National Football League

Rhodes out to prove he's not gay?

Published Jun. 18, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Is NFL free agent Kerry Rhodes trying to prove he's not gay to get a new job?

Rhodes, an eight-year veteran defensive back who has been the subject of gossip site rumors all offseason, tweeted an eyebrow-raising holding-hands picture from his Facebook account on Tuesday, with the caption "No caption. just real."

It's seemingly a subtle denial of the gay rumors — much, much more subtle than what the gossip sites reported he texted to several former teammates: that he could be the father of Kim Kardashian's baby.

“Man this could be my baby!! I was f—ing her the same time as K.West was lol!!!” Bossip claims Rhodes texted ex-teammates this week.

Rhodes has had his name in the news all offseason after a man claiming to be his former personal assistant told gossip sites the two had been lovers and released photos of them together. Rhodes denied he was gay to TMZ in April, but his alleged ex, Russell "Hollywood" Simpson, has continued to go public with claims and photos, including one of Rhodes planting a kiss on him and one of the two lying on a bed, plus one in which they look like the "Black Brokeback Mountain," Simpson says.

Rhodes, 30, became something of a media darling during five years with the New York Jets and was an All-Pro in 2006. He played in Arizona for the past three seasons and had 67 tackles and four interceptions last year. He was released in March.

On Wednesday, new Cardinals coach Bruce Arians told Laces Out he doesn't think locker rooms would have a problem with a gay player, but fans would.

"Especially opposing fans," he said. "Some of the things that are said are (so) over the top and out of control that I can imagine what some fans would say to an openly gay player.”

NBA veteran Jason Collins made national headlines in April when he came out. Collins, 34, will be a free agent this offseason. Neither the NBA, NFL, NHL nor MLB has ever had an active player who publicly acknowledged being gay.

Former NFL player Kwame Harris also made headlines earlier this year when he revealed he was gay after a publicized altercation with an ex-boyfriend. The news sparked discussions of how many locker rooms have had gay players, how aware of them teammates were, and how accepting today's players would be.

Last month MLS player Robbie Rogers became the first openly gay active player in US men's pro sports when he suited up for the LA Galaxy. Rogers had come out in February after briefly retiring.