[ThePundit]

Blitzburgh of Behind the Steel Curtain thinks Holmes is a keeper!

I suppose it's hard to label your #1 draft pick who finished the year with fewer than 50 receptions a 'surprise', but I think if you analyze Holmes' first year as a pro-dating all the way back to training camp-you can argue that he had a pleasantly surprising first year in the NFL.

Before Holmes even stepped on the field, we were hearing about him for the wrong reasons: legal issues. Although nothing much came of it, Holmes was arrested for disorderly conduct in Miami. (Speaking of which: Does anyone else feel a disproportionately large number of off-field incidents happen in Miami or the state of Florida at large?) After that incident, Holmes kept his nose clean and was a good teamate by all accounts. His intensity and prepartaion left something to be desired in the first quarter of the season, but improved dramatically as the year progressed. And that's what's important for rookies. Improvment, hard work, and an awareness that you're just a small fish in a gigantic pond of talent, competitiveness, and desire. Holmes seems to have grasped these concepts by the time the ball was snapped for the last time in 2006.

What does everyone think? Is he the real deal?
Behind the Steel Curtain :: A Pittsburgh Steelers Blog

[EmpireWF]

Sounds like his mind is in the right place now. Question is, how will he be used in the brand new Pittsburgh offense?

[Notorious C.L.E.]

Depends on your classification of the real deal.

As a flanker, Holmes is the real deal. As a split-end, Holmes is comfortably average, maybe slightly above average.

[Lefty Noob]

He's certainly not the gamebreaker the Steelers thought they were getting. But he may well wind up having a solid career.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

He's certainly not the gamebreaker the Steelers thought they were getting. But he may well wind up having a solid career.

Solid Careers are not what the 1st round pick is all about...but better than the words "big bust"...I guess...