The Jets Need Darrelle Revis To Make a Super Bowl Run. How Will The Holdout End?

Posted by By Sports Session at 11 August, at 14 : 28 PM Print

The New York Jets had a great run last season, and quickly became one of the most talked about teams coming into the 2010 football season.  Many experts and fans have been talking Super Bowl for the Jets, but just like with anything else things tend to mess up the best laid plans.  Arguably the New York Jets best player, Darelle Revis has decided to hold out until they make him the highest paid cornerback in the league ($15 million plus per year).

What was once a promising offseason filled with free-agent signings, an invitation to be the centerpiece of HBO’s hit series Hard Knocks, and legitimate Super Bowl aspirations now seems destined to become the latest failure in the long, hard knock lives of New York Jets.

The rift between the New York Jets and All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis seems to be reaching the point of no return, at least according to team owner Woody Johnson.  During an interview with ESPN’s E:60, Johnson was asked directly whether he expected Revis to play for the Jets this season to which he stated eight sobering words: “My gut feeling is, I would say no.”

With Darrelle Revis, the Jets present a defensive squad that strikes fear and intimidation in the eyes of other opponents by effectively removing his side of the field from the passing game.  Revis consistently lines up against the league’s marquee wide receivers (Randy Moss, Andre Johnson, Chad Ochocinco, etc.) and completely shuts them down, allowing the rest of the unit to focus on the shortened field and stake claim to the title NFL’s No. 1 defense.

Without Darrelle Revis, head coach Rex Ryan can outwardly praise his defense as much as he wants to, but deep within his football soul he knows the truth: without their main man closing half of the field to the competition, the Jets have a great defense but not a Super Bowl-caliber defense.

A defense cannot be super when it has a secondary that consists of untested rookie Kyle Wilson, third-year “vet” Dwight Lowery, and Antonio Cromartie (a veteran who is basically trying to resurrect his once promising career).  Do Woody Johnson and GM Mike Tannenbaum really believe that these guys are enough to fill the vacant land that was formerly known as Revis Island?

The Jets fell just 30 minutes short of their first Super Bowl appearance since Super Bowl III, leading to the series of bold, calculated moves that Tannenbaum made during the offseason.  In fact, those were the moves that had been lauded by fans as he demonstrated a serious effort to push the Jets to the top of the NFL world.

It is unclear how the Revis situation will resolve itself, he wants to get paid, but if they give him the money they may lose some of the pieces to make a Super Bowl run.  The Jets already offered Revis about $5 million a year plus incentives, which is well over the $1 million he is scheduled to make this year.  But Revis’s camp scoffed at the offer, and seems unwilling to make any compromises.  I think if the Jets offer around $8 million a year plus incentives for a one or two year deal, and agree to renegotiate after next season that would be fair.

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