Holmes' performance sets stage for stardom

By Kevin Gorman, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Santonio Holmes during holds up his MVP trophy during a parade to celebrate winning Super Bowl XLIII on February 3, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)

He crossed the line in October, blurred the line in Baltimore and touched down his tiptoes inside the line with a Tampa Two-Step that will go down as the greatest game-winning catch in Super Bowl history.

So, what's next in line for Santonio Holmes?

After winning the Super Bowl XLIII Most Valuable Player award just a month shy of his 25th birthday, the Steelers wide receiver appears destined for NFL stardom.

Not only did he catch a 6-yard scoring pass with 35 seconds remaining to clinch the Steelers' sixth Lombardi Trophy, Holmes was handed the torch from Hines Ward as their prime playmaker.

"He's got great ability," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said, "and it's about putting him on stage and letting him go."

Holmes shined brightest on the premier platform in professional sports, catching four of his nine receptions for 73 of his 131 yards on the final drive of the 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

"Santonio Holmes had just an extraordinary night," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "It was just something to marvel at."

Santonio Holmes runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Getty Images)

The most extraordinary thing to marvel at was the mid-season transformation made by Holmes, a 2006 first-round draft choice out of Ohio State. He was deactivated against the New York Giants after Pittsburgh police found three blunts in his SUV Oct. 23 and charged Holmes with a misdemeanor for possession of marijuana.

Although Holmes finished with the most receptions (55) of his three-year career, his 821 receiving yards were the lowest and his yards-per-catch average dipped from 18.1 to 14.9 and his touchdowns from eight to five. He fell short of his preseason goals of being a 1,000-yard receiver and making the Pro Bowl.

"I wanted to be a guy that you could trust and depend on 100 percent, and those guys believed in me," Holmes said. "It means the world to me."

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Holmes has meant the same to the Steelers. He already had a controversial, last-minute touchdown catch on his resume, when his 4-yarder with 43 seconds left clinched a 13-9 victory over Baltimore and the AFC North Division after reviews showed he crossed the plane of the goal line.

It carried over to the postseason, where Holmes turned in pivotal plays by scoring a 67-yard punt return against San Diego in the AFC divisional round and on a 65-yard reception against the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.

Santonio Holmes is pursued by Aaron Francisco of the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Holmes caught a six-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining to give Pittsburgh a 27-23 victory over Arizona for a record sixth Super Bowl title. (Getty Images)

But his Tampa Two-Step in the far right corner of the end zone was one that sent Holmes sparkling like a shooting star.

"What a great play by Santonio," Steelers inside linebacker James Farrior said. "We're world champs because of that play."