Friday morning reports on a Pittsburgh TV station Website and other Internet outlets regarding an airline incident allegedly involving Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes on Thursday night are not true, according to the Allegheny County, Pa., Police Department.
"As previously reported, [Santonio] Holmes was NOT removed from any airplane (4/29/2010)," a media release from the police department read. "He was asked to remove his Ipod (at one point), in which he complied. There's no further information to report."
Jets head coach Rex Ryan was asked about the reports (some of which were corrected this afternoon) at his midday news conference in between rookie minicamp practices.
"I know what's been told to me. It kind of got blown out of proportion by some media outlets," Ryan said. "I don't think it's as big as what's been out there."
Pressed on if he was concerned about what the reports might say about Holmes, the coach said, "The version I got is much different than the version you got or what's on the Internet. To comment on that is probably not right."
Ryan also praised Holmes, who came over in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers on April 12, for his work as a Jet.
"Santonio around here has been tremendous, at the voluntary workouts, competitive-wise in all the drills," he said. "The thing that really jumps out at me is how he's been in the classroom, with Mark Sanchez, Brian Schottenheimer. He takes great notes. He's been tremendous in the building."
