Kerry Rhodes hasn't retired yet. (Getty Images)
There's been much discussion this month about presumed future NFL player Michael Sam and how an acknowledged gay player would fit into an NFL locker room.
Most of the talk has been positive -- which, of course, is an encouraging sign for the league and for, well, humanity. But former Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes, ranked as one of the best safeties in the game in 2012 who couldn't find a job last season, says none of this applies to him.
Though there have been rumors about his sexual orientation -- especially after a despicable website last year posted photos with Rhodes and his male assistant and implied that they were lovers -- Rhodes has maintained that he's not gay and that he hasn't been shut out from the league.
"I don't think I was blacklisted," Rhodes told ESPN New York. "Especially with the NFL I don't think they would do that ... to me it was a product of me wanting to do other things and not finding the right opportunity ...
"I emphatically said no once [to the rumor that he's gay] and that's all I need to say and people who know me know that's definitely not the case. To me I'm definitely not and I can't control what people think, so I move on."
And he continues to want to play.
By Pro Football Focus metrics, he was ranked as the fourth-best safety in the league in 2012, but he says he might have been too expensive to sign for last season. Arizona, where he played the last three years of his career after working for the Jets from 2005-09, offered him a job at the end of the 2012 season, but Rhodes wasn't willing to play for less than he thought he was worth.
He doesn't consider himself retired, though.
"Every option for me is open," Rhodes said. "It's about me staying ready to go, I would probably have to take a deal right now, but if an opportunity that's good for them and also good for me I would entertain it and want to come back and play. I still love football and it's still a part of me. That's not closed. But I'm not going to go into a situation where it's not beneficial to myself. Because with the things I'm doing now I feel pretty comfortable and confident. It's just what works best. But definitely haven't closed that door yet."
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Broncos WR Decker looking to 'do what's best for my family' in free agency
Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker, who is projected to be one of the most coveted targets on the market when all the crazy cash starts getting slung at free agents, said that money isn't the only factor in his decision. He did, however, make it clear that money IS a big part of the equation. "If we can get on the same page, I will welcome a call from the Broncos, but I need to do what is best for my family," Decker stated in an interview on Sirius XM's NFL Radio Tuesday.Decker benefitted from being a member of the league's most historic offense from a statistical perspective this season. With the better Manning brother throwing him the ball, Decker snagged 87 receptions for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns. It was his second season in Denver with Manning running the offense and he's gone over 85 catches, 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in each.Decker had nothing but praise for the Broncos franchise, saying, "this is an organization that any player wants to come to. I mean, they treat you first-class. It's a winning organization. They've built a culture here that is phenomenal. I would love to play here". But, he followed that up with the reminder that it is not all about fun and games, and the NFL is still a business. "Unfortunately, that's something that isn't always in my control. You've just got to take it in stride and again, have those conversations, see what the next couple of months will bring."Open season on unrestricted free agents starts March 11.
Decker has emerged into a top-notch wide receiver and has earned the right to get paid. He's obviously been one of Manning's favorite targets, especially in the red zone, catching double digit touchdowns each of the past two seasons. Some are quick to say that is a product of having Manning as his QB. However, rewinding to 2011 (his first season as a starter for the Broncos), Decker managed to catch eight touchdowns. That was with a couple of guys named Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow throwing the ball in his general direction.At 6'3" and possessing a great pair of hands, Decker is the type of wide receiver that any quarterback would love to throw to. Regardless of where he ends up, Decker's fantasy numbers should remain solid. In Denver, he was one of four big-time targets. Almost anywhere else, he'll be one of the top two targets, so his numbers will probably stay about the same, as long as he lands somewhere with a capable quarterback.If Decker does sign elsewhere, expect Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and Julius Thomas to get a slight boost to their fantasy stock. Manning's numbers should still be all-world.
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