Jets' Holmes says he was 'scapegoat' last season

Santonio Holmes hauled in 51 catches for 654 yards last season.

Adam Fenster/REUTERS

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes says he was the "scapegoat" for the team's problems last season, particularly in the season-ending loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Holmes tells ESPN 98.7 on Monday that with the playoffs on the line in that game, when he only had two passes thrown his way before being benched for the final 2 minutes after arguing in the huddle, "that's just hard to understand and to cope with when you want everything just as bad as everybody else does."

He adds that when no one has answers, "the scapegoat is the answer, and that's what happened."

Holmes takes responsibility for his role in the team's in-fighting last season, and thinks new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano is a key to the offense succeeding this year.

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