Holmes Gives Lots of Love to Polamalu

Former Steelers and current Jets WR Santonio Holmes seems to be a big fan of a guy that could be his worst enemy on Sunday at Heinz Field, that being Steeler safety Troy Polamalu.

Holmes was in a loving mood on Wednesday, going so far as to say that Polamalu could be the greatest player he’s ever played with.

“With all due respect, I honestly think Troy Polamalu is probably the greatest player I’ve ever played with or even seen play in person,” Holmes said. “Everybody has their one person they think is the greatest player. In my eyes, I think he’s the greatest player I’ve ever played with.”

Polamlu didn’t play in the first Jets-Steelers game five weeks ago, and his impact can’t be denied. Steelers LB James Farrior knows that having Troy out there gives the Steelers a much better chance of walking out Sunday night with a win and a trip to the Super Bowl vs either the Packers or Bears.

“I think you can’t account for his instincts and the plays that he makes,” Farrior said. “He’s a guy that’s going to be doing things a little bit different sometimes, he goes on his own sometimes and sees things that somebody else might not see, most of the time he makes plays.”

As for Holmes, he’s well aware of how much Polamalu can change a game, seeing it from the sidelines for four seasons as a member of the black and gold.

“The things that he did in my four years of being there, and prior to me getting there, was just disrupt a team,” Holmes said. “He’s jumping over the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball, tackling runners in the backfield, jumping up and intercepting the ball one-handed. He’s returning it for touchdowns, doing numerous things.”