So, um, why’d the Raiders sign Rhodes?

By Anthony Carroll  |   Thursday, November 08, 2007  |  Comments( 38 )

Oakland Raiders
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Here's something to mull over: This season, Oakland Raiders running back Dominic Rhodes is averaging $127,451 per carry.

That figure doesn't include the $1 million bonus the 28-year-old gained when he signed his contract back in March, and also takes into account the $352,941 he lost thanks to a four-game suspension.

Rhodes, who joined the Raiders in the offseason after rushing for 113 yards and touchdown in Super Bowl XLI for the Indianapolis Colts, has carried the ball just nine times this year for 21 yards. He also has only a single reception for 10 yards. This comes just one year after the 205-pounder rushed over 180 times for the Super Bowl-winning Colts and amassed nearly 900 yards on the ground and through the air.

Prior to this season, Rhodes had played in 71 games with 640 touches on offense. That's nine touches per game. This year, he has 10 touches in four games -- 2½ a contest

When the 5-foot-9 halfback agreed to a two-year, $7.5 million contract to play with Oakland, it was assumed he'd see at least as many carries as he did in 2006 with the Colts. Instead, Rhodes has been held on the sidelines for the bulk of the season by first-year head coach Lane Kiffin.

While Rhodes was serving a four-week suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, Kiffin favored the 28-year-old LaMont Jordan, who received 84 carries up until the team's Week 5 bye. Since then, Jordan has rushed the ball only 45 times over the same span of games; however, Justin Fargas has picked up the remaining slack with 38 carries.

Completely left out of the equation has been Rhodes, who since his return to the team on Oct. 14 has received reps in only one game this season, which was a Week 7 meeting with Kansas City. Outside of that single contest, the ex-Midwestern State standout has recorded no other stats other than seven kickoff returns for 149 yards.

That's certainly not worth the $7.5 million he was awarded during the offseason. It's not even worth the $1 million signing bonus he was granted.

It's hard to blame that on Rhodes, though. Kiffin hasn't given the seventh-year man nearly enough playing time to prove even half his worth.

"I just feel like I can help this team win," he told the Mercury News last month. "I don't like being on the sideline. That's just how it is. I think I'm pretty good at this game."

At his current pace, Rhodes will carry the ball just 36 times for 84 yards this season. That would be the fewest amount of carries and yards that the veteran halfback has recorded since entering the NFL back in 2001.

"If I'm sitting on the sideline, I'm just not doing what I can do. Period."

He's still getting paid, though. Period.

"Now I just go in there knowing my role," Rhodes recently told the Sacramento Bee. "My role has been to basically do nothing, so that's what I do. I'm always prepared, don't get me wrong. If my name is called I know what to do."

"But, basically, I'm here."

Remind Lane Kiffin that.

Anthony Carroll, a senior writer for RealFootball365.com, can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal...
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