over the fine Tomlin issued to Holmes along with making him inactive for Sunday's game.
"After speaking with our attorney, we have had discussions with his agent Joel Segal regarding the possibility of filing a grievance against the Steelers improper suspension and fine by the club," the NFLPA's Carl Francis wrote in an e-mail to the Post-Gazette yesterday.
Holmes, in his first public interview since he was charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana last Thursday, would not say if he were upset with being deactivated for the game by Tomlin.
"I can't comment on that question. That's almost a personal question on both sides, so I think I'll leave that question unanswered."
Tomlin would not confirm that he fined Holmes -- the receiver lost no money for being deactivated Sunday. The coach was not bashful, though, about how he felt regarding the union's unhappiness with the disciplinary actions he took.
"I'm not concerned about their view about whether we chose to activate him," Tomlin said. "We've got 53 men on the team. We choose to activate 45 for a particular game. That's what we chose to do and we move forward."
Holmes, the starting split end in his third NFL season, is the second-leading receiver on the team with 22 receptions for 360 yards. Hines Ward is first with 31 catches for 406 yards. With Holmes banished Sunday, Nate Washington moved up to start and rookie Limas Sweed, playing in just his second game, moved up to No. 3.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had his worst day of the season. He completed 13 of 29 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown pass, four interceptions, five sacks and a 38.5 passer rating.
Ward caught three passes for 30 yards, Sweed three for 28 and Washington one for a 65-yard touchdown.
Holmes believes his presence in that game would have made a difference.
"I know I would ... yes, but I wasn't there to help the team," he said.
"Having a young guy in with Sweed filling in and not being on the same page with Ben, not having as many reps throughout practice and not having the experience being in that tough situation, I feel I could have made big progress with the team," Holmes said.
He said watching the Steelers lose to the Giants was "real tough."
"It really hurts, this is my first time ever having to sit down and watch my team play," Holmes said, not counting when he was injured. "It's all personal feelings that can't even be described."
Holmes said he does not care whether some people doubt him now.
"Who cares? I really don't. I'm here to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and I'm pretty sure all my guys in this locker room believe I'm capable of getting out on the field Monday night and producing for these guys."
Teammates backed him on that.
"Him and I have really come a long way, both on and off the field," Roethlisberger said. "He's a weapon for us and it will be fun to have him back out there."
"I think he definitely regrets what happened," tight end Heath Miller said, "and we don't expect that to happen again so in our mind it's over and done with."
Holmes seemed contrite when he spoke to his teammates Monday, some said. He said he asked Tomlin if he could talk to them and that team union player representative Charlie Batch also suggested it to Holmes.
"He made a mistake," fullback Carey Davis said. "We all understand it's an unfortunate situation what he went through. I know he's hurt more than a lot of people think. He really didn't want to let the team down like that, he didn't want to let himself down.
"Especially since we lost, not being able to help us and be a part of it really hurt him. I expect some big things from him this week."
F*** the NFLPA!!!!! This is the kind of bs attitude that keeps idiots like Pacman Jones in the league.............:evilshake: