In light of his play in both the Super Bowl XLIII and the overall NFL playoffs, it appears that Santonio Holmes might be the NFL’s next greatest wide receiver. He is fast and young, with a good set of hands that with each passing season get better and better. Weighing just 192 pounds and standing 5′11″, Holmes definitely isn’t the biggest player out on the gridiron, but his impact is big. Just the perceived threat alone of his being out on the field makes a very large impact all on its own.

His stats really don’t tell the full story of just how great Holmes has been during the first three years of his NFL career. The main reason for this is sharing passes with Hines Ward, and also because quarterback Ben Roethlisberger really hasn’t had impressive stats either.

For the 2008-2009 regular season Holmes had 55 catches on 821 yards with 5 touchdowns. However his potential is there. Look at what he did in the playoffs. For the 2008-2009 playoffs Holmes had 13 catches on 226 yards with 2 touchdowns. These numbers aren’t as big as Larry Fitzgerald’s record-setting playoff statistics. However it was the Super Bowl, the biggest game of all, where Holmes shined the brightest. Holmes caught 9 passes for 131 yards in the big game, along with the game’s winning touchdown. He also was named the Super Bowl’s MVP.

Holmes is now also now a big threat on special teams. That’s pretty amazing considering what all of his special teams woes were in past seasons. Just ask any Steeler fan and they will tell you that just two or even one year ago, Santonio Holmes couldn’t for the life of him field a punt.

Holmes can change a game in a blink of an eye and is the Steelers’ true deep threat and big play maker. His punt return for a touchdown in the Chargers-Steelers playoff game is an example of this. His 65 yard touchdown against the Ravens is another example. Roethlisberger was actually trying to throw the ball away, when Holmes grabbed the pass and ran past the NFL’s number two defense all the way to the end zone.

Hines Ward is 32 years old and will turn 33 next month. Ward is aging. On the day he retires the city of Pittsburgh will be very sad. Holmes will need to step in as the teams number one receiver. Santonio is a tremendous player and looks like he can fill Ward’s big shoes.

He sold drugs when he was a kid and was busted during the season for marijuana. But this has all been dealt with.

Santonio Holmes could very well be the NFL’s next greatest receiver. He has next season to show it. If he continues getting better and better, maybe the broadcasters will get his name right instead of calling him “San Antonio.”