Sunday, March 7, 2010

Kerry is A Cardinal

Well, just one day after GM Mike Tannenbaum said the safety Kerry Rhodes would remain with the Jets "unless something changes," something changed. Last night the Jets shipped Rhodes to the Cardinals in exchange for two Draft picks - a fourth round this year and a seventh round in 2011.

It is difficult to say that this is a surprise. Rhodes had been at odds with the team and was benched in mid-season due both to his perceived attitude and performance.

His lack of interceptions this season were also a significant source of concern to the coaching staff.

Nicknamed "Hollywood" by his teammates, there was also a perception both among the staff and the players that football might not be Rhodes' priority, when stacked against his off-the-field projects and events.

As one player told me, "If do your job well, those things (movie roles, magazine layouts, etc.) will come." Rhodes' choice to chase those things while playing were seen as splitting his focus and taking away from his performance.

The team has some options at safety. Eric Smith, who the team tendered last week and who filled in well for Rhodes when Rhodes is benched, remains on the team, as done James Ihedigbo who continued to show improvement through the season as well. However, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the team go after this position in the Draft and another trade or free agent pickup is never out of the question.

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