Santonio Holmes suspended by NFL for substance abuse

The Jets won’t be able to unveil their new wide receiver–Santonio Holmes–until Week 5.

The talented, but troubled former Steeler has received a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, sources confirmed to the Press.

The league has yet to announce the suspension, but the decision already has been made, sources said. Which begs the question: Did the Jets know about it before pulling the trigger on the trade?

The answer is yes, sources said. Coach Rex Ryan and GM Mike Tannenbaum spoke to Holmes and his representation by phone before the deal went down late last night. Sources said Holmes is on his way to Florham Park and will meet today with the Jets’ brass.

The team has yet to formally announce the trade, but once Holmes meets with the team and passes a physical, it will become official.

The Jets traded a fifth-round pick for Holmes, a former Super Bowl MVP and first-round pick. No one questions his talent, but he’s had a string of off-the-field issues. In 2008, he was arrested for possession of marijuana and was suspended a game by the Steelers. Just recently, he was involved in an Orlando nightclub incident.

With Holmes, Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards, the Jets have a talented receiving trio for quarterback Mark Sanchez. But Edwards, too, could be suspended. Before being traded to the Jets last October, he was accused of assaulting a Lebron James acquaintance at a Cleveland nightclub. Edwards eventually pleaded “no contest” and he faces a league suspension, although it probably would be only one game.

The Jets were willing to take a chance on Holmes because he’s entering the final year of his contract and they figure that will motivate him to be on his best behavior. It was the same situation with Edwards, who, from all indications, behaved himself last season.

Holmes was best known as Super Bowl XLIII’s MVP for his sideline-hugging, game-winning TD catch as a Pittsburgh Steeler, Holmes is also coming off his most productive season in 2009, producing career-bests with 79 catches for 1,248 yards. His presence gives the Jets potentially one of the NFL’s most explosive receiving corps with WR Braylon Edwards on the other side, Jerricho Cotchery returned to his more natural slot role, promising third-year TE Dustin Keller working the middle and accomplished pass catcher LaDainian Tomlinson coming out of the backfield.