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.”
At least this means we dont have to see him in any more Karako commercials….
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…
jventre.desertglassproducts@gmail.com
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.
josh,
I hated those cheesy Karako commercials. I’ve never been to Karako, but those commercials make Men’s Warehouse look like Barney’s!
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.
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.
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…
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…
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.”
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.
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
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.
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.
Ben,
I thought you were done talking about TJ..lol
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
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.
I hear ya Ben. Just a friendly dig. They just keep pulling you back in!! lol
jkjet64-
Yeah, you’re right—so much so it almost isn’t funny! (But it is.)
I think we’ll be alright without….(The player that shall remain nameless) lol
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.
If Leon gets traded, I’ll be panicking right along side you Ben.
KERRY RHODES- “I am out in sunny California training.” Hes lying hes out there modeling….
The 4th rounder, is it for this year or next?
this year
Cool name Elroy!
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.
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!
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.
Just Fyi per cimini Marlin jackson is an eagle
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!