FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets' final meltdown began last Wednesday in a classroom, where Santonio Holmes and Mark Sanchez exchanged pointed words in a quarterback-wide receivers meeting, team sources told ESPNNewYork.com.

Sanchez, in an attempt to rally the slumping offense, stood up before the entire group, announcing he wanted to meet after hours with the wide receivers for extra film study in preparation 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.

It exploded in the final minutes of Sunday's 19-17 loss, which eliminated the Jets from playoff contention. Several players felt Holmes, held without a catch for the first time in his career, had quit on the team. Tackle Wayne Hunter called him out in the huddle and a heated exchange ensued.

Holmes was pulled from the game by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, and he remained on the bench, alone, for the final 2½ minutes.

It was the breaking point in a season marked by locker-room turmoil. One player, speaking on the condition of anonymity, called Holmes a "cancer" and a "distraction." Another player described the Sanchez-Holmes relationship as distant, noting that Holmes didn't attend the Sanchez-organized passing camp in California during the lockout.