Published May 09, 2008 11:44 am - If uncertainty leads to urgency, Rhodes, whose pass-catching skills out of the backfield were missed by Manning and the Colts in 2007, should be able to pick up right where he left off.
Column: Rhodes' return could be positive
By Mike Beas
THE HERALD BULLETIN (ANDERSON, Ind.)
ANDERSON, Ind.
—
If Kenton Keith isn’t sweating, he should be. Not 30-minutes-on-the-treadmill beads of perspiration, but ones born out of concern.
The Indianapolis Colts have made in-Rhodes to ensure depth at the running back position, and the news had to hit Keith, last season’s backup to Joseph Addai, like a Bob Sanders’ lowered shoulder.
Signing 29-year-old Dominic Rhodes to a one-year contract qualifies as a stroke of genius because, let’s face it, the guy was and always will be an Indianapolis Colt.
Coming off his MVP-worthy performance in Indy’s 29-17 defeat of the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, the 5-foot-9, 205-pounder emerged as a hot commodity who would have been crazy not to stick his big toe in the waters of free agency.
It’s what professional athletes on the fringes of stardom do.
Rhodes, who rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on the most spectacular stage in football, maybe all of sports, did just that.
Therefore, don’t go throwing sour facial expressions at Rhodes just because in March 2007 he signed a two-year deal with Oakland for $7.5 million. You would have, too, if provided the chance.