Santonio Holmes

Plaxico Burress was back in an NFL game for the first time in nearly three years, and he quickly made the impact he predicted. After a three-catch performance, including a spectacular touchdown grab in a preseason win over Cincinnati, Burress' presence clearly will make the New York Jets' offense more dangerous. Santonio Holmes says the combination of him, Burress and Derrick Mason will make for "a long season for whatever defense comes out to play us. " It was only one game, and in preseason at that, but Burress proved he is healthy and motivated — and still a solid...

It appears Santonio Holmes is sticking around — just as the New York Jets said he would. By remaining on the roster through the second day of the NFL's waiver period Tuesday, the talented but troublesome wide receiver will get $15.25 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons. A clause in Holmes' five-year, $45 million contract, signed last offseason, kicked in Wednesday morning. Holmes' future appeared murky with the Jets after a tumultuous season in which he feuded with quarterback Mark Sanchez and the offensive line, and was benched during the season finale in...

Mark Sanchez has heard the critics through his first two NFL seasons, the people who have said the New York Jets could have won the last two AFC championship games despite their young quarterback. Well, on a team with a win-now approach, Sanchez knows the pressure is squarely on him this season to step up. And it starts Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. He'll have a new set of wide receivers other than Santonio Holmes, with newcomers Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason, and that has been "a good challenge, he says.

Mark Sanchez is still the New York Jets' quarterback of the future. Well, at least for now. Owner Woody Johnson supported his embattled quarterback while meeting with writers who regularly cover the team Thursday for the first time since the Jets finished 8-8 and failed to make the playoffs. But, he also wouldn't rule out the possibility of pursuing a veteran such as Peyton Manning if the Indianapolis Colts star became available. "I'm not going to ever tell you guys what we may or may not do," Johnson said in a 30-minute far-ranging interview.

By Julian Benbow, Globe staff FLORHAM, N.J. -- The Ravens made a hash mark out of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez last Sunday. He was sacked twice and hit 10 times and after the Jets' 34-17 loss, wide receiver Santonio Holmes was somewhat critical of the effort to protect the quarterback but also of the QB's need to get the ball out of his hands faster. Holmes told reporters, "It starts up front with our big guys, they need to do a better job protecting Mark and Mark has to do a better job making his reads and getting the ball to playmakers.

BALTIMORE - The Pittsburgh Steelers are AFC North champions again, and earning the crown at the expense of the Baltimore Ravens added an extra measure of joy to the accomplishment. Santonio Holmes caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 43 seconds left, and the Steelers clinched their second straight division title and earned a first-round bye by beating Baltimore, 13-9, yesterday. In a duel between the top two defenses in the NFL, Pittsburgh did not allow a touchdown in earning its first win in Baltimore since 2002.

Don't outsmart yourself in Week 1. Play your top guys and don't concern yourselves with matchups. It's too early. Example: If Joe Flacco is your starting quarterback, he's facing Pittsburgh Sunday. The Steelers defense is frightening, but if Flacco is your first quarterback drafted and your backup is of the Donovan McNabb/Mark Sanchez ilk, you have to consider giving Flacco a shot in the opener. I'm facing a similar problem. Miles Austin is one of my top receivers, and he's practicing again after sitting out with a hamstring issue.

CLEVELAND - There’s nothing Super about the Pittsburgh Steelers anymore. The defending NFL champions lost their fifth straight and had their playoff hopes sacked by the lowly Cleveland Browns, who ended a 12-game losing streak against their bitter rivals by beating the Steelers, 13-6, last night in subzero windchills. Ben Roethlisberger was sacked eight times and lost for the first time in 11 career games against the Browns (2-11), who extended Pittsburgh’s longest losing streak in six years and defeated the Steelers (6-7)

PITTSBURGH - Ben Roethlisberger throws to the corner of the end zone, the receiver barely gets his feet down inbounds for a remarkable touchdown. Ten months after winning the Super Bowl with just such an improbable play, the Pittsburgh Steelers possibly saved their season with a nearly identical one. Roethlisberger ended the game the way he started it by throwing a touchdown pass to Mike Wallace, a desperation 19-yarder on the final play that rallied Pittsburgh to a 37-36 victory over Green Bay yesterday that ended the Packers’ five-game winning streak and the Steelers’...

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Craig Krenzel left college football with another Fiesta Bowl triumph and another MVP award. Ell Roberson's comeback fell one touchdown short in a game many thought he would not play. Krenzel, who finished his Ohio State career 24-3 as a starter, matched his career high with four touchdown passes -- two apiece to Michael Jenkins and Santonio Holmes -- and No. 7 Ohio State held off No. 8 Kansas State, 35-28, last night. Roberson got the start despite a sexual-assault accusation by a woman early Wednesday, an incident that tarnished Kansas State's first Bowl...

LaDainian Tomlinson has never seen a locker room as troubled as the one he was in with the Jets this season. In an interview with Showtime's "Inside The NFL" that aired last night, the running back said the team was plagued by tension between players as the Jets finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs after two straight trips to the AFC Championship game. Tomlinson said quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes, in particular, had a rocky relationship. "It is as bad as I've ever been around, honestly," Tomlinson said.

LaDainian Tomlinson has never seen a locker room as troubled as the one he was in with the New York Jets this season. In an interview with Showtime's "Inside The NFL" airing Wednesday night, the running back said the team was plagued by tension between players as the Jets finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs after two straight trips to the AFC championship game. Tomlinson said quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes, in particular, had a rocky relationship. "It is as bad as I've ever been around, honestly," Tomlinson said of the locker room.

Rex Ryan wants the sniping to stop. The New York Jets coach insists Mark Sanchez has the support of the organization, and the embattled quarterback shouldn't feel uncomfortable when he returns to the locker room. Some teammates and members of the organization anonymously questioned Sanchez's work ethic and leadership abilities in a Daily News story this week. "I'll say this, I don't know how many don't feel confident in Mark Sanchez," Ryan said on a conference call Friday introducing new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano.

Say this for the New York Jets: They went down fighting. Receiver and captain Santonio Holmes was benched following a squabble in the huddle late in the fourth quarter, and the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday when they lost to the Miami Dolphins 19-17. Mark Sanchez threw three interceptions, the last coming with the Jets threatening to take a late lead. New York gave up six third-down conversions during the Dolphins' 21-play, 94-yard drive for their only touchdown.

The rest of us should be grateful the Jets and Giants only play each other once every four years. Imagine the hype if the "Battle of New York" actually meant something Saturday. "There's no way I'm going to be second fiddle," blustery Jets coach Rex Ryan said. "If we were playing the New York Yankees, I don't want to be second fiddle to them. This is the same type of deal. I want to be the best team in football, not just the best team in this city. But we'll start by being the best team in this city.

LANDOVER, Md. - With the Jets trying to close out another too-close-for-comfort fourth-quarter comeback, New York coach Rex Ryan walked up to the player known as "Mayhem. " "Fourth-quarter sacks win games," Ryan told him. Linebacker Aaron Maybin then took his spot on the field and did one better. He not only sacked Rex Grossman, but also dislodged the ball from the Redskins quarterback. The Jets recovered, setting up the first of two insurance touchdown runs by Shonn Greene that closed out yesterday's 34-19 win over Washington.

LANDOVER, Md. - With the Jets trying to close out another too-close-for-comfort fourth-quarter comeback, New York coach Rex Ryan walked up to the player known as "Mayhem. " "Fourth-quarter sacks win games," Ryan told him. Linebacker Aaron Maybin then took his spot on the field and did one better. He not only sacked Rex Grossman, but also dislodged the ball from the Redskins quarterback. The Jets recovered, setting up the first of two insurance touchdown runs by Shonn Greene that closed out yesterday's 34-19 win over Washington.

I have a friend who has been out of the fantasy playoff picture for so long that he renamed his team "The Indianapolis Colts. " And then there are the rest of us, jockeying for a postseason spot as (in most cases) the regular season concludes this weekend. I've simplified the stakes for myself by figuring out that I'll make the playoffs in both of my leagues by winning. But such a complicated logjam exists in one of these leagues that if I lose, I could miss the playoffs, and if I win, I could earn a first-round bye. It's too exhausting to try to dissect.

In his own colorful way, Rex Ryan expressed his latest thoughts on the New York Jets' playoff chances. "We know where we think we're going," he said. "More confident than 100 percent? I don't know about that. " No matter what he thinks or knows or doesn't know, and regardless of what sort of math is used, Ryan naturally has to be more confident after the Jets' 34-19 victory Sunday over the Washington Redskins. After all, a win is better than a loss — especially for a team that feels it can't lose again if it's going to stay in contention — but the sweat-it-out process of...

I have a friend who has been out of the fantasy playoff picture for so long that he renamed his team "The Indianapolis Colts. " And then there are the rest of us, jockeying for a postseason spot as (in most cases) the regular season concludes this weekend. I've simplified the stakes for myself by figuring out that I'll make the playoffs in both of my leagues by winning. But such a complicated logjam exists in one of these leagues that if I lose, I could miss the playoffs, and if I win, I could earn a first-round bye. It's too exhausting to try to dissect.