It’s time for Darrelle Revis to jet. Get out of town. There is love lost and the grass is definitely greener on the other side.
The best cornerback in the NFL wants to be paid like it. This isn’t his first money machismo standoff with the New York Jets management. Three years ago it was broadcast for the world to see on HBO’s Hard Knocks. The Jets didn’t sign Revis to the long-term deal he wanted, but he did get a four-year $46 million dollar deal with $32.5 million guaranteed. It was nothing more than a band-aid contract to get him into camp and keep him quiet for a few years. The band-aid’s off and the scab never healed, and it actually got worse with an ACL tear.
Let’s talk money…here are Revis’ contract specifics from the deal he signed in 2010.
Four-year, $46 million contract. The deal contains $32.5 million guaranteed, including all of Revis’ first two base salaries and an $18 million first-year option bonus. The contract stipulates that Revis cannot be franchise tagged when his deal voids following the 2013 season. 2013: $3 million (+ $1 million workout bonus + $1 million roster bonus due 3/16 + $1 million reporting bonus), 2014:Free Agent or 2014-2016: (Voidable Years if Revis holds out before 2013) $3 million, 2017: Free Agent.
Imagine Revis’ thought process when he tore his ACL this past season. He’s only got a year left on his deal and he got hurt. He had to be pissed off he didn’t get the long term deal he was seeking. He probably had the mindset that he was going to get it this off season. I get it, I really do, but Darrelle should channel his inner Deion Sanders.
When Sanders became a free agent in 1994, he said several times that he wanted a championship and that it wasn’t about the money. The main teams courting his services were the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. Deion wound up signing with the 49ers. The weird thing is that the 9ers only signed Primetime for a one-year deal for about $1.2M. Why they only signed him for one year is beyond me, but it was amazing for Deion. Sanders didn’t have any injury history, but he was playing baseball so teams wanted him to be fully committed which could be a reason for the one-year deal.
What did Deion do? Essentially, his back was against the wall. He could have got hurt in ’94, had a bad season, etc. Deion balled out and let his play do the talking. He had six picks, took three back for touchdowns and won 1994 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Darrelle Revis should be open to the Jets trading him. Why on earth would he want to play for an organization that cares more about headlines than winning? The San Francisco 49ers are primed to win a Super Bowl next season. Revis should welcome a trade to the Bay or any other team that’s a contender.
Revis wants the security of a long term deal which is totally understandable, but he no longer has the leverage. His torn ACL gives complete power back to any team that’s interested in signing him. If Revis wants a long term deal, he’s going to have to ball out like the #1 cornerback he is and cash in next year. After Deion’s dope 1994, he cashed in with the Cowboys the next season signing a seven-year $35M deal.
Revis has to trust and invest in himself. Believe that he’s a top flight cornerback, prove it again, and reap his blessings next off-season just like Deion did in ’94.