Mike Rhodes (American football)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1966)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Mike Rhodes
|image=
|position=Quarterback
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1966|1|22}}
|birth_place=
|height_ft=6
|height_in=7
|weight_lbs=225
|high_school=Campbell (Smyrna, Georgia)
|college=Georgia Tech
|undraftedyear=1989
|pastteams=
- Pittsburgh Gladiators ({{AFL Year|1989}})*
- Chicago Rush ({{AFL Year|1989}})*
- Denver Dynamite ({{AFL Year|1989}})
- Washington Commandos ({{AFL Year|1990}})
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1991}})*
- Montreal Machine (1992)*
- London Monarchs (1992)
- Albany Firebirds ({{AFL Year|1992}})
- Miami Hooters ({{AFL Year|1993}})
|aflstatlabel1=Comp. / Att.
|aflstatvalue1=131 / 281
|aflstatlabel2=Passing yards
|aflstatvalue2=1,704
|aflstatvalue3=16–16
|aflstatlabel4=QB rating
|aflstatvalue4=56.71
|aflstatlabel5=Rushing TDs
|aflstatvalue5=4
|afl=1340
}}
Robert Michael Rhodes (born January 22, 1966) is an American former professional football quarterback who played four seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Denver Dynamite, Washington Commandos, Albany Firebirds, and Miami Hooters. He played college football at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Early life and college
Robert Michael Rhodes was born on January 22, 1966.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/r/rhod00970.html | title=Mike Rhodes | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=7 May 2025}} He played high school football at Campbell High School in Smyrna, Georgia and earned all-metro honors.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news/171925043/ | title=Texan Signings | work=Abilene Reporter-News | date=February 9, 1984 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | pages=2C}}{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times/171926121/ | title=Miners dip into Georgia for running back | work=El Paso Times | date=February 9, 1984 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | author=Leibson, Mark}}
Rhodes was initially a member of the UTEP Miners of the University of Texas at El Paso in 1984.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-herald-post/171926314/ | title=UTEP, NMSU lineup | work=El Paso Herald-Post | date=October 6, 1984 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | pages=11}} He transferred to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets of the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1985 but did not appear in any games that year.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal/171926443/ | title=Arena Ball Is a Forum For Rhodes | work=The Atlanta Journal | date=July 7, 1989 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | author=Davidson, David | pages=F7}} He completed three of three passes for 56 yards in 1986 while also rushing five times for 22 yards. {{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mike-rhodes-4.html | title=Mike Rhodes | publisher=Sports Reference | accessdate=7 May 2025}} Rhodes missed the 1987 season due to "small tears and a subsequent infection of the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder". As a fifth-year senior in 1988, he attempted only one pass, completing it for negative six yards.
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 1989 NFL draft, Rhodes signed with the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the Arena Football League (AFL). He was then traded to the Chicago Bruisers before being traded again to the Denver Dynamite. Before the start of the 1989 season, Denver head coach Babe Parilli stated that Rhodes would most likely be the team's starting quarterback. Rhodes ended up splitting time with quarterback Harold Smith.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/Denver_Dynamite-4/history/1989/#google_vignette | title=1989 Denver Dynamite | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=7 May 2025}} Rhodes played in all four games for the Dynamite in 1989, completing 20 of 41 passes (48.8%) for 230 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/Mike_Rhodes-1340/ | title=Mike Rhodes | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=7 May 2025}} The Dynamite finished the season with a 3–1 record but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Gladiators.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1989arflden.html | title=1989 Denver Dynamite (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=7 May 2025}}
Rhodes was the primary starter for the Washington Commandos of the AFL during the 1990 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/Washington_Commandos-3/history/1990/ | title=1990 Washington Commandos | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=7 May 2025}} He appeared in all eight games, totaling 93 completions on 205 passing attempts (45.4%) for 1,229 yards, 13 touchdowns, and ten interceptions, eight rushing attempts for ten yards and four touchdowns, and one reception for a nine-yard touchdown. The Commandos finished the year with a 2–6 record.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1990arflwas.html | title=1990 Washington Commandos (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=7 May 2025}}
On February 20, 1991, it was reported that Rhodes had been invited to a workout with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news/171929561/ | title=Falcons invite six | work=The Greenville News | date=February 20, 1991 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | pages=8D}} He was later signed to a contract by the Falcons. He was released by Atlanta on August 20, 1991.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/171929647/ | title=Pats' Dykes to miss season with fractured kneecap | work=The Tampa Tribune | date=August 20, 1991 | accessdate=7 May 2025}}
On February 5, 1992, Rhodes was selected by the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football (WLAF) in the 15th round, with the 157th overall pick, of the 1992 WLAF draft.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/171929975/ | title=Montreal Machine Draft Picks | work=The Gazette | date=February 6, 1992 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | pages=B6}} He was released by the Machine on March 3, 1992, a few weeks before the start of the 1992 WLAF season.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette/171930407/ | title=Transactions | work=The Billings Gazette | date=March 4, 1992 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | pages=4B}}
Rhodes signed with the London Monarchs of the WLAF on May 14, 1992.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser/171930560/ | title=Transactions | work=The Daily Advertiser | date=May 14, 1992 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=7 May 2025 | pages=D2}} He was a member of the Monarchs during the 1992 WLAF season but did not play in any games.
On April 8, 1991, Rhodes' AFL rights were selected by the New Orleans Night of the AFL in an expansion draft.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk/171928869/ | title=Arena Football team dubs self New Orleans Night | work=The Town Talk | date=April 10, 1991 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=7 May 2025 | pages=B4}} On June 10, 1991, his AFL rights were traded to the Albany Firebirds for future considerations.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-sun/171929068/ | title=Transactions | work=Arizona Daily Sun | date=June 11, 1991 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | pages=8}} The next year in 1992, Rhodes played in four games for the Firebirds but did not record any statistics other than one solo tackle and one assisted tackle.
Rhodes played in four games, including a short stint as starter for the Miami Hooters of the AFL in 1993, and completed 18 of 35 passes (51.4%) for 245 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/171931325/ | title=Turnovers high for Arena team | work=The Miami Herald | date=July 3, 1993 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | author=Christopher, Andre | pages=10B}}
Personal life
Rhodes' brother, Brent Rhodes, also played football at Georgia Tech.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal/171932425/ | title=Deja-vu: Another Rhodes Becomes Walk-on at Tech | work=The Atlanta Journal | date=August 16, 1989 | accessdate=7 May 2025 | author=Maxie, Darryl | pages=E11}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=rhodemik001&defensesort=6 Stats Crew profile]
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mike-rhodes-4.html College stats]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Mike}}
Category:People from Smyrna, Georgia
Category:Players of American football from Cobb County, Georgia
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:UTEP Miners football players
Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players
Category:Pittsburgh Gladiators players
Category:Denver Dynamite (arena football) players
Category:Washington Commandos players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Montreal Machine players
Category:London Monarchs players
Category:Albany Firebirds players