"As the Jets' season ended here with a 19-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins today, one of the Rex Ryan-appointed captains — receiver Santonio Holmes — was on the sideline, benched and frustrated and a symbol of this team's flawed chemistry.

Late in the fourth quarter, receiver Patrick Turner ran onto the field, tapped Holmes on the shoulder and told him to come out. The decision was made by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, a person with knowledge of the decision-making process said, because he had no choice.

"I looked out there, and I was wondering why he wasn't out there myself," coach Rex Ryan said. "I didn't bench Santonio. You'll have to ask him."

Holmes, who signed a five-year, $45 million deal in free agency, offered no answers, calling it the "coach's call." Assistant coaches, including Schottenheimer, are not available after games.

But it was Holmes' demeanor through through the course of the game as well as an argument with teammates in the huddle spurred the benching, several players said.

Holmes was yanked before the Jets' two-minute drive ended in Turner's 10-yard touchdown with 1:15 to play, giving the team a glimmer of hope.

Holmes had been "moping" through the course of the game, not listening to quarterback Mark Sanchez, according to players. One veteran player approached him before he was yanked by the coaches and told him to get off the field if he wasn't going to help the team.

"Let me just say that there were guys in the huddle that were unhappy with Tone's demeanor," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "And when you have a group of guys who are fighting their butts off, and one guy who – for whatever reason, his demeanor isn't with 'em – you'll have guys try to say something to him, just pretty much tell him how they feel. That's what you got today.""