With the announcement of his impending release, we look back at the time Darrelle Revis spent in New York.
The inevitable is finally arriving for Darrelle Revis. The New York Jets have announced that Revis has been informed of his impending release. This was expected by virtually everyone, as his release clears $9.3 million in cap space (per Spotrac). In eight seasons with the Jets (two stints), Revis posted 25 interceptions and 112 passes defended.
For the bulk of his career, there was nobody better than No. 24. When he joined the team in 2007, he was an immediate starter and picked off three passes and recorded 17 passes defended. Starting in 2008, Revis began a run of four-straight Pro Bowl selections and three first team All-Pro selections. In 2010, he was selected to the Pro Bowl without recording an interception. Why? Because quarterbacks never threw his way. “Revis Island” was never more clamped down than it was in 2010.
After two years away from New York, he returned in 2015 to post a career-high nine takeaways (five interceptions, four fumble recoveries). Unfortunately, his body began to break down all at once, and he became mortal in coverage very quickly. Revis acknowledged himself to Kimberley Martin of Newsday that he was breaking down, and that playing his signature press coverage just wasn’t feasible anymore:
"“I don’t do that no more,” Revis said. “But I did that for a number of years. When you play Cover Zero on some of the best receivers in the world, it takes a toll on your body. And your coaches have confidence to say we trust that you’re going to shut down this guy that had 200 yards receiving and the week before he had [more]. We trust you with that job. So it’s hard. It’s a lot.”"
It’s unfortunate when a star breaks down in this way, but this doesn’t take away from the fact that Revis will always be one of the best to ever wear the uniform—on the field.
Off of the field, his career becomes tarnished before even talking about his recent arrest. If you want to evaluate Revis for the totality of his career, the holdouts have to be taken into account. He missed 21 days of his first training camp negotiating his rookie contract. Everyone watched his 2010 holdout on Hard Knocks. A diner in Sullivan County, NY became famous because of a Revis holdout.
For all of his play on the field, Revis was also a master businessman, taking care of his brand as much as he did his team. It was pretty well-assumed that he wouldn’t be paid by the Jets in 2013, so he was traded to Tampa Bay in April and signed a lucrative contract. After making $12 million a year later with the Patriots, he returned to New York, but only after he was awarded a five-year, $70 million contract that included $39 million guaranteed.
He professed a love for the Jets, but can anyone really say that would have been the case if they hadn’t ponied up the cash? The answer really is unclear. Revis, if we look honestly, looked out for himself quite a bit.
Next: Saying Goodbye to Number 74
Does he belong in the Hall of Fame? First ballot. In the Jets Ring of Honor? Absolutely. But his time in New York was not without great debate, and times where the team was not his priority. It was a love-hate relationship between the Jets and Revis. The fans stayed true, but his love back could be questioned at times. But his play on the field will leave an indelible mark in the minds of Jets fans forever.