Try this on for size: Tim Tebow is still a member of the Jets while Darrelle Revis is not.
The Jets traded their all-world cornerback to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a first-round pick (13th) in tonight’s draft and a conditional third-round selection in 2014. Strange things have happened in Jets world over the last several months, including the firing of general manager Mike Tannenbaum and the retention of coach Rex Ryan. Most franchises would’ve done the opposite.
Trading one of the league’s best defensive players–who happens to be in his prime–also seemed strange. Most franchises would’ve done the opposite. But the Jets aren’t like most franchises. They extended the contract of Mark Sanchez when they didn’t have to and back loaded a lot of other deals over the last few years, putting them in a dubious salary cap situation.
Why do you think the Jets could only sign LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell to one-year deals? They couldn’t bring back tight end Dustin Keller and guard Matt Slauson. They bid adieu to Bart Scott, Shonn Greene and defensive tackle Mike DeVito because of their cap situation.
No matter how this played out, the Jets were taking a gamble. If they paid Revis, it would’ve put them in an even worse place with the salary cap. If they didn’t trade him, he would’ve walked and the Jets would’ve received no compensation. They also couldn’t put the franchise tag on him because of a clause in his previous contract, so they did the best they could in sending him to Tampa.
Make no mistake, Revis’ relationship with the Jets’ front office deteriorated to the point where a deal was probably impossible. In fact, Revis said during an interview on WFAN Monday that he hadn’t spoken to Jets owner Woody Johnson throughout the entire process.
Revis also said he never had a one-on-one talk with Ryan and didn’t think the Jets were “truthful.” That’s a strange way to treat your best player, but we are talking about the Jets.