Darrelle Revis has been a legend not only among New York Jets fans, but the NFL fanbase as a whole. He based his ten-year career on being a shutdown cornerback that was tasked with guarding the opposing teams number 1 receiver. He earned the nickname “Revis Island” because of how he consistently shut down elite receivers. He didn’t necessarily play this way because the fans wanted him to, but because he held himself to such a high standard that he demanded excellence from himself. He had a work ethic that required a result of excellence.
Has Time Caught Up to Darrelle Revis?
It is well known that Revis left the New York Jets to play for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the archrival New England Patriots. After those stints, he signed again with the Jets before the 2015 season. That contract came at a steep cost: $70 million over five years with $39 million guaranteed. When teams offer these types of contracts, they expect a high level of play in return. Revis has not held up that end of the bargain.
So far throughout the season he has been burned on deep routes, too slow in coverage, and just overall does not look elite. This whole season, Revis has only two passes defended with no interceptions. But he has given up a 100 yard game in Week Nine to a quarterback-now-receiver in Terrelle Pryor, and then in Week 10 he gave up 81 yards. This is not including the off games he has had throughout the season as well. It seems that almost every other week, he has a off game. Revis’ reasoning, when asked, was a simple one. “I’m old.” That reason is true, no argument there, but is it really an acceptable excuse after ten weeks of mediocre play?
The reason given to us by Revis himself for his declining play is age, but perhaps part of the problem is the mental confidence he no longer has. Before, he would line up across from the number one receiver and shut him down consistently. Now he is getting burned by second string receivers. Instead of quarterbacks being scared to throw at Revis they are targeting him. He has become a liability in one-on-one coverage. Rodney Harrison suggested that Revis should switch to free safety. That could be the best thing for him because he has the instinct to be in coverage, just not the physical capabilities to keep up with the speedsters anymore.
The real question that comes to everyone’s minds is this: Is Revis worth the money? A couple years ago, the answer was yes without hesitation. But now, it comes down to whether or not he worth that massive cap hit the New York Jets will have to take. Perhaps with the switch to free safety he can still be a force in coverage. But at the very least, the New York Jets have to restructure his contract to lessen the blow to the salary cap.
