"Santonio Holmes' blow-up and benching occurred in the final minutes of the New York Jets' season-ending loss Sunday, but the tension had been building for days, team sources told ESPNNewYork.com.

The warning signs were there last week, team sources said Monday -- Holmes and Mark Sanchez exchanged words in a quarterback/receivers meeting last week, according to a source.

Sanchez, in an attempt to rally the Jets' slumping offense, addressed the unit in a meeting Wednesday and said he was planning to hold special after-hours sessions to fine-tune the game plan for the season finale against the Miami Dolphins.

Holmes showed up for the meeting, but stood in the back of the room and was "pouting the whole time," one source said. According to another source, Holmes said, "Why do I have to do this?" Sanchez held the same meeting the following day, but Holmes was a no-show, sources said.

"I had a feeling it was going to explode," one source said.

The issue came to a head with less than three minutes to play Sunday when Holmes and tackle Wayne Hunter argued in the huddle. Several players felt Holmes, who was held without a catch for the first time in his career, had quit on the team. He then was benched by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer."