HOLMES CITED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION
Posted by Mike Florio on October 23, 2008, 11:52 p.m.
Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes, who ran afoul of the law twice not long after he was selected by the Steelers in round one of the 2006 draft, is in trouble again.
On Thursday afternoon, Holmes was cited in Pittsburgh for possession of marijuana.
His SUV was stopped because it matched the description of a vehicle that had been involved in a crime. Police then discovered the marijuana.
“When they pulled him over, they found there was a smell of burnt marijuana in the vehicle,” said Sgt. James Vogel. “Mr. Holmes was very cooperative with officers and turned over some items to us and was subsequently summoned for those items . . . a couple of marijuana blunts.”
Holmes wasn’t taken into custody, but he was given a summons to appear in court, and he was released.
And while the authorities in Pittsburgh didn’t give Holmes a pass, Sgt. Vogel has gone to bat for him.
“We wouldn’t expect a steelworker to be laid off or suspended without pay [for marijuana possession],” said Vogel. “I wouldn’t expect a police officer, firefighter or a member of the Steelers.”
[Editor’s note: If/when my house is on fire, I hope that they dispatch the guys from the firehouse with the firefigthers who spend their down time smoking pot. They’ll be so much mellower while trying to save my life.]
But Sgt. Vogel didn’t write the league’s rules for things of this nature. If Holmes is convicted of or pleads guilty to the charges, he’ll be subject to discipline under the substance-abuse policy. For a first offense, Holmes faces a maximum suspension of four games, without pay.
Earlier this year, Pats running back Kevin Faulk was suspended for one game after admitting to marijuana possession.
Technically, the Steelers aren’t permitted to discipline Holmes separately. And they likely won’t, given that Holmes is a key contributor.
Posted by Mike Florio on October 23, 2008, 11:52 p.m.
Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes, who ran afoul of the law twice not long after he was selected by the Steelers in round one of the 2006 draft, is in trouble again.
On Thursday afternoon, Holmes was cited in Pittsburgh for possession of marijuana.
His SUV was stopped because it matched the description of a vehicle that had been involved in a crime. Police then discovered the marijuana.
“When they pulled him over, they found there was a smell of burnt marijuana in the vehicle,” said Sgt. James Vogel. “Mr. Holmes was very cooperative with officers and turned over some items to us and was subsequently summoned for those items . . . a couple of marijuana blunts.”
Holmes wasn’t taken into custody, but he was given a summons to appear in court, and he was released.
And while the authorities in Pittsburgh didn’t give Holmes a pass, Sgt. Vogel has gone to bat for him.
“We wouldn’t expect a steelworker to be laid off or suspended without pay [for marijuana possession],” said Vogel. “I wouldn’t expect a police officer, firefighter or a member of the Steelers.”
[Editor’s note: If/when my house is on fire, I hope that they dispatch the guys from the firehouse with the firefigthers who spend their down time smoking pot. They’ll be so much mellower while trying to save my life.]
But Sgt. Vogel didn’t write the league’s rules for things of this nature. If Holmes is convicted of or pleads guilty to the charges, he’ll be subject to discipline under the substance-abuse policy. For a first offense, Holmes faces a maximum suspension of four games, without pay.
Earlier this year, Pats running back Kevin Faulk was suspended for one game after admitting to marijuana possession.
Technically, the Steelers aren’t permitted to discipline Holmes separately. And they likely won’t, given that Holmes is a key contributor.
