TREASURE ISLAND
Revis says Jets should treat him right for all he has done
IF YOU look at the numbers — those related to football and those related to the salary cap — Sunday’s game against the Bills at MetLife Stadium would seem obvious to be the last game as a Jet for Darrelle Revis, one of the best players ever to wear the team’s uniform.
The veteran cornerback, whose struggles this season have made him the target of some vicious criticism that has obliterated the borders of professionalism, does not see it that way.
The 31-year-old Revis, in no uncertain terms, told The Post on Thursday he wants to retire as a Jet. He said he has no plans to look around the stadium wistfully Sunday as if it might be the end for him with the franchise that made him a first-round draft pick in 2007 and made him a multi-millionaire.
“Would I love to be here? Yes,” Revis said in an exclusive locker-room sit-down with The Post. “Will I be back? That’s a great question. My thing would be this: Do the New York Jets want to treat my situation with class or no class? With me being one of the best players in the history of this franchise, do they want me to retire here or not retire here?
“That’s the biggest question. It’s black and white. It’s not very complicated.” Except that it is. Revis’ performance this season — even by his own admission — has fallen like a twoton boulder off a cliff. The decline has been so dramatic Revis has spoken openly about age catching up to him, his diminished speed and the prospect of changing positions from corner to safety.
“I’ve been one of the best cornerbacks to ever play this game,” Revis said. “I’ve done a lot of things in this league that a lot of guys currently playing are chasing now. I’ve impacted the game in a way where it was like, ‘Hey, he doesn’t give up any catches to the No. 1 [receiver].’ I set a precedent.
“So, I’ve done enough. Obviously, everybody’s a little bit concerned because that’s not what I’m displaying anymore. I can’t stay 24 [years old] forever. Every player ages in this game. You’ve got to understand that.
“Now, can I still play? Yes, I can still play. This game is a love for me. It’s like a girlfriend. And we’ve been dating for a long time — many years. She’s been great to me and I appreciate it. I love my girlfriend.”
The question for Revis is this: Is his girlfriend about to break up with him?
Revis said of the rampant criticism he’s endured this season: “I get it. There’s a whole bunch of stuff that comes with what I’ve done. In the past, I used to take over games, shut the No. 1 guy out.”
This season — during which he doesn’t have a single interception, has been credited with only four passes defended and has allowed a quarterback rating of 109.8 when targeted (according to ProFootballFocus.com) — Revis has had a difficult time shutting anyone out.
“Some of my plays this year, if you break it down, I’m right there,” he said. “It’s just a technique error here and there. That’s been my struggle. I haven’t really trusted in my techniques as I did when I was younger because I’m losing a step.”
The question for the Jets as they evaluate Revis in the offseason will be whether they want to bring him back at all, and if so, how much are they willing to spend?
If the Jets cut Revis before the second day of the new league year (in March), they can free $9 million in cap space and be on the books for just $6 million in 2017. If Revis remains with the Jets under his current contract, he’ll cost them $15.33 million on the cap next season, which is not going to happen.
Revis, who has made nearly $130 million in his career, sounded willing to take a cut in pay to stay.
“You have to understand what the next step is, what the next chapter is for you, and I understand that,” he said. “You feel where you’re at in your career, you talk to the guys upstairs and see what’s going to best help me and best help the team moving forward.”
Asked if he is concerned his legacy has been tarnished by his struggles this season, Revis said, “No. That’s absurd and very insulting to even say that
“I can still play this game at a high level. I’m going to be there until I’m told I’m not going to be here. Whatever the situation is in the offseason, it’ll get handled the way it’s supposed to. It depends on how they want to handle it.”
Do the New York Jets want to treat my situation with class or no class? With me being one of the best players in the history of this franchise, do they want me to retire here or not retire here? — Darrelle Revis