Kerry Rhodes and Rex Ryan insist they are on the same page, but that’s a lot like saying Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren are still married. Trouble is brewing.
Rhodes might be in the starting lineup when the Jets play the Bucs Sunday in Tampa, but he still isn’t happy with his role and admitted yesterday he had words with defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman during practice about being shuttled in and out of the defense.
“I was a little mad,” Rhodes said while talking to reporters not long after yesterday’s workout at the Jets’ practice facility. “The in-and-out thing just got to me. I was a little more emotional. I felt a little way about it.
“You can’t really get into a flow that way,” Rhodes added. “I’ve never done that, so it’s kind of different.”
Whatever happened between Rhodes and Thurman doesn’t appear to be major, but Rhodes is clearly miffed his playing time has been reduced though he’ll be listed among the starters on Sunday. It’s seems to be a formality of sorts, a token gesture by Ryan to appease Rhodes’ ego.
“I’ll be in there for the first snap. If that’s starting, it’s starting,” Rhodes said. “Who knows at the end of game? I may go up in the press box with you guys and watch it. We’ll see how it goes.”
It was the second straight day questions about Rhodes’ status drew a cryptic response. When asked on Wednesday whether Rhodes would start against the Bucs, Ryan was clearly aggravated.
“If Kerry feels better about it, I’ll start him,” Ryan said. “If he feels better about it, go ahead, run out there, you’re starting. Take Marques Douglas with you. I don’t care.”
Hmmmm.
The tone clearly has changed from when Ryan first benched Rhodes for his disappointing play following a 31-14 loss to the Patriots. Ryan then acted like a father displaying tough love for a child, saying he hoped the demotion would bring out the best in Rhodes. Playing mostly in dime situations, Rhodes had two interceptions in a 17-6 win over the Panthers. But he was back with the first unit during the second half of the Jets’ 19-13 win over the Bills triumph Dec. 3 in Toronto.
But the situation turned testy this week with Rhodes and Eric Smith splitting time with the first unit.
“We might play musical chairs, who knows,” Rhodes said. “Whoever wants to go out on the field first. I might tell [Smith] to go out. It’s one of those things where you just have to go with it.”
Asked if he preferred that roles were more defined, Rhodes said, “Anybody would want to know what the situation is. But I guess I don’t have the luxury. I guess nobody has that luxury.”
This is developing into one of those player-coach battles Ryan can’t afford to lose. Benching Rhodes was a good call and doesn’t need to be changed after two straight wins. Any sign the rookie head coach is catering to a player could be detrimental to his future ability to make tough decisions.
Thus far, the coach has the locker-room’s support.
“We feel good about any decisions [Ryan] makes about moving players around,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said.
Rhodes isn’t a distraction yet, but he’s clearly an unhappy Jet.
“It’s irritating,” he said. “But it’s something you have to deal with. I can’t just not show up and not be here. I have to play my part and do what I have to do to help this team win. Then after the year we’ll re-evaluate things.”
Ryan said on Monday, “We should be more concerned with the team than the individual,” a general mindset he’s trying to instill.
The situation with Rhodes is the first strong test of that resolve. It’s a battle the coach can’t afford to lose.