For the first time in his NFL career, Kerry Rhodes is no longer a starting safety.

He's also not quite sure how much longer he'll be with the New York Jets after being demoted Wednesday by coach Rex Ryan in favor of Eric Smith.

"I don't know," Rhodes said of his future with the team. "I didn't expect to be in this position, so I don't know."

Rhodes has failed to be the playmaking presence Ryan expected when he compared him to Baltimore's Ed Reed in the offseason. Instead, Rhodes has struggled with no interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles or fumble recoveries.

"Do I expect more of Kerry? I would say that's a true statement than what we're getting," Ryan said. "He probably expected more of himself also."

Rhodes has started every game of his NFL career since being a fourth-round pick out of Louisville in 2005. Big things were expected after he had nine interceptions and seven sacks from 2006-07, but Rhodes has only one sack and two picks since.

"I'm not a disruptive guy, so I won't be on suicide watch," he said. "It's definitely one of those things that is tough on me, but I'm not going to cause problems or start problems in the locker room or anything. That's not me. I'll try to do the things he wants me to do and get back in every package."

Starting this week, though, Rhodes will be involved primarily in nickel and dime packages rather than the base defensive packages _ as he has since he joined the Jets.

"Yeah, I'm embarrassed," he said. "I mean, I have a lot of pride."

He also wanted to clarify that he isn't getting benched.

"I'm still pretty much in every package," he said. "It's kind of like a little kid in timeout."

Still, it's a huge shot to the confidence of Rhodes, who acknowledged having doubts about his ability.

"If the coaches don't think you're doing enough for your team, then you start to question yourself as an individual and as a player," he said. "I've done a lot for this team, a lot for this league. But to be in this situation right now, it's definitely a situation where you think."

Rhodes signed a five-year, $33 million deal in April 2008, and was considered one of the cornerstones of the franchise. He's not so sure now. When asked if he wanted to be with the Jets for the long term, Rhodes gave a cryptic non-answer by saying, "I'm not going to answer that one right now."

Rhodes, who had been lobbying his fans for Pro Bowl votes a week ago on Twitter, had a weak game at New England on Sunday. He was run over by running back Laurence Maroney, and pulled up on a chance to pop Wes Welker on a play over the middle.