Saturday
NFL News, Top PostsCards close deal for Jets S Kerry Rhodes
A day after the New York Giants made Antrel Rolle the highest paid safety ever, the Arizona Cardinals dipped into the Big Apple to find his replacement.
The Cards, which had lost free agents Rolle, LB Karlos Dansby and dealt away WR Anquan Boldin on the first day of free agency, were ecstatic to get Kerry Rhodes from the New York Jets on Saturday for a 4th-round draft pick in 2010 and a 7th rounder in 2011.
“We all know that the safety position was a hole we needed to fill,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said in a statement. “To be able to do that so quickly and with a proven starter off the NFL`s No. 1 defense is a tremendous positive for our football team. Kerry has the experience and ability to step in right away. ”
With 9 sacks and 12 interceptions in his first 4 seasons, new coach Rex Ryan likened Rhodes to the safety he left behind in Baltimore, Ed Reed.
But the Louisville grad struggled in his first campaign under Ryan, bickering with coaches and leading to a two-game benching in late November.
Rhodes played well after getting back into the lineup for the rest of the season and excelled in the playoffs, finishing with 3 INTs and a career-high 13 passes defended.
Rhodes has four years left on his contract and is due a $2 million roster bonus next week, which led to speculation that he would be released.
A day before trading him, Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said he expected Rhodes to play in New York this year and beyond “unless something changes.”
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Panthers release QB Jake Delhomme, make way for Matt Moore
