Much of the issue swirling around Edwards seems to derive from pictures such as these on a site that humbly describes itself as "The Most Visited Black Website In The World". To me that looks like some athlete embracing the gay brother of a woman he would like to get close to. Unless someone else knows otherwise and can come forth with some verifiable facts, that will remain my conclusion. If I'm correct about my assumption then continued talk about the pictures making him gay will only provide psychological succor to frustrated gay men and frustrated straight women who both want him and believe trash talk will somehow get him to want them.
Personally looking at this well-travelled photo of Edwards (on the right), Kerry Rhodes (on the left) and another pro football player (Jonathan Vilma?) I would have picked Rhodes as the gay one? Why? Wishful thinking. I think he's the hotter of the three. I don't think he's gay. I just want this to be gay for my own prurient reasons. I'm not trying to spread rumors about him, but I would like for him and other attractive straight athletes to have the courage to both literally and figuratively take a pro-active role in fighting homophobia by embracing the gay community in general and any closeted gay athletes they know.
Much has been made of pro athletes being set up as role models. Many outright reject it. Others embrace it. But could you imagine the effect of someone as attractive as Rhodes deliberately showing up at events that are gay-positive like demonstrations for gay marriage. Or by participating in amateur gay basketball games? Or what if he just spoke up to one of the brothas on the street who dissed gay people for wearing the same clothes straight guys wear but with a little more flair. Sure there may be "restrictions" on their off-field or off-season activities by the NFL or their image-conscious agents and other handlers, but there must be some discretion that athletes at or near the top of their game can excercise if they really want to.
As obviously intelligent men with influence they probably underestimate, guys like Rhodes could have a tremendous impact on attitudes in the Black Community. Nobody thinks he's a gansta for liking the Sopranos and hanging out with a guy with an Italian name so he and others should not be afraid to embrace gay-positive figures.
Oh, and this photo of him with Jonathan Vilma says only one thing to me:
The two are homeys; straight and close; and there's nothing wrong with that.