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Steelers' Holmes Admits Dealing Drugs As Youth

The Associated Press

Santonio Holmes hopes telling his story might dissuade someone else from taking the same path.

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2009

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes' revelation that he briefly sold drugs as a youth has created a stir in the national media. It was the first thing he was asked about during his media availability Thursday at USF's Sun Dome.

"I talked about it a couple of times, and it's done," Holmes said. "It's time to focus on the game right now."

A day earlier, Holmes said he spent a year selling drugs on a street corner in his hometown of Belle Glade. He said he made the admission hoping his story might dissuade someone else from taking the same path.

He originally spoke about it in an interview with the Miami Herald, then discussed it with media at large on Wednesday.

"I've only told three or four people about it," he said. "I feel it's time to share things. I'm on the biggest stage, everybody's going to be watching. I'm pretty sure some kids can get a feel for changing their lives and not doing those type of things and can get an opportunity to get out of the ghetto, the 'hood, to be successful."

Holmes' life was turned around by football. He starred at Glades Central High, helping the school win state titles his sophomore and junior seasons and go 12-1 his senior year. He then starred at Ohio State before the Steelers drafted him in the first round in 2006.

He did not say what kind of drugs he sold.

"My friends were always doing it, and I felt comfortable doing it at the time," he said. "As the years grew older, I just felt like that wasn't what I wanted to do. I wanted to play football. I don't want to end up like a lot of my friends, in jail, standing on the corner, not going to school."

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