Two days after coach Rex Ryan raised significant questions about whether Kerry Rhodes was wanted back by the Jets next season, Rhodes addressed the situation for the first time yesterday, though he left the issue rather cloudy.
Appearing on SNY’s “Wheelhouse” show, Rhodes said not only that Ryan wants him to remain a Jet but that he wants to stay.
Nevertheless, Rhodes dropped several hints that it’s no lock he will be back with the Jets. It’s believed that Rhodes doesn’t believe he will be back with the Jets.
One moment he was saying he enjoys being a Jet.
“Rex Ryan is my guy. I like Rex a lot,” Rhodes said. “We get along. We’re great friends. He called me [yesterday] and reiterated again that they want me here. And to be honest, I really do want to be here. This is the team that gave me my first shot, drafted me in the fourth round when a lot of other teams didn’t give me a chance.
“They gave me the big contract here. I’m letting fans know I do want to be here and end my career as a Jet.”
But there were other moments when Rhodes sprinkled in some cumulous clouds of doubt that he will remain with the organization.
“But, sometimes circumstances happen,” he said. “There’s going to be a little talk between us in the next couple of weeks, but I want to be here.”
What Rhodes, whose nickname is “Hollywood” for his off-the-field interests, really meant is that he wants to be in New York.
There have been some rumblings that Rhodes would love to go to the Giants in a trade for Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who some believe has worn out his welcome with coach Tom Coughlin. The Giants have definite needs in the secondary.
This sideshow began on Monday when Ryan, pressed multiple times, sidestepped questions about whether he wanted Rhodes to return.
“This one I don’t really want to talk about much, because there’s an individual thing that Kerry and I have talked about,” Ryan said on Monday.
Ryan said the Monday conversation he had with Rhodes was similar to the one they had after he demoted Rhodes from his starting role for two games after a Nov. 22 loss to the Patriots. At that point, Rhodes hadn’t made any impact plays and wasn’t playing the physical brand of football that Ryan preaches.
Ryan also demanded that Rhodes spend one-on-one time with defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman before he had a chance be reinstated as a starter.
Rhodes, somewhat reluctantly, did so. But it was clear that he had a strained relationship with Thurman and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Rhodes also said that he and Pettine didn’t “see eye to eye.”
Pettine and Thurman are Ryan’s two closest and most trusted assistants, so it’s pretty obvious that Ryan told Rhodes on Monday that if he cannot get along with those coaches and buy into the program, maybe he doesn’t belong.
“We had a little discussion [Monday] that we had eight weeks ago,” Rhodes said yesterday. “[Ryan] came out and said he wants me here, they want me on his team. But the option here for me _ and this is what we said back then [in November] — was if I didn’t really fit in and I didn’t go with the Dennis Thurman thing, meeting with him and buying into the system, I could request a trade. [So] the situation is up to me.”
Rhodes’ tone yesterday made it sound like he’s seeking a some love from the Jets, the same team, remember, that gave him a five-year, $33.5 million contract extension in 2008.
It’s also possible that the Jets want Rhodes, who’s scheduled to make a $2.8 million base salary in 2010 and is due a $2 million roster bonus in March, want to restructure his contract.
“I’m going to meet with [Ryan] when he gets back and we’re going to go over some more things,” Rhodes said. “Sometimes, people don’t fit in certain situations. I’m not one to say that I don’t fit in, but I have to reevaluate myself and see what’s going on and see how much they really care about me here.”