Santonio Holmes’ first practice with the Bears began routinely enough. He took his turn in position drills, quickly chopping his feet, navigating a row of cones before darting to his right and catching a pass from an assistant coach.
In what remains an open competition among receivers for roster spots, Holmes tried to put his best foot forward — literally.
But he is no ordinary roster hopeful. The man wearing white jersey No. 14 stood out next to Greg Herd and Kofi Hughes toward the back of the line.
He has a Super Bowl ring. He was named the most valuable player in that Super Bowl. And three years ago he signed a contract with the Jets that guaranteed him $24 million.
So as Holmes set out Monday morning to make the Bears’ final roster, he did so amid significant internal optimism and heightened outside skepticism that he will become a productive member of the team on and off the field.
“I’m really going to embrace this opportunity and take advantage of it,” Holmes said. “I think it’s a great group for me to be around, and I look forward to what we have coming forth.”
And, in turn, the Bears embraced the eight-year veteran and all that he brings to Halas Hall.
In a best-case scenario, Holmes, 30, would provide the Bears offense with the speed and explosive playmaking ability that resulted in his 1,248 receiving yards in 2009 and his eight touchdowns in 2011.
He said he’s healthy after missing a total of 17 games with a severe Lisfranc injury in his left foot in 2012 and a torn right hamstring last season. He said he believes he waited the right amount of time to get healthy before trying out for a team and that the Bears are the right fit.
He’ll have to prove that on the field, but coach Marc Trestman at least sees a potential solution for an offense still searching for a third receiver.
“He’s got experience,” Trestman said. “He’s an excellent route runner. He’s got good hands. He has played the game. He understands the game at this level. He had a workout that was relevant enough to bring him in here and give him an opportunity to see if he can help us.”
Veteran Josh Morgan will be the first-string offense’s third receiver in Friday’s road exhibition game against the Seahawks, Trestman said. Meanwhile, Holmes will continue studying the playbook in order to make an impact as soon as possible.
How long might that take?
“As much time as I want to spend in the playbook, which consists of all night and all day, learning and sticking around the coaches,” Holmes said. “Get meeting with the backup quarterbacks and taking every rep in mentally from the sideline.”
After he signed a one-year contract Saturday, he joined quarterback Jay Cutler and other teammates at Halas Hall to catch passes. He also stayed after practice Monday with receivers coach Mike Groh to practice footwork, among other things.
“He made our receiving corps so much better,” Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall said. “I love the guy. A lot of experience, big plays, leadership and a lot of fire.”
That fire, so to speak, warrants as close an eye as do Holmes’ big plays.
His reputation as a divisive locker room presence follows him from New York. He served a four-game suspension with the team in 2010 for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
During an ugly 2011 season, he clashed with quarterback Marc Sanchez. It culminated with him being benched by the offensive coordinator during the season finale.
Bears left guard Matt Slauson was Holmes’ teammate with the Jets from 2010-12.
“The guy was unbelievably talented,” Slauson said. “I think the situation there was everything was a mess and we were all frustrated about how a lot of things were going and it wasn’t necessarily just him. … He is an emotional, passionate competitor and he wears his emotions on his sleeve like a lot of guys did over there. The things he is able to do on the field I am super excited about, and to have him and Alshon (Jeffery) and Brandon it is going to be incredible.”
Trestman is taking a more guarded approach, at least outwardly. But he, of all people, values the transformative process. He recognizes that two-plus years have passed since Holmes made headlines for the wrong reasons, and he’s focused on what began for Holmes on Monday, not what’s behind him.
“People change,” Trestman said. “They get into new venues, new environments. You’re out for a while, you get a good, hard look at where you are not only in your work life, (but) other aspects of your life.
“We feel he’s coming in here at a good place. He’s coming into a great locker room. Guys have reached out to him and are willing to help him and to give him an opportunity to help our football team. But it will be a process. It will be day to day, but it’s off to a good start. We’ll see where it takes us.”
Twitter @Rich_Campbell
