REVIS RISK
Injury could mean Jets will low ball, and lose, Darrelle
Darrelle Revis knew he was making the right decision even when others questioned him. Two years ago, Revis staged a 36-day holdout, a brazen move with three years remaining on his contract. It paid off when he landed a frontloaded four-year, $46 million deal that put $32.5 million in his pockets the past two years. The Jets All-Pro cornerback contemplated holding out again in the offseason when the Jets made it clear that they wouldn’t negotiate until after the 2012 season. He was in line to become the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history . . . until last Sunday. Revis’ torn left ACL that will require season-ending surgery may cost him $50 million. On the first day of training camp,
Re- vis made his intentions clear: “I want to be a Jet for life.” Now, his future is uncertain. Before his devastating knee injury, Revis would have almost certainly received a new deal comparable to that of Bills defensive end Mario Williams, who signed the richest contract in NFL history for a defensive player — six years with a base value of $96 million — in the offseason. Williams earned $25 million guaranteed upon signing and will get another $25 million in guarantees. He will earn $53 million in the first three years of his deal.
Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson will also earn more than $50 million in the first three years of a seven-year, $113.45 million deal.
It’s unlikely the Jets would pony up $50 million in guarantees before the 2013 season for a player coming off major knee surgery.
“I don’t think the Jets are going to do it,” one agent told the Daily News. “And I can’t blame them.”
The Jets would likely want physical evidence that Revis, who will be 28 before the start of next season, is back to his All-Pro self.
However, there are huge risks with that approach. If the Jets opt not to re-work Revis’ deal before next season, they may lose him in free agency after 2013. Per terms of his existing contract, Revis cannot be given the franchise tag if he doesn’t miss any mandatory team activities. He will be an unrestricted free agent after next season.
“If the Jets won’t negotiate in good faith and pay him based on him being the most dominant defensive player in the game, then he would just become an unrestricted free agent,” the agent said.
What if the Jets offered a reduced deal like $25 million in guarantees? Should Revis take it or play 2013 on his existing contract (that will pay him $6 million) and bet on himself returning to dominance, so he can land a record-setting payday as an unrestricted free
agent?
“It’s all about how much do you think your client is going to come back,” the agent said. “From everything I’ve heard about Revis, he’s a hard worker. He’s that type of guy. You’re taking a risk either way because if he comes back and is the Revis and you took the team’s (reduced) offer, then you did him a huge disservice.”
Would Revis go for broke and not settle for anything less than being the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history? Would he bet on himself to be the same player he was before his knee buckled at midfield in South Florida last Sunday?
“Knowing his agents, they’re going to hold out for free agency,” the agent said. “They’re going to take the chance.”
And Revis may not be a Jet for life.
GANG GROWS
The Jets signed RB Jonathan Grimes to the 53-man roster off the Texans' practice squad. . . . Cornerback Donnie Fletcher was signed to the practice squad.
CARR SHOPPING
In an effort to bolster a secondary that will be without Revis, The News has learned that the Jets will hold a tryout for free agent cornerback Chris Carr this week. Carr, 29, was in Vikings camp before being one of the final cuts. Carr worked out for the Patriots two weeks ago. The seven-year veteran has played with the Raiders, Titans and Ravens.
THAT’S BUSH
Injured Dolphins running back Reggie Bush had no sympathy for Revis, hinting that the Jets got what they deserved for putting a target on him in Sunday’s game.
Bush was hurt in the first half of the Jets’ victory and did not return. He’s hoping to play this Sunday at Arizona.
“It’s like the old saying, what goes around comes around,” Bush said on a South Florida radio show.
Jets linebacker Calvin Pace said, “We had to put him on out,” although he later added that there was no Saints-like bounty on Bush. “They talked about all week about putting hot sauce and this and that, and they ended up losing their best player for the rest of the season,” Bush said. “So, it’s sad that it happened because of that, but I’m going to be back.”