Adios, Mr. Rhodes

Going to be a bit busy at the ole day job, so posts might come a bit less fast and furious (as if such a phrase could be used to characterize my intermittent recent posting cadence). My sports antenna has been lowered of late with lots of other life stuff deciding to happen. So it was I completely missed the shipping off of one Kerry Rhodes over the weekend.

So, what are my thoughts? Largely, I am nonplussed. Not so much at the move, but moreso how quickly things can change in this game (and the related business of it all). Rhodes is 28 and burst onto the scene in 2005. Jets fans were already clamoring that he was robbed of a Pro Bowl selection following that campaign. The next year, he snagged that All-Pro selection. Soon thereafter came the big contract and Jets fans dreams of perennial Pro Bowler. In short, we were set at safety.

Apparently, not so much. In seemingly one season, Rhodes went from steady, dependable playmaker to “Hollywood Kerry,” a safety who could no longer cover, tackle or (some mused) get fired up about playing football. Now, he’s gone to Arizona for a 2010 fourth-round pick and a seventh-round selection in the 2011 draft. Utter that proposition to a Jets fan two years ago, and they would’ve locked you up in the looney bin and thrown away the key.

Who knows? This seems another boom or bust variety move and only time will tell. I’d like to ignore the Jets tendency for transactions of the latter distinction and follow the “in Rex we trust” mantra. I just hope the Jets have a bigger plan beyond, say, Eric Smith.