Depending on the context, some people might take this the wrong way. Like Dominic Rhodes, for example: Peyton Manning has some cautionary, if self-serving, words for any team looking to make a free agent offer to running back Dominic Rhodes, the unsung Super Bowl XLI hero who ran strong with 113 yards and a touchdown in Indianapolis' win.Ha ha ha. That is hilarious. Especially when you've already signed your ginormous long-term contract.
"If anybody wants to sign Dominic as a free agent, he's not a good starter," Manning says. "That's what I'm telling them so they don't want to pay him."
Manning was joking, of course. Rhodes was integral to the Colts running attack last season and started 16 games. Compared to other starting running backs, though, Rhodes looks pretty mediocre; he only rushed for 641 yards on 187 carries (3.4 ypc). Much of that had to do with Rhodes sharing time with rookie Joseph Addai and more importantly, Manning and the passing game.
Despite Manning's protestations, Rhodes will get paid this off-season; it's just a matter of which team will be signing the checks.




