Jets Trade Rhodes to the Desert

After making a trade to acquire San Diego's malcontent defensive player on Friday afternoon, the Jets traded their own unhappy defensive star Saturday night. Safety Kerry Rhodes was dealt to the Arizona Cardinals for fourth and seventh round picks in this year's draft.

This trade was a long time coming, as many believed that Rhodes was more interested in his acting career than playing football. His nickname in the locker room, "Hollywood," did not sit well with his teammates and many believed he did not work hard enough this past season.

The coaches began to have doubts about the desire of Rhodes, who has aspirations of having an acting career after football. So head coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine pulled him from the base defensive package in favor of Eric Smith.

He returned to the starting lineup at Tampa Bay on Dec. 13 following a meeting with defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman -- one of the conditions set by Ryan.

After being demoted, Rhodes got his head on straight and when he returned to the starting base defense, he looked as if he was a man on a mission, finishing the season with three interceptions and a career high 13 passes defensed.

The deal came a day after Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said he expected Rhodes to participate in the offseason program in a few weeks, and play in New York this year and beyond "unless something changes."

Apparently, something did change -- and Tannenbaum jumped at the chance to deal Rhodes, whose future with the Jets was uncertain after a shaky season in which he feuded with coaches over his role.
Rhodes has four years left on his contract and was due a $2 million roster bonus next week. Expected to be one of the standouts on coach Rex Ryan's defense last year, Rhodes struggled and even lost his starting job.

After Ryan was hired as the Jets' coach last year, he immediately compared Rhodes to Pro Bowler Ed Reed. He said Rhodes could fill the playmaking role Reed excelled in under Ryan for several years in Baltimore.

The high praise was the result of the 12 interceptions, nine sacks and five forced fumbles Rhodes had in his first four seasons. But Rhodes struggled to live up to that hype, producing no turnovers through the first 10 games.

Rhodes acknowledged he was frustrated, but humbled by last season. He had been noncommittal about whether he would want to return to the team, but met with the coaches and had a different outlook in the offseason.

"To be honest, I really do want to be here," Rhodes said in an interview with television station SportsNet New York in January. "This is New York. This is the team that gave me my first shot. They gave me the big contract. ... I'm letting the fans know I do want to be here to end my career as a Jet, but sometimes circumstances happen."

Rhodes, a fourth-round pick out of Louisville in 2005, has 15 career interceptions.

This is a good move for the Jets because they rid themselves of a player who seemed to be very selfish at times and one who did not fit Rex Ryan's defensive system. Imagine how many missed tackles the Jets would amass next season if they had Cromartie AND Rhodes in their starting secondary.

All kidding aside, I love Kerry Rhodes and I think he is a phenomenal football player with gifted abilities, but he did not fit into the Jets locker room with his "Hollywood" mentality.

In Arizona, he will step right in and start opposite All-Pro safety Adrian Wilson. Rhodes seems better fitted in Arizona and they make a great move to get him after losing linebacker Karlos Dansby to the Dolphins and Antrel Rolle to the Giants.

Back to the Jets now.

This leaves a big hole in the Jets secondary at the safety position. There are not really any quality free agents out there to fill Rhodes' spot but they may take a look at Ravens restricted free agent saftey Dawan Landry. However, they probably won't do anything more than speak with him because it would cost the Jets a second round pick to sign Landry.

So which leads us to believe that this now changes the Jets' draft plan. They now need a safety and who better than the safety from my favorite college football team, the USC Trojans, Taylor Mays.

Mays hits as hard as anyone, ran one of the fastest 40s at the combine, has borderline outside linebacker size, but he needs some work with his game. However, he is projected to go in the latter portion of the first round. You're going to say a player like that doesn't have Rex Ryan licking his chops? I think so! I love, love Taylor Mays and I would love nothing more than to see him in green and white in 2010.