Kerry Rhodes hopes to return to the NFL in 2014 and he doesn't believe rumors of his sexuality cost him a contract last season.

A former male associate of Rhodes contended they were in a romantic relationship together. 

"I don't think I was blacklisted," Rhodes said during a phone interview Tuesday. "Especially with the NFL I don't think they would do that ... to me it was a product of me wanting to do other things and not finding the right opportunity."

Rhodes contends that he is not gay.

"I emphatically said no once and that's all I need to say and people who know me know that's definitely not the case," Rhodes said. "To me I'm definitely not and I can't control but people think, so I move on."