Kenny Holmes rooting for his friend and former team in Super Bowl XLVI

It should come as no surprise that Kenny Holmes will be rooting hard for the New York Giants to win Super Bowl XLVI.

He played for them from 2001-03.

"Absolutely, I'm rooting for the Giants," said Holmes, the former Vero Beach High School and University of Miami standout who spent three years with the Giants after four seasons with the Tennessee Oilers/Titans, "Not only did I play there, but one of their coaches, Jessie Armstead, is a really god friend of mine,"

Holmes and Armstead played together in New York and at UM, where Holmes was Tennessee's first-round pick in the 1997 NFL Draft.

It was with the Titans that Holmes, a starting defensive end, made it to Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

You might remember that game -- especially the final play: The Kurt Warner-led, Dick Vermeil-coached St. Louis Rams escaped with a 23-16 victory when linebacker Mike Jones tackled Titans receiver Kevin Dyson one yard shy of the goal line.

"We were one yard away from going to overtime," Holmes said. "I think about that a lot."

Still, Holmes, the former Vero Beach defensive coordinator who now coaches defensive tackles at New Mexico State, plans to watch Sunday's Super Bowl. And he'll be rooting for the Giants.

At some point, though, his mind will drift back to Jan. 30, 2000 ... and that last play.

"One yard," he said. "I'll never forget it."

That should come as no surprise, either.


(tcpalm.com)