Yesterday, the incoherent jumble of insinuations, flat-out lies and chiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllleeeees that is MediaTakeOut posted a MTO SUPER DUPER WORLD EXCLUSIVE featuring pictures of NFL free agent Kerry Rhodes "ON VACATION ... With One Of His 'MALE FRIENDS!!'" In its homophobic way that villainizes but stops short of exhibiting direct malice, MTO branded the shots of Rhodes and a much wispier dude seemingly canoodling in a tropical setting as "suspect."

The actual post is hilarious. "Now we're not gonna JUMP TO ANY CONCLUSIONS HERE..." it starts, even though the post's top image features the NFL logo with a sequined pink football. "...But we got our hands on some vacation pics of NFL star Kerry Rhodes and one of his male friends," it continues. And then, instead of jumping to conclusions, the post leaps by concluding with, "CHILLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEE!!!" It should be noted that the post's tags include: "conclusions," "gonna jump," "ish" and "male friends." All are worth clicking, especially if you like reading words in all caps.

Today, Rhodes denied the conclusion-springing, telling TMZ:

Photos have been circulating of my former assistant and I that have caused some rumors regarding my sexuality, and I wanted to address the situation. I am not gay. The shots were taken during a past vacation in a casual environment with my entire business team. I know a lot of people are recently talking about athletes struggling to come out to their fans right now, and I support them, as well as wish those individuals comfort.

"Casual environment with my entire business team" isn't exactly an inoculation for homosexuality, especially when "casual" means casually draping your arm around a dude in multiple locations and casually lifting him up while he clings to you, beaming like the sun that is kissing both of your bodies in paradise. But whatever, not all contact is erotic, not all men carrying men are headed to the bedroom.

Rhodes has been romantically linked to model Nicole Williams. In 2010, he publicly spoke of having difficulty finding the right woman.

CHILLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEE!!!

[Top image via Getty]

[Kerry Rhodes carrying male friend image via MediaTakeOut.com]