NFL free agent Kerry Rhodes reportedly claimed to be the father of Kim Kardashian's baby then posted a picture of himself with a woman in what one source says is a bid to defuse rumors that he is gay.

Bossip reported on June 17 that Rhodes sent a text message to several athletes players saying that he could be the father of Kardashian's newborn daughter, North West, not Kanye West.

"Man this could be my baby!! I was fu**ing her the same time as K.West was lol!!!" Rhodes allegedly wrote in a text.

According to Bossip, a friend of Rhodes said that the NFL free agent is so "desperate" to defuse the rumors that he is gay that he is starting rumors of his own saying that he use to date Kardashian.

"Kerry wants everyone to think he's straight," the insider told Bossip. "He is so desperate that he will drag Kim Kardashian and Kanye West into this drama just so people can associate him with a woman instead of a man. It's just sad at this point because everyone knows he's gay..."

Fox Sports reported on June 18, Rhodes posted a photo of his hand clasping a woman's hand on his lap on his Facebook page.

Media Takeout published pictures of Rhodes with Russell "Hollywood" Simpson on April 10 that the website said "looked suspect," along with an attention-grabbing headline: "Top NFL Superstar Is Photo'd On VACATION...With One Of His 'MALE FRIENDS.'"

The following day, Rhodes issued a statement to debunk the claim.

"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," Rhodes told TMZ. "I am not gay. The shots were taken during a past vacation in a casual environment with my entire business team."

Rhodes then said he "supports" the coming out of gay athletes and wishes them well.

After Rhodes denied being gay, Simpson came forward and said that he was dating the NFL player and that they lived together for a year. Simpson later released a video of himself with the NFL free agent a month after photos of the football player on vacation with him surfaced online.

Tags: Kerry Rhodes