THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Relieved that he is not a suspect, New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes says he cannot discuss the investigation of a possible rape at his New Jersey home.

Rhodes was repeatedly questioned about the matter Thursday when facing the media for the first time since the case came to light.

According to police, a Canadian tourist said she met Rhodes and another man at a Manhattan nightclub last Friday night or early Saturday before being taken to a home in Morristown, N.J., where Rhodes owns a town house. The Morris County prosecutor said this week Rhodes is "not the target of any criminal investigation."

"I appreciated that," Rhodes said. "When the prosecutor's office made that comment about the matter, I was very happy about that."

He spoke for nearly three minutes, but offered no new details.

"It's a pending legal matter and I can't really talk about it right now," Rhodes said, a statement he repeated to reporters six times.

A call to the office of prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi wasn't immediately returned.

Rhodes practised during team activities Wednesday and Thursday, and said the investigation hasn't been a distraction.

"You never want your name to come up in anything in any situation," Rhodes said. "So, I mean, that can be a damper, but other than that, I can't really think about it."

Rhodes said he was concerned about his public perception and was asked if the case changed anything about the way he would handle his personal life.

"You always want to have a positive outlook on things and have a positive image of how you take care of yourself and how you go about your life and your own endeavours," he said. "As far as the other part, I can't talk about it."

Coach Rex Ryan said he spoke to Rhodes about the investigation and referred all questions in that regard to the prosecutor.

Rhodes, who was drafted out of Louisville in 2005, signed a $33 million, five-year contract extension with the Jets last year. He has 12 interceptions and nine sacks in 64 games over four seasons, and is expected to play a major role in Ryan's aggressive defence.