Schwartz On Sports: Revis Returns To Jets
By Peter Schwartz
Near the end of practice on Monday, the Jets were getting set for their traditional midfield breakdown.
"Jets on three….one two three JETS!" is typically how it goes.
As it turns out, someone that did not take part in practice led the breakdown.
Darrelle Revis.
RELATED: Revis Signs 4-Year Deal | Rex Seals Revis Deal
"He came out of the locker room when we were practicing on the far field," said tight end Dustin Keller. "We were thinking hurry up. We know it's a far walk but we're trying to go home."
Indeed Revis was back after agreeing to a new four year contract late Sunday night. He signed his new deal on Monday ending a holdout that began on the first day of camp back on August 1st.
With his 36-day holdout over, Revis admitted to being a little nervous as he walked over to greet his teammates that he hadn't seen since the end of mini-camp.
"I had butterflies," said Revis. "I didn't know how my teammates were going to accept me because I haven't been here for a month. I had butterflies, but after they started chanting my name a little bit, it was a good feeling. It was good to see the guys and I just wanted to be around them because I haven't been here for a while, so it was a good feeling."
The contract negotiations began shortly after the loss to the Colts in the AFC title game back in January. The Jets went to Revis saying that they realized that he outplayed his first NFL contract and it was time to get something done.
For seven months, those negotiations were often frustrating and acrimonious. Revis' agents Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod along with Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum could never get on the same page.
Revis wasn't sure that a deal would ever get done.
"I had a million thoughts in my head," said Revis. "(I was) hoping it would get done so I could play football, but when you're in a process like this it's very tough. You just have to stick by the close people, your family and friends and just weigh it out the best that you can."
As the Jets' pre-season schedule came to an end last week, it was beginning to look more and more that Revis would not be on the field for this Monday night's season opener against the Ravens.
The momentum for a new deal began on Saturday when head coach Rex Ryan and owner Woody Johnson flew down to Florida to meet with Revis.
Once Revis made eye contact with Ryan, it seemed like all was good in the world.
"(Rex) was smiling like he took a trip to Disney World," said Revis. "I was smiling back because this is like a home to me, here with the New York Jets. It was just good to see him and work something out when we were down there to try to get me back up here."
Late Sunday night, Revis agreed to terms.
On Monday, Ryan was asked if there would have been a deal without that face-to-face get-together.
"Yeah, I think so," said Ryan. "I understand that people are trying to give us, maybe me, way more credit than I deserve."
On a conference call early Monday morning, Tannenbaum told reporters that Ryan had to be medicated when he found out that Revis had signed. As it turns out, Ryan experienced a spectrum of emotions over the weekend and throughout the marathon talks.
"It's true, but he had to try to medicate me twice," said Ryan. "Once when I stormed out ripping everybody on both sides. Then, after I threw my little tantrum, when the deal was getting done, they brought me back up. When we all agreed to the deal, all of us felt great about it. The first call I made was not to anybody in the media (but) to my wife. I said, 'Alright, we finally got this done.' That was it. It was just a great time. I knew and I saw how hard everybody worked to get it done. Clearly Neil and Jonathan and Sean wanted to get Darrelle back on the field and this organization wanted it to happen. That's the only reason it did happen."
In the end, the deal came down to a compromise. Revis agreed to $46 million over 4 years with $32 million guaranteed.
A long process that left Jets fans angry and frustrated was now over.
"(I'm) sorry to the fans," said Revis. "This was a long process. It was rough on me. I'm a football player and I love to play the game. I'm happy it's over with so I can go play football now."
It's clear that Revis wants to play football and that holding out was something he had to do but didn't want to do. It was a time in his life that he'll never forget.
"This experience humbled me very much just because I love to play football," said Revis. "At one point, something was taken away from me that I love to do."
Whiles the Jets and their fans are thrilled that Revis is back, the fact that he is trying to paint himself as a victim is wrong. Football wasn't taken away from him. He chose to holdout for more money with three years left on his contract.
Revis will be back on the practice field Tuesday. His return to the Jets returns Antonio Cromartie back to the right corner spot and allows first round pick Kyle Wilson to get his feel wet in the NFL as a nickel while also being available to spell either Revis or Cromartie.
Cromartie had spent all of training camp and pre-season playing Revis' left corner spot. I caught up with "Cro" after practice. Listen to the interview...
By getting Revis to put pen to paper, the Jets became a better football team with just one week to go before the opener.
"It's huge," said safety Jim Leonhard. "It just adds more depth.
"The Revis saga is over," said Keller. "It's good to have him back. It's going to be tough for opposing offenses."
Now the question is how long Revis will be able to play against the Ravens next Monday night.
"I do think we may play Revis," said Ryan. "I'm not sure. I think he might need to practice for several weeks before we play him, but don't be shocked if he's out there. In other words, he's definitely playing (smiling)."
Ryan was able to joke around on Monday. But for the most part, the last seven months were far from a joking matter. Now, it's time to turn the page to the regular season. Revis is signed, sealed, and delivered.
As the Jets are telling their fans….
"It's go time!"
WAS IT A SIGN?
Sometimes you just have a feeling that something is going to happen.
Sunday morning, my four-year old son Bradley was rumbling through his toy box when he came across an ornament from his first birthday cake. It was a miniature football player with a green jersey that had #24 on it. Bradley turned one in 2006 so #24 on the Jets at that time was Ty Law.
Hmmmm. Darrelle Revis was holding out but was working out with Law in Florida. Then a report comes out that Ryan was in Florida meeting with Revis.
Then, the two sides come to a deal.
It all started with my son finding that little football figure.
Coincidence? Maybe, but very eery!
T-RICH RETURNS
Not only was Ryan happy to talk about the Revis deal on Monday, but he also announced that fullback Tony Richardson was re-signed one day after being released.
"You get an exemption for Darrelle," said Ryan. "We brought T-Rich back to the active roster and he will play against Baltimore. Brian Jackson will be released."
The Jets rolled the dice that another team wouldn't swoop in and grab Richardson, but he is back and that's good news for the Jets.
THE PRACTICE SQUAD TAKES SHAPE
On Monday, the Jets signed six players to the practice squad. They inked one of the stars of "Hard Knocks" LB Joshua Mauga, former CFL star LB Rickey Foley, C Robby Felix, former UCONN WR Larry Taylor, DT Martin Tevaseu, and S Donovan Warren who was plagued by a concussion in camp.
That's it for now! I'll be back later in the week with a preview of the season opener against the Ravens.
