If messages and statements from all parties can be decoded, it appears Kerry Rhodes’ chances of returning to the Jets next season are about as good as Rex Ryan running the New York City Marathon.
Ryan, the most open coach in the NFL, clammed up like Bill Belichick yesterday when asked directly about Rhodes’ future.
The safety was benched after 10 games for having not made any impact plays, before being reinstated and becoming a significant contributor.
All the while, though, Rhodes has been reluctant to discuss his future, despite the fact he’s improved his play. He is playing under a five-year, $33 million extension he signed before the 2008 season and loves New York.
He’s also due a $2M roster bonus in March.
When pressed on the matter yesterday, Ryan became uncharacteristically cryptic.
“This one I don’t really want to talk about much, because there’s an individual thing that Kerry and I have talked about,” he said.
“I’d rather just keep it individual. I think it’s just between Kerry and I. It’s a private conversation that we’ve had, that we are the only ones that know what was said in there.
“Trust me, it’s not a bad thing. It’s just a thing that I’ll honor my conversation to Kerry.”
When told he was making the situation sound ominous, Ryan said, “You take it anyway you want.”
The only revealing, read-between-the-lines words from Ryan during the odd exchange came when he was asked when he had the conversation with Rhodes.
“I’ve had it today and I had it eight weeks ago,” he said, leaving a strong hint that whatever they talked about yesterday was similar to the conversation they had when Ryan benched Rhodes after the Jets’ Nov. 22 loss in New England.
Rhodes recently admitted that he and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine had not “seen eye to eye” this season, so that’s certainly part of the issue, considering that Pettine is close to Ryan.
Prior to Ryan’s cryptic comments, Rhodes was asked if he felt the defense suits him.
“Yeah, it is a defense that suits me now that I really understand the whole system and have been through it for a year and played well through the last part of the season and made plays.”
Asked if he wanted to “stick around for the master’s degree,” Rhodes said, “That’s the plan. Rhodes Scholar.”
However, when The Post requested to interview him after Ryan’s press conference, Rhodes declined through a spokesman.
Ryan did make one statement that wasn’t directed specifically at Rhodes, but sure sounded relevant to the issue.
“Whoever we bring in here in the future has to play and practice and study to a certain standard, or you’ll be an outcast and you’ll be gone,” Ryan said.
Ryan and Pettine, when they benched Rhodes, told him he wouldn’t regain his starting job until he spent some one-on-one time with defensive-backs coach Dennis Thurman. Rhodes seemed reluctant, but eventually did.