Cardinals Trade for Safety to replace Rolle
Posted by Steve O'Reilly on March 7, 2010 · Leave a Comment
The Arizona Cardinals have traded a 4th Round pick in the 2010 Draft and a 7th Round selection in the 2011 Draft for New York Jets Safety, Kerry Rhodes. The Cardinals had lost Pro Bowl Safety Antrel Rolle to the New York Giants and were looking to replace him with a Veteran who could come right in and start immediately next to All Pro Adrian Wilson.
“”He fits a lot of the things that we do defensively,” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said in a statement, “and the prospect of having him alongside a perennial All-Pro like Adrian Wilson is very exciting.”
The Jets received the Cardinals original 4th Round Pick but the Birds still have a 4th rounder from the trade of Anquan Boldin to the Ravens. In New York, the Jets play a 3-4 Base Defense that is attack laden, and in Arizona they play a modified 4-3 that has different looks at times. This might be a better fit for Rhodes who will likely have to do less in coverage.
Rhodes will take his skills to Arizona to fill in for Antrel Rolle!!
Rex Ryan always showed high praise for Rhodes, he once said that Rhodes would be Ed Reed like in his defense and felt that he had some of the same characteristics of the All Pro Ravens Safety. Rhodes does have talent but never showed Ed Reed like ball skills. To be honest, not many in the NFL ever have.
Heading into the 2009 season, some on the Jets coaching staff were starting to question Rhodes’ desire to play football. It had been noted that Kerry was looking into a career in acting and the coaches felt his desire was no longer evident. Rex Ryan and the defensive coaches decided to pull Rhodes from the starting group on Opening Day in favor of Eric Smith. It was the first time in Rhodes career that he was sidelined for a game. On Dec. 13th against Tampa Bay, Rhodes re-entered the starting the lineup. He and the coaches sat down and discussed a refocus in his approach and ensured he was dedicated to playing for the Jets. He played well enough to hold on to his starting job for the #1 ranked Defense in the NFL.
With Rolle of to New York the Cards needed to make a move!!
Ken Wisenhunt meanwhile needed to fill the void left by Antrel Rolle who left via Free Agency and a big payday with the New York Giants. “We all know that the safety position was a hole we needed to fill,” Whisenhunt said. “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.”
The Cardinals have lost the most starters this offseason, Rolle the Giants, Karlos Dansby to the Miami Dolphins and then the trade of Boldin to the Ravens. This move by Wisenhunt shows that they are going to take steps to stay competitive in the NFC just 2 years removed from a Super Bowl birth.