NEW YORK -- The Jets and safety Kerry Rhodes agreed to a contract extension Wednesday that will keep one of the team's biggest playmakers in New York's secondary for five more years.
According to various media reports, citing anonymous sources, the extension is for $33.5 million, including $20 million guaranteed -- making Rhodes one of the NFL's highest-paid safeties.
Rhodes, entering his fourth season, had a year left on his rookie contract and would have become an unrestricted free agent after this season. He has 270 tackles, eight sacks and 10 interceptions in three seasons and has been a starter since being drafted in the fourth round out of Louisville in 2005.
The move is the latest in a free-spending offseason for the Jets, who recently guaranteed the final two years of wide receiver Laveranues Coles' contract -- avoiding a possible holdout situation.
The Jets were also active in free agency, trading for defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and handing out more than $140 million by signing guard Alan Faneca, offensive lineman Damien Woody, linebacker Calvin Pace, fullback Tony Richardson, running back Jesse Chatman, tight end Bubba Franks and cornerback Andre Woolfolk.
