Steve Smith plays wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers, a team thin in the secondary that can use some help. Smith was asked by two Charlotte radio hosts about the team trying out free agent safety Kerry Rhodes:
"I don't know Kerry. We don't go in the same circles. We ain't in the same circles. We ain't in the same circles. I'll let that be."
To me, this is an obvious veiled reference to reports that Rhodes is gay (Rhodes says he is straight). And the comments are not surprising coming from a hothead like Smith, who twice has been suspended for punching teammates. He wants to make it clear that he and Rhodes "ain't in the same circles" — i.e., Smith is not gay — so much so that he repeats it three times.
Related:
Is the NFL blackballing Kerry Rhodes? We doubt it
Rhodes to work out for Giants
