Causin’ a Kerfuffel: Rhodes on 1050 ESPN
I watched the press conference in Arizona, where Rhodes said a lot without saying a lot. Seemingly in a day though, some of the same questions that were asked received wholly different answers, when asked by 1050 ESPN’s Michael Kay. Rather than exit gracefully, Kerry Rhodes seems to have chosen to go out with the New York media in a blaze of glory.
Here’s the interview with Michael Kay from ESPN.com.
UPDATE: I’d not heard the interview yet before I posted this, now that I have, I do think that while Rhodes makes some nice quotes for the tabloids, it isn’t as scandalous as it was all made out byt the Post and Daily News. Listen to the interview linked above for yourself. Still, I think that Rhodes and the teams had problems, didn’t see eye to eye, coudn’t find a way out, and it was more than just on the field stuff, but attitude stuff from both sides. Rex made it clear that he told the team the Jets were going to win a SuperBowl, but not with all these guys, I guess Rhodes just isn’t one of those guys. Still, Rhodes loves the fans and appreciates their support through this time.
“Does (the trade) make sense? Evidently for them it did,” Rhodes said sarcastically. “I can’t say I agree with it and I’m not going to say I’m mad or sad about it.”
Rhodes, who clashed with defensive coaches Mike Pettine and Dennis Thurman, accused the Jets staff of stripping him of a leadership role in favor of the former Ravens players Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard and Marques Douglas brought in by Rex Ryan, calling it “a slap in the face.”
He, too, said he was surprised to have not heard from Ryan since the trade. He also said the organization used his off-field interests as “an excuse” to criticize him.
“Ridiculous,” Rhodes called the Jets’ claims that he wasn’t committed enough to football. “Whenever you have something that’s not going the way you think it should, people always try to lay blame. I guess some stuff was said. I was an easy target. I was an easy scapegoat for somebody to say, ‘He’s worried about other stuff. He’s not putting his all into it and doing what he should be doing on the field.’
“It gave those guys an easy way out, just to blame it on that. To hear that stuff kind of bothers me, but I never let it be known until now.”
Rhodes tweaked Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum for telling him he was the only player he could trade to acquire draft picks.
“I still take that as an excuse,” Rhodes said. “You can get picks for anybody. You can get picks for Mark Sanchez if you want them, but he’s still there.”
“The D coordinator and the rest of those guys didn’t feel like I was the focal point — or one of the focal points — on the defense,” Rhodes said. “It was more like, ‘Oh, we brought in our guys … and our guys know the system, so we’re going to let them run things and you guys just learn it and fill in with them,’” Rhodes said. “To me, it doesn’t work that way. Not to sound arrogant, but I’ve always been the guy that coaches would say, ‘Okay, you run the defense, you help them get lined up and make plays. It was kind of a slap in the face.”
Obviously, Rhodes was referring to Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard and Marques Douglas, the former Ravens. But if Rhodes’ theory is right, how do you explain that the two best defensive players — Darrelle Revis and David Harris — were holdovers from the previous staff?
“In the beginning, they didn’t make me feel the way I think you should make people feel,” Rhodes said. “It just didn’t work.”
Rhodes seemed particularly offended by those who have questioned his commitment to football. Coordinator Mike Pettine, who clashed with Rhodes, said after Rhodes’ benching that he wanted the safety to spend more time at the facility.
“Ridiculous,” Rhodes said. “It’s an easy way to place blame or shift the situation to something you want it geared to … Whenever you have something that’s not going the way you think it should, people always try to lay blame. I guess some stuff was said. I was an easy target. I was an easy scapegoat for somebody to say, ‘He’s worried about other stuff. He’s not putting his all into it and doing what he should be doing on the field.’ It gave those guys an easy way out, just to blame it on that.
“To hear that stuff kind of bothers me, but I never let it be known until now.”
110 Responses to Causin’ a Kerfuffel: Rhodes on 1050 ESPN
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“How to win friends and influence people”
“How to jump off the high road”
“How to derail your career”
Lastly
“How to shut the **** up, cuz no one cares about you now”
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J-Kay says:
So glad we got rid of this jackass.
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BigKatt says:
Wow. What a jackass. After reading that i went from 90% happy that he’s outta here al the way to 115%. No room for a prima donna like that on this team. The “you can get picks for Sanchez” line? What on earth is going through this guys head?
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mole57 says:
4th rounder is looking much better right now. This is not a guy you want on your team.
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nyr2k2 says:
Oh, waaaah, the coaching staff didn’t make him feel comfortable, waaaah, they told him to sit back and learn the system, waaaah… What a freakin’ baby.
Good riddance, as far as I’m concerned.
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Jetsfan1974 says:
Carrie Rhodes is just upset because Thomas Jones whooped his azz.
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JetObsessed28 says:
Now that he’s gone, he is showing his true colors..
Good thing he’s in Arizona.. All those tears should help the drought in that region.. -
After hearing the full interview last night (after just reading the transcript) I feel Rhodes probably should have not done an interview with “the NY media” for a few weeks.
He was obviously still shocked and hurt by this trade. It also didnt help that Kay’s questions from the start helped lead Rhodes to the type of answers he gave. He has to take full blame for his dumb “Rex players” getting favored but he did acknowldge towards the end that this was a early season problem.
The problem I have this interview is this is reason some fans hated Rhodes. I dont think he did but alot of fans will say he came of selfish and cocky with his answers yesterday. Very annoyed about how this will play out with the fanbase but cant really defend him.
A little advice for Rhodes in the future….You cant throw Mangini under the bus last year and then come this year and say Rex and the system slapped you in the face. it just makes your legacy here even more clouded.
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Bent says: Yeah, when I said that the only reason to get rid of him was attitude, this was the kind of stuff I was talking about.
You can’t blame the Jets for the lack of value they received in return.
I maintain that Rhodes, even in a down year, was better than most safeties and a crucial part of the defensive success, but stuff like this limits the potential of the defense. I’d rather have a great defense than an average one that lets Rhodes do his “thang”.
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TOOM2388 says:
confiential source told me 5 JETS work out a gym in Arizona in off-season…..those 5 players immediately and separately called gym owner and requested that Rhodes NOT be allowed to work out there as it will create a very bad environment.
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tommyfromsi says:
this gets better and better. i am so happy hes gone. and for anyone that wonders why hes gone or we should have gotten more for him do me a favor go back and watch the second bills game and his atempt to tackle lynch downfield
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david i says:
This is an obvious representation of the character flaws and weakness that coaches saw him present during the season. Bye bye underachiever.
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Ed says:
Why would he be the center of the D when he isn’t even close to being the units best player? I didn’t like this move when I first heard about it, but it looks like Tanny and Rex were right about this guy. See ya.
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You are the only one who cant get along with these coaches Kerry. It seems most people on the team would run thru a wall for them.
Cro didnt leave SD on good terms but he didnt badmouth anyone he thanked them and moved on and he is supposed to have poor character.
I was a supporter of Kerry. Goodluck with your acting in the dessert. Why dont you act like your not afraid to hit someone. Good riddence.
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Aru89 says:
homie got truck-sticked by Wes Welker…. made me never want to wear a Karako suit ever… can’t wait til he goes to Arizona and realizes he is not famous!
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Bent says:
Toon – interesting stuff, although you hurt your credibility by misspelling your own name! :o)
Any idea who the five players are? Pace, one would assume.
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Big W says:
I still think it was a mistake to trade him. Bottom line is that he is a good player and now the Jets are bringing in scrubs to try to replace him. Let’s be honest, they will have to spend another pick to get a safety now. What is the use of getting a pick from the Cards to just spend it on the player that you just replaced.
I listened to the interview and it was clear that he was still hurt from the Jets trading him. He lashed out at the Jets for trading him. Kay is obviously a fan of Rhodes if you listen to the interview.
It took the Jets a long time to find a safety in the draft that is as good as Rhodes. Last safety that was as good as Rhodes was Victor Green.
Now they have to draft someone to replace him. I hope that they do a better job drafting safeties, than they did for the five years prior to Rhodes becoming a Jet.
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Bent says:
Haha. My sources (google) indicate that Revis works out annually in Arizona.
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Really, how can you complain about your role as centerpiece of the defense when 1) you aren’t close to that and 2) you couldn’t even handle your work as a role player?
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JL says:
Bye-Bye, Prima donna. I hope you enjoy tweeting in your desert exile.
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Mike says:
He didn’t say anything that bad. Why does the media really want us to hate him?
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I also think TJ works out in Arizona….I thought he was working out there last year when he pulled his minor hold out?
Rhodes stated that a few players called…..but then kind of named 2 or 3 (Sanchez, B Moore, Braylon) and then kind of skipped over it and just said “some called” but really nobody on defense…hmmmm
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patpat says:
Rhodes had said at the end of the last season exactly a year ago that he did not like having to run the defense as a result of Vilma leaving. He said that it made him less available to “do his own thing.” Now, he is saying that under Rex he was not able to be himself, like when he was running the defense last year.
In my honest opinion, this guy is only happy when he’s stealing the headlines. And if he’s not, he’s got an excuse for it. I think he practices them.
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sexy rexy says:
do we play arizona @ home? BOY BOY…that new stadium is gonna be rockin….
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swizzle81 says:
what a d bag, the defense will be better off without him anyway with that softy who couldnt tackle.
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Eric says:
i like kerry and thought he was a decent safety. He is just full of too many excuses and BS. What he fails to realize is that his mouth, tweets, karoko suits adds all contribute to the extra scrutiny he got when he didn’t preform well.
He doens’t explain why he was always late to the ball, counldn’t tackle, and talked to much. His past two years have been bad from every standpoint. Coaches fans and his own expectations haven’t been fullfilled at all.
i highly doubt that anyone is too worried about this guy leaving. Im sure tanny did his homework on the market for kerry and if a 4th is the best we can do then i have full confidence we can go out and draft a Safety to fill his spot. J E T S -
Bent says:
We don’t play Arizona in 2010. Or the Chiefs.
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jetfaninla says:
“In the beginning, they didn’t make me feel the way I think you should make people feel,” Rhodes said. “It just didn’t work.”
Jealous much that we brought in a defensive leader that actually, you know, lead? Jealous that we didn’t come a knockin’ at your door at 12:01?
I’m glad he’s gone. Obviously we’ll have to draft a safety, but we need players who want the team to succeed more than they want themselves to be famous.
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eric says:
although i think it was a good trade, i tend to side with rhodes a bit hear. i mean he was the leader of the defense for a few years and then the new regime came in and basically said ur not the leader anymore. i see his point.
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kc says:
Im sorry,I have to say that US getting rid of “Carrie Hollywood” Rhodes,had to do with ALOT more than JUST his attitude.He really just isn’t THAT good a player!?
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but we DO play the BROWNS! lol
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When was KR a leader of the D?
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jvsvn says:
It seems that the real problem with Rhodes was that he simple couldn’t handle it when he was no longer the center of attention. That was not a problem that was going to get solved. The Jets were probably right to trade him and got the best deal they could get. His leaving does create an issue but it’s an issue that can be solved either through the draft or some other means. Nothing’s perfect but with the addition of Cromartie the defense is in pretty good shape. With the draft coming up and even more reinforcements on the way (either at safety or elsewhere) I think we should all be pretty excited about what the defense is going to look like next year.
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X says:
I have no problem with kerry’s comments he was angry! He enjoyed playing for The jets and wanted to be a bigger part of it. Im sure that afterward he did have some locker room issues. But Rhodes in my opinion is at least the 2nd best coverage safety in the league Behind Polymalu. Reed is a ballhawk but he isnt out there breaking up plays. Rhodes was phenominal against TG in the ATl game which is probably what He meant by not letting him be in a position to make plays. WHY against Dallas Clark and Antonio gates did you not have Rhodes do the same thing why is E. smith and bart scott trying to cover these guys. It made no sense when I was watching it. I dont ever remember him being late to the ball and he was always great at making pass defenses. Yea sure he wasnt a Jarring hitter last year but He was a solid tackler. Revis is the same way.I think part of Rhodes hesitancy was the hit on Anquan 2 years ago. If you remember it was really Rhodes’s Fault that Anquan got hurt he layed a hard blow to Boldins back which forced his head into E. Smiths hit.
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NO ONE WILL EVER CONVINE ME A 4th RND pick was Fair Value. MAYBE a 3rd or maybe a 4 and a 5 but 4 and maybe 7 is terrible value for someone as great in coverage as Rhodes! Check Stats RHodes was rated among the best safeties!
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Yo X ” Rhodes was phenominal against TG in the ATl game”, did you happen to catch the end of that game?
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I think all the papers got it wrong.
Go to twitter.com/e_man he wrote/posted an article yesterday that made the most sense about the Rhodes interview yesterday. -
bilal says:
Can someone please provide evidence of Kerry covering Gonzo? Every major TE the jets faced this year (gates, clark, owen daniels) they used LBs, Eric Smith, or the nickle corners to cover. I honestly dont remember Kerry covering TG although I could be wrong. The reason Kerry wasn’t used to cover TE’s is because that’s NOT what free safeties do- it usually the strong safety’s responsibility. Jets often would use three safeties in coverage when using Eric Smith to cover the likes of Clark and Owen Daniels.
Comparing Revis tackling skills to Kerry isn’t fair- Revis is a cb not a safety and even so- Revis is a much better tackler for his position than Kerry is.
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X, I can name THIRTEEN free safeties in the league that are JUST as GOOD or BETTER than Kerry. For SOME reason whoever we pick in the fourth round turns out to be a solid player/starter.
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jkjet64 says:
I moved from Jersey to Arizona 5 1/2 yrs ago. Now I have to put up with him out here….Crap!!!
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Bent says:
Bilal – You’re absolutely right that he wasn’t covering TEs for most of the season, but at the end of the year, they starting using Revis in Cover 0 a lot more and bringing Rhodes up. Not all the time, but increasingly compared with the rest of the year.
He did do a good job covering Gonzo and was on him most of the game. He also did a good job on Dallas Clark in the AFC Title game, when he was on him, although in the first Colts game he never matched up with Clark.
BigKatt – You mean when Strickland (who had a decent season) blew two consecutive coverages in the redzone?
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Jim says:
X – no one needs to convince you. The coaching staff and FO feel they got the best deal for Kerry that they could. Not many teams were looking to add a safety at the kind of dollars Kerry was making. Zona was probably our only option. Especially if teams knew we wanted him out of NY. This interview just re-iterates what I and many fans thought all along. This guy is all about himself, with no sense of team or unity. All he wanted was attention for himself so he could get his face on TV. In the middle of the year, his interviews were all about how he was disappointed he hadn’t made any big plays. Not once did I hear him talk about the team as a whole. Most veteran leaders would have not complained about taking a “back seat” at first to learn the system. Revis and Harris obviously didn’t seem to mind. And as for even mentioning Sanchez’s name, when he was one of the few people to actually call Kerry to say goodbye, was just even more classless. Good ridance scumbag. I hope you rot in that desert.
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Listened to the interview, still think he’s a little b*tch.
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jcjets says:
haha. I’m glad he’s not on the team anymore..although he had a few big plays in the charger game (onside kick recovery, strip sack) he always seemed like a duesh “me first” kind of player.
And after reading his comments, it give you a peak into his mentality. he wants to be coddled, and made to feel special by the coaches.
After looking at everything, I think the only real mistake mr T has made this offseason is letting TJ go. Great trade for Cro..I can live with the value we got for Rhodes..
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ronnie
great point on e_mans take on the interview. I have a similar take that he did. The problem is Rhodes continually put his foot in his mouth the last 2 years…which has generated a ton of Rhodes haters. He will never get the benefit of the doubt on this one
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joethejet says:
screw rhodes,we dont need him,lets see how good or better yet,how bad he will be this year.
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josh says:
Forget Rhodes, although talented, he will NEVER reach his own potential.
Ive been on the boat of moving hell and earth to sign Atogwe, but chances are the Rams will match essentially any offer, so unless trade, it wont happen.
I’m hearing we’re looking at Marlin jackson from the Colts to play safety. I would be interested in a move like that, get a guy who will play the majority of the time, and then draft a guy like Myron Rolle later in the draft (maybe trade into the third round and get him) who can come in a learn as the season goes, but not have to be the difference maker right away….
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Bent says:
I don’t mind that plan, although he’s so injury prone, can you rely on him to play “the majority of the time”.
If Jackson was the best veteran they could get, I’d draft one in the second round, so they have a trio of safeties that can cover (and Jackson can also add depth to the corner rotation).
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Jackson is a much better option than Poole….I actually wouldnt hate Jackson signing but as Bent stated he is always hurt.
Has been a hybrid CB/S since Michigan so a move to either position is not new to him.
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JEFFDOLFINI says:
jkjet64 let me know if you want to catch a game next season, I live in Arizona and have run into like 6 Jets fans in my whole life out here!
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Gotta say I agree with X that we didn’t get fair value. After reading Rhodes comments, we did have to move him but did other GMs know how bad it was? You would think with Cromartie going for a 3 (albeit next year) we should’ve gotten the same or more for Kerry. Cro had 1 great season 2 years ago, Kerry has been consistent, if a little off in a different system last year.
I’m a little surprised that Tanny made this move so quickly, I mean, he could’ve kept kerry and used him as trade bait on draft day or simply played the market a little longer. I know he wanted another pick for this year, but a 4 and a 7 next year seems like a move hastily made.
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just for the record,I was only judging/criticizing Kerry SOLELY on his on field play. Him running his mouth saying some IGNANT crap just makes even WORSE.
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NYCPE
I initially thought the same thing but now I feel a 3rd would have been “good” value a 4th was “fair”. The problem is we are so used to Mr T robbing other teams on these trades the Rhodes one looks bad.
In a very deep draft I feel the Cardinals and the Jets broke even on this deal.
i would have rather kept him but apparently there were other issues besides his play.
I did hear they were discussing a Boldin/Rhodes swap…..but they wanted us to throw in some picks.
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JJets says:
so what is the latest? who we getting?
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i wouldn’t mind having pool and jackson, but the visits look like one or the other, as long as they don’t play like david barrett
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guys i know boldin is good but I don’t think he would fit more of a possession guy
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@ Jeff. Yes I had put my e-mail out on a post for you a while ago. This Friday i’m actually going over to Westgate and I think you said you lived over that way.
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You really can’t compare the Cromartie and Rhodes trades from a value standpoint. Someone with pure CB skills always will have more value than a safety. If you look at it that way, then the 4th and a 7th is probably right for Rhodes. Is that “fair market value” for a player of Rhodes’s talent? Probably not but you never get equal value when trading a player for picks. Maybe they could have gotten a 3rd for Rhodes but certainly nothing more than that.
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Harris52ChampionshipDefense says:
I agree with whoever said that its more important to have a top defense that limits Rhodes as opposed to an average one that lets him do this “thang (lame).” Rhodes’ off-field career interests never really bothered me – this is a brutal game and a guy has to prepare for when he can no longer play – so much as his constant jibba-jabba on Twitter that he could never, EVER back up on gameday. The last straw for me came when he was buzzing the Dolphins’ sideline during warmups in the Ted Ginn Disaster game. Crowder and Taylor became enraged. Rhodes laughed. Taylor had a fumble recovery for a TD, Rhodes was invisible. I know that Kerry’s teammates were furious at him for placing his own childish antics over the team that day.
Rhodes is a very talented player but its sadly obvious that he was never going to work hard to fit into Ryan’s system. Contrast that to Vilma’s attitude when Mangini took over – he knew he was out of place in the 3-4, but he embraced the challenge of learning a new system. It didn’t work out in the end, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort.
I’ll take a Rex Ryan defense that’s ranked #1 without any impact plays from Kerry Rhodes over an Eric Mangini defense that’s ranked in the 20s with impact plays from Rhodes any day. Evidently Kerry doesn’t understand this. Too bad.
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belvey631 says:
I thought this was the season KR was supposed to produce like his 1st 2 seasons. Rex’ system was gonna free him to make plays. His 1st interception didn’t come til 11th game? Whats up with that! He tries to explain his point of view, but it just helps us understand the reason for the trade.
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To the guys who say that the Jets did not get fair market value for Rhodes:
As Parcells said: “You are what your record says you are.”—Along the same lines, Your value is what the trade compensation says it is. If the Jets had a better deal out there they would have taken it.
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brian311 says:
the question i ask is the team going to be better off if eric smith starts or you draft a safety in round 4? maybe if rhodes really was a clubhouse cancer they will be. but on the surface i would say no way. eric smith, or digs for that matter, cant cover anyone. they are also both short. we now have a hole in the defence – no one who can roam in deep center with sideline-to-sideline speed, and no one who can cover a TE. that is a problem
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comparing players for picks is always hard to do. Its not comparing apples to apples. A player is, for the most part, proven, where as you dont know where your draft picks are going to end up.
this idea can go both ways. Moss for a 6th, Seymour for a 1st. I know both of those involve the Raiders, but i think my point holds water…maybe…
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KenB says:
now the trade seems reasonable… yes he’s talented, but a chip on his sholder that big clearly affected his play last year
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john l says:
kerry just seems like he’s the guy on the team that talks in the third person a lot. screw em’
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brian — Of all the Jet players it was reasonably clear that Rex had the most issues with Rhodes. If Rex is going to be “the man” for years to come, Rhodes had to go.
Sometimes there is addition by subtraction even when it deals with players who have significant ability.
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Filed to ESPN: Former Panthers DT Maake Kemoeatu signed a two-year, $7 million deal with the Redskins.
Man would have been nice to have him
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I think they are going to target lineman in the draft
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ramble914 says:
Going as far as we did in the playoffs changed everything for us. It is no longer good enough to be just a good player, we now need good players who play well in big spots, such as the playoffs.
Kerry Rhodes and T. Jones weren’t those players. Rhodes because he’s soft and TJ because he got old, and couldn’t do it into January.
I’m beginning to think Kris Jenkins might fall into this category. We don’t need players to rise up in Sept. and Oct. We need players to rise up in Dec. and Jan. And so far Jenkins hasn’t done it.
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Just seems like other teams knew we were desperate to trade him which took away our leverage. It’s a deep draft but you really never can cry if a 4th rounder doesn’t work out that well. So we traded a good player with a lousy attitude for a crapshoot in a deep draft. Hope there’s a plan along with this. At least we dumped his contract, too.
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john I
“kerry just seems like he’s the guy on the team that talks in the third person a lot. screw em”
I could see him doing that. That’s awesome!
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Darrell says:
dude… Corey Haim is dead.
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John Z says:
I’m just dying to know, what idiot told him he could act? He’s Steven Segal bad!
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At least this means we dont have to see him in any more Karako commercials….
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Jason Ventre says:
Hey JKJET64…I moved to Arizona as well. Shoot me an email and let me know what part. Would love to be able to watch a Jets Game on TV with a Jets fan for once…
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Ben Nevis says:
One point that should be made here, I think.
Look at the way Rhodes left us—hurling accusations in the press, whining that he was made a “target” and a “scapegoat,” whining that he wasn’t the “focal point” of the defense, that the coaches liked other players better, whining that he wasn’t asked him to “run the defense.”
And look at the way TJ left us. Without a word of complaint.
Just one more reminder (if we needed it): Thomas Jones is a class act.
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SackDance99 says:
josh,
I hated those cheesy Karako commercials. I’ve never been to Karako, but those commercials make Men’s Warehouse look like Barney’s!
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JetSetRadio says:
Kerry Rhodes was good at one thing last year and that was staying behind people…im sure we can find someone else to handle those needs.
This guy is a cry baby and played like one. I for one would scream at my television every sunday because he seemed afraid to step up or put a shoulder into anyone. i loved him when he was a playmaker but it seems he’s lost a step and didn’t care about the team. its all about chemistry and Kerry ruined our chemistry.
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TheRealRK says:
To be perfectly honest I don’t care if the GM of my team lies to a player so he can get a better offer when trying to trade the player. The morals of the GM doesn’t matter to me, what’s important is putting a winning team on the field. So when the media writes articles bashing Tannenbaum for lying to Rhodes or Coles or Baker etc…as a fan I’m cold blooded, as long as it helps the team, how it got to that point really doesn’t matter to me.
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dakar says:
some of you guys act as if he was a criminal…we lost a very talented player for a 4th and 7th round picks…he’s still rated as 1 of the best at his position and you guys hate him for exactly what…not becoming ed reed…i mean every1 of you guys had such expectations for kerry and so did i…but when he didn’t deliver…he became the all mighty evil in the locker room…there is always 2 sides 2 every story…we’re gonna end up with a safety that can give the big hit but isn’t gonna be able to cover for sheiiitttt…
i hope he finishes his career as 1 of the best…and i hope we win the SB…i always loved kerry and im not gonna have the media swing me into hating him as it has with some of you…how quick ny fans turn on a player…just my thoughts…
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ben
last year TJ wasn’t a class act when he was holding out for a new contract…i remember most of the guys in here wanted to trade him…get rid of him like he wasn’t even human…and his actions toward the jets are louder than kerry’s words…he took a lesser contract to be with a lesser team…
im not crying over rhodes or TJ but im not gonna rip either 1 because or favor either 1…keep an even keel…or however the saying goes…just my thoughts…
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Could Wilfork be talking about the ex-Raven, soon to be ex-Patriot and possibly new Jet?
Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald reports Vince Wilfork had the following to say in a conference call about leadership:
“As players, we’re going to have to start in the offseason training, and basically, everybody is going to have to be accountable,” Wilfork said, building steam. “If you’re on the field, you have to give me 100. You have to give me 100 percent. Always. We have to weed out the bad seeds, point blank. If you can’t give me what I’m giving you on the field, I don’t need you on the field with me. Point blank. That’s how you win. You got to build trust. Show me that I can trust you. I have no problem, if a guy’s not giving me that, I have no problem telling that guy I don’t need him on the field, and I have no problem going to tell Bill (Belichick) I don’t want him on the field. That’s point blank.”
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dakar-
Did TJ miss camp last year? Or any of the preseason? Did TJ complain publicly in the press?
Or did TJ show up as expected, play out the weakest year in his contract (weakest in terms of what he was being paid), and then put up rushing and TDs numbers that were the best of his entire career?
You can love Rhodes, if you like. I thought he was a quality player, one who isn’t going to be easy to replace.
But don’t go hating on TJ, my friend.
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Eddie DiGio says:
Ben Nevis- agreed about TJ. BIG TIME DIFFERENCE
I liked Rhodes when he came up but I have to be honest, when I heard this- I wanted to puke
His time was up here, no doubt about it
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Ben,
Don’t forget that TJ found out with two weeks to go in the regular season that his role was going to be reduced, and it “crushed” him. We didn’t hear a single word of that until he released. Had that been Kerry Rhodes, it would have been on Twitter the second he walked out of the meeting.
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I like Rhodes as a player, but Rex and Pettine didn’t like him for their system. They went out and got Cromartie and thought Rhodes was expendable. I think Rex, Pettine and Co. deserve the benfit of the doubt after taking a mediocre Jets defense and transforming it into the NFL’s best (largely without Big Jenks, who was the Jets best defensive player for most of 2008). If they didn’t see Rhodes as part of the defense, then that’s good enough for me. I keep bringing this up, but Parcells traded away Hugh Douglas, who was a great pass rushing 4-3 DE, because he didn’t fit his system. The Jets defense improved after Douglas was replaced and Douglas thrived in Philly. It happens, talented player who doesn’t fit the coach’s system is traded. It is possible that this is “win-win” for both sides.
TJ, on the other hand, still puzzles me. If he was offered the same money to stay as a Jets back up, why go to KC to be a back up? That team may not beat out the Raiders for the AFC West cellar. There has to be something more going on there. And, if it comes out that the Jets offered him the same money (or more) to stay, then my opinion of TJ as a person will take a big hit.
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Ben,
I thought you were done talking about TJ..lol
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it is difficult to make an apples to apples comparison, but at least we got a 2nd and 5th back for hugh douglas. if we got this value for rhodes most people would be fine with the trade. what we did in rhodes’ case was cast off a proven player for a 4th rounder. i am not sure what the odds of a 4th round pick becoming a starting NFL player but they have to be 50/50 at best. to me, this was a salary dump just as much as it was a rhodes “didnt fit our system” type of trade – plain and simple
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kjet64-
LOL. Yeah, you’re right—I’m way done debating the relative merits of keeping TJ here (especially as that is now moot).
But when someone disparages TJ’s character, well, I gotta stand up for the man.
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Harris52ChampionshipDefense-
Yes, I thought of that, too. And we never heard a word from TJ about it, ever, even after the fact.
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Eddie DiGio-
Yes, I agree. And, yes, when I first heard that Rhodes was traded, it bothered me as well.
I just hope Mike T fills the hole in our D he has created with KR’s departure.
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I hear ya Ben. Just a friendly dig. They just keep pulling you back in!! lol
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jkjet64-
Yeah, you’re right—so much so it almost isn’t funny! (But it is.)
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I think we’ll be alright without….(The player that shall remain nameless) lol
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Sure hope so, jkjet64, but I think we need to sign a reliable, quality, vet RB.
If Leon gets traded, though, I’m gonna be pissed, big time.
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If Leon gets traded, I’ll be panicking right along side you Ben.
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Elroy JETSon says:
KERRY RHODES- “I am out in sunny California training.” Hes lying hes out there modeling….
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Shamik says:
The 4th rounder, is it for this year or next?
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this year
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I think Rhodes was a great Player and I didnt say rhodes was the second best safety Just 2nd best Coverage Safety. AND Yes Rhodes did do a Hell of a Job on TG in ATL game. Rhodes was not Playing On TG on the TD for that game. I believe that Play was either on David Harris or Strickland not getting to where they were supposed to be on that play. I agree if Rhodes was tearing up the locker room and causing Problems with chemistry then Yes He should have been traded but… I still dont believe a 4th rnd and 7 next year was good enough. Im sure they would have some team offer a 3rd They really had no Immediate need to move him. and could have used him as draft day trade bait to move up or add pics.
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In the absence of Kerry Though I would rather see Lowery moved to Safety rather than Smith or Diggs… and I would love to be able to Draft E. Berry (pipedream)or Myron Rolle (Realistic) to be suitable replacements!
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Go with Rolle – kids a hell of a “rolle” model (HA!) and has the smarts and athleticism to wreck havoc in a Rex Ryan system. I’d be ecstatic if we got him.
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Just Fyi per cimini Marlin jackson is an eagle
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Maybe we didn’t offer TJ the same money, maybe more like $2m and as this is his last payday, he’d rather have $3m and lose than $2m and win. It’s all conjecture at this point.
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KevT says:
Wow…That says a lot. The guy was known more for his twitter page than making plays. Now he says he wanted to be a leader? WTF? The season before Ryan, he had playmaking responsibilities for the secondary, which he said limited his “natural playmaking ability.” Ryan comes in, hypes him up pre-camp and let’s him just play and now he’s complaining about not being a leader. How about just shutting up and doing your job. I’m sure Adrian Wilson will have a few nice things to say tto Kerry when Kerry showboats or misses an assignment.
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Zartan says:
I would really like to know what the jets were using Rhodes as a scapegoat for. Your boss made a decision to put in place guys he brought in that he trusted to teach his D, and let ppl know,things will be done his way.
The defense played great, accept for the times you let us get beat deep.
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chrisphillyjetsfan says:
yawwwwwnnn, anybody still reading by about halfway through this column? who cares what you think kerry, good luck out there and good riddance, too much hype too little performance.
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Max says:
I ‘ve been saying this for a long time – Rhodes is NOT a “Rex Ryan type” of player – period. Now, it is perfectly clear why…..Good bye and good riddance!
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brian311,
A 4-3 pass rushing DE is a more valuable and harder to fill position than safety. Remember, the Jets got a 1st round pick for John Abraham. I actually thought Philly got Douglas cheap at the time!
Kerry seems to think the world should revolve around him. And seems jealous others got attention, rather then him.