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Report: Jets' Santonio Holmes Agrees To Restructure Contract; Po'uha Gone

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes has agreed to restructure his contract and will remain with Gang Green for the 2013 campaign, reported ESPN's Adam Schefter.

New York had discussed the restructuring with Holmes in recent weeks in an effort to free up cap room.

The sixth-year player will enter his third year of a five-year, $45 million deal, $7.5 million of which is guaranteed. The former first-round pick was scheduled to take home an $11 million base salary in 2013.

Holmes suffered a Lisfranc foot injury in Week 4 and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. In his four games he caught 20 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown.

In other Jets new, the team released one of their longest-tenured players in a cost-cutting move. Multiple sources have reported that New York and popular nose tackle Sione Po'uha have parted ways.

Po'uha was due to make $4.9 million in base salary this season, which would have become guaranteed if he remained on the roster Thursday. The move Tuesday, a few hours before the start of free agency, saved the Jets about $3.8 million on the salary cap.

The 34-year-old Po'uha missed four games last season while dealing with back troubles after signing a three-year, $15 million contract last offseason. He was New York's third-round pick out of Utah in 2005. He has 263 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and a safety during his career. Po'uha became a full-time starter for the Jets in 2009, when he filled in for the injured Kris Jenkins, and then did so again the following season when Jenkins suffered yet another season-ending — and, it turned out, career-ending — knee injury.

The Jets have revamped their defensive line through the draft in the last few years, and could be without both Po'uha and defensive end Mike DeVito, who is set to draw interest from several teams in free agency.

Kenrick Ellis, the Jets' third-round pick in 2011 who has also dealt with some injuries, is expected to replace Po'uha as the starter at nose tackle. Damon Harrison and Junior Aumavae are also on the roster and can play the position.

Are you surprised that Holmes agreed to this, and what are your thoughts on the Jets parting ways with Po'uha? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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