REVIS BACK ON CENTER STAGE
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Darrelle Revis is back in the playoffs.
The former Jets star played his first playoff game in four years Saturday against the Ravens, but this time in the uniform of the rival Patriots. Revis has returned to his old form this season, two years removed from knee surgery. He has given the Patriots defense a dimension it has lacked in recent years.
“He’s a great corner,” Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith said this week. “I don’t think you get a oneyear deal for [$12 million] for being a slouch.”
The Patriots grabbed Revis after the Buccaneers released him in March. His contract is a twoyear deal that calls for him to make another $20 million next season, but noone expects the Patriots to pay that.
The question is will the Patriots bring him back at a lower price or let him walk as a free agent. But right now no one is focused on that. Revis went to two AFC Championship games with the Jets, and was on the verge of returning there if the Patriotswere able to beat the Ravens on Saturday.
The old Revis Island returned this season after he did not look like himself with the Buccaneers in 2013 following hisACL injury in his final year with the Jets.
“It’s a chess game out there,” Revis said. “You’ve got to bait the receiver. Sometimes you’ve got to bait the quarterback.”
Revis made his sixth Pro Bowl this season and won over New England showing the same form Jets fans sawfrom200712.
Former Jets safety JimLeonhard talked to ESPN this week about what makes Revis special.
“When Iwas with the Jets, we’d have a big game coming up and the [national] broadcasters were watching our practice on Fridays,” Leonhard said.“We’d run a play and if Darrelle didn’t feel like the receiver gave hihim the look a certainway that hewanted it, he’d be in that receiver’s face. Hewould demand he got it right, and if he didn’t, they’d come to blows sometimes.
“It was critical in his mind to get it right during theweek sowhenwe got out there in a game he wasn’t seeing a route for the first time live.”
Leonhard said the best practices were oneswhen SantonioHolmes or Braylon Edwardswould burn Revis.
“If they got him early in practice, it was going to be a long day for them,” Leonhard said, “because he was set on beating them up the rest of practice.”
If the Patriots are able to break their 10year Super Bowl drought, Revis figures to play a big role in it. NewEngland coach Bill Belichick has had fun using Revis to shut down opposing receivers like Rex Ryan did before him. Amazingly, Revis was not flagged for pass interference at all this season.
“It’s interesting,” Leonhard said. “I’ve seen him do this so many times. We’re in formation, the ball is snapped and he’s running the route before the receiver does. I’dwatch him sometimes and think, ‘He’s guessing,’ but he’s never wrong.”
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco vowed before Saturday’s game he would not stay away from Revis.
“You allow them to dictate something by who they match him on,” Flacco said. “Whenwe’ve played against some guys and … tried to avoid him or done things game planwise to getmatchups in other places, it usually just takes your attention away from what you should be doing.”
The expected matchup for Revis on Saturday against the Ravens was Smith, the 14year veteran.
“Is Revis still Revis?” Smith said. “I think his ID and his Social Security number would say he’s still Revis.”
He proved he’s still Revis this season.