<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>It's up to Rhodes to prove home is best “I'm back with my brothers,” he says after return to Colts. By Reggie Hayes of The News-Sentinel Maybe you can go home again, providing you swallow your pride, take a pay cut and realize nothing's guaranteed in the NFL, not even a roster spot. It helps to have Dominic Rhodes' personality. “I'm back with my brothers,” Rhodes said about his return, after a one-year absence, to the Indianapolis Colts' roster. “We're a family. There's a lot of guys on this team, because of what we did, winning a Super Bowl, that will be family forever.” I'm glad Rhodes is back, for selfish reasons. He's quote-friendly. He'll put things in perspective, without a filter, whether the Colts are coming off a big win or an unexpected loss. He has no poker face. Rhodes wears his emotions on his sleeve, in his eyes, with his demeanor - whether excitement, irritation or petulance - and, in the process, proves to be one of the most human players on the roster. It had to have been brutal on his heart and self-esteem to go through the season he had a year ago. He signed with the Oakland Raiders after rushing for 113 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' Super Bowl win over the Chicago Bears. Those numbers could have made him the game MVP in fairer circumstances (Peyton Manning was awarded the honor because he's Peyton Manning). In the aftermath, it was all about the money. Otherwise, why would anyone leave a Super Bowl champion to play for one of the most dysfunctional teams in the league? Rhodes signed a two-year deal, valued at $1.75 million a year, but was hit by the four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. The Raiders used him sparingly after that (75 carries, 302 yards), and he was released last April. “Every year's a humbling experience in this league,” Rhodes said. “Every year humbles you and makes you become a man.” The Colts, generally wary of signing players with baggage, took a chance on Rhodes. They signed him to a one-year deal worth $605,000, providing, of course, he can beat out second-year running back Kenton Keith and rookie Mike Hart for the job as Joseph Addai's backup. The decision was based in part because they know Rhodes so well. They know what he can and cannot do on the field; they're fairly certain what he'll be like off the field. Colts coach Tony Dungy said Rhodes doesn't look much different than when he played for the Colts from 2001 to 2006. That's a good sign for Rhodes' hopes of sticking on the roster. “Dom's always going to be a guy who plays with high energy,” Dungy said. “You see his emotions, and that rubs off on the team. He understands how we function and knows he can be a big part of what we do.” Rhodes enters his second chance with the Colts with his eyes open. He didn't pretend to believe that he'd automatically know the playbook just by returning to the team. “This offense changes from year to year,” Rhodes said. “The plays are still the same, but there are little things you have to learn and get back in your head to make sure you know them. “You never know what 18 (Manning) is going to do out there,” Rhodes said. “He can call something you (haven't) heard in years, and you have to go back to your memory bank and get it. Those are the kind of guys who stick around - the ones who can remember those small things.” Rhodes values the second chance. He praises his Colts coaches, saying there are none like them in the league. (It's always good to compliment the bosses.) He relishes his teammates, rattling off the faces he most enjoys seeing again: Reggie Wayne, Addai, Marvin Harrison, Manning, Marlin Jackson, Kelvin Hayden and Gary Brackett. “There are a lot of guys I'm glad to be back with,” he said. Rhodes has the energy. He's back at home. Now it's up to him to make it work.</div> Source
If I remember right, he was regarded as a pretty darn good backup RB to James a few years ago. He split time with Addai when they won the Super Bowl. It seems to me that he's in the enviroment that fits his playing style the best.
And last year he was an utter piece of crap. He couldn't beat out anyone on the raiders at RB even though they were plagued by injuries last year.
All I'm saying is Rhodes succeeded in Indy during his stint there. Some players only play well under certain circumstances, Rhodes may be one of those. We'll definitely see in a few weeks (I love being able to say that, and I don't mean the preseason). And besides, Addai has the starting job. The amount of carries Rhodes will get will be few regardless of whether he has progressed or not from last year. The only guy I could see taking the #2 spot on that roster is Mike Hart, and he's an unproven rookie.
Rhodes will be the backup RB because he is a veteran RB, understands Indi's offense, and is more ready to contribute than Hart for the time being.
