With the recent news regarding Darrelle Revis, the New York Jets have an easy decision to make regarding his future.
It’s been an interesting couple of days for the New York Jets and future Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis. A story breaks that he is injured in an early morning incident in Pennsylvania. Then, the plot thickens when the information comes out that Revis is the one under investigation. A few hours later, he is formally charged with four felonies and a misdemeanor for allegedly making threats and knocking out two men. He turned himself into police Friday night and has since been released on bond.
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Now, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN, there is no witness account of Revis laying a hand on anyone. He was hostile, may have made threats, and certainly was on video being at the scene. So he was involved. To what degree he was involved is the question that needs to be answered.
But, what do the Jets do from here? It’s going to take time for the legal process, and therefore the NFL discipline process to play out. The answer to this one is actually rather easy.
In all likelihood, Revis was going to be released anyway. Per Spotrac, Revis is set to make $15.3 million in 2017, far more than he deserves after his performance in 2016. He likely will be released by March 10th, because if he is on the roster on March 11, he will be due a $2 million roster bonus. That salary and that bonus aren’t going to happen.
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Prior to this incident, the subject of moving Revis to safety had been bandied about. It is an idea that I advocated for here at NFL Spin Zone prior to the 2016 season. His ball skills would lend towards him being able to play safety, though his declining interest in making tackles would not. But it was out there.
It’s time to take that off the table. Go ahead with releasing him. Forget about restructuring his contract, forget about bringing him back at safety. Forget all of it. Darrelle Revis no longer deserves a place on the Jets roster.
It’s not about his play any longer. It’s not about him losing a step. It’s not even about his recent tendency to avoid tackling. Well, it all plays into it, but it could have all been forgiven with a pay cut previously. Not anymore.
Now it is about representing the Jets. This is a situation that the team never should have had to deal with. Revis is a veteran of this league and has to know better. Yes, according to the police reports, these young men were following him to get him on their camera. One can assume that it was to annoy him into a reaction worthy of a viral video. Revis has to have the sense of a 31-year-old and remove himself from the situation.
I am not insinuating that he assaulted these guys. Nothing released to this point has indicated any direct evidence that pointed to him. Will that come? Maybe. However, the point is, he should have shown the restraint to remove himself from the situation. Even though Revis was there for personal business, he is representing the team and the league when he is out in public. That may be unfair but it is just the way it is. NFL players are expected to exhibit a level of decorum. Provoked or not, Revis did not.
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Darrelle Revis will no doubt have his bust in Canton, OH. His name will also be in the Jets Ring of Honor. But it’s time for him to go ahead of the 2017 season, and it is no longer in dispute.