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." Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets...s_future_7zNjUDqXOSXGFQcdnxUPUN#ixzz0dyHfB5yc
I'd rather have Kiwanuka to be honest. Has played linebacker before, so he wouldn't be solely a passrusher. I'm just not a big Umenyiora fan, his game has depreciated just like Kerry's, all Osi does is sprint up-field and try to run around the tackle.
My Question is how will the trade work out because it wont be a straight up trade because Osi is a 2nd rounder who is productive and Kerry Rhodes is a 4th Rounder who has had spots of production... But i would do this trade in a heartbeat as well only question is will Osi be able to be a Standup OLB
giants are hurting in the secondary so we might be able to come away with a steal and i see osi as more of i ellis type player. but im sure he would be able to play a little OLB
most likely but like i said it is fun to think about. and who knows if it picks up steam throughout the papers it may make both jets and giants FO toss the idea around a little bit
I think if we are looking for the outside Pass rusher and want to build on it then he is a veteran and has been in the league so there will be a real short learning curve for him all he has to do is learn the 3-4 scheme and he is an immediate insertion into the D... If we got lucky for a straight up trade i would still look for a OLB/DE/DT as well to really build depth
I don't think it will happen but for argument's sake: LLB - Calvin Pace LDE - Shaun Ellis LT - Kris Jenkins MLB - Bart Scott RT - Sione Pouha/Mike Devito RDE - Osi Umeniyora RLB - David Harris Umeniyora is too small to play RDE in a 3-4 and he has no experience as a LB. The trade is not that farfetched - Umeniyora has had several injuries and missed all of 2008 before coming back for just 7 sacks last year. Like Rhodes his value has declined precipitously recently.
well the post and daily news and other papers will talk about this crap. If this is actually in the discussion then yes i would do this. I hate kerry rhodes
For argument sake ive seen Kris Jenkins go from the Down DT Positions to raising up and dropping back into coverage as a MLB so i think anything is possible in Rex Land
Completely agree, I think the Giants have really fucked around with his career, they could never decide if they wanted him at strongside linebacker or at DE When he filled in for Osi he had 8 sacks, if he could do that as a linebacker I'm sure he would be welcomed
I don't see Ryan completely switching his system around just to accommodate one player. If he comes, the lineup will probably look like this: WOLB: Thomas/Umeniyora WDE: Pouha/Douglas ILB: Scott NT: Jenkins/Pouha ILB: Harris SDE: Ellis/DeVito SDE: Pace As I've said in other threads, that's two incomplete WOLBs we would have to switch in and out on running and passing downs. I agree with your concerns about Umeniyora's health, size, and age. I don't know if he can play from a standing position, frankly I don't see it happening. He is weaker against the run than Thomas is against the pass and they are both being paid too much to for doing half of a job by their respective teams, it would be worse if they were being too much to do half a job by the same team. I would much rather keep Rhodes than bring in Umenyiora. I agree completely. We know Kiwi can play standing up and he can do it well. He's only 26 and the stretch from 4-3 OLB to 3-4 OLB would be much easier than the stretch from 4-3 DE to 3-4 OLB for a 28 year old with injury problems. He's also a beast against the run. He is the complete player that could make a huge impact on this team. The only problem is that it would probably cost us more than Rhodes to get him. Coughlin still likes Kiwi and with Osi on the down-slide, Kiwi is primed to take over a starting role at this point.
