Jets should tell Darrelle Revis to ‘take it or leave it’

SAN DIEGO - JANUARY 17: Cornerback Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets runs after making an interception against the San Diego Chargers during AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Qualcomm Stadium on January 17, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

This Darrelle Revis situation has become like a bad movie that I just can’t stop talking about. I want to stop, honestly I do. But I can’t. I just can’t. I’m sick with it. So now I’m just going to give into it.

God help us.

Earlier today, head coach Rex Ryan essentially told the media that the Jets would be just fine without Revis.

“Don’t feel sorry for us,” the Jets’ coach said. “We have everything we need here on defense.”

“We have a great collection of individual talent,” Ryan said. “These guys will play great as a team. That’s what we’ll do. Obviously, Revis is a tremendous player. Ray Lewis, a tremendous player. Ed Reed, tremendous player. Kris Jenkins, too. But it’s about the unit, and we’ve been selling that from the day we walked on here.

“We can get it done,” Ryan continued. “We’re not afraid of anybody.”

Good attitude. Maybe the Jets’ front office should share in Ryan’s sediment and give Revis an ultimatum: Either accept the latest offer or sit out the entire year.

I’ve gone back and forth on this topic over the last couple of weeks, but I keep coming back to the same mindset: Revis is wrong, the Jets are right. The Jets shouldn’t have to pay for Al Davis’ mistake (and it was a mistake) with the Nnamadi Asomugha contract. Revis has every right to feel entitled to make more than Asomugha, but the Jets have every right to tell him to take what they’re offering or shove off.

The Jets have already offered him a long-term deal that should not only work for him, but the team as well. The Jets have to worry about paying 52 other guys and also have to consider that a lockout could be coming. Seeing as how Revis still has one more year left on his current deal, he should feel fortunate that the Jets are working with him at all.

Like Ryan said in his comments – Revis is a tremendous player. In fact, he’s the most important member of the Jets’ defense because he can play one-on-one with any receiver in the league, and often does in Ryan’s scheme. And because he does, the Jets essentially are playing with an extra man on defense because they don’t have to double team an opponent’s No. 1 receiver.

But enough is enough already. The Jets are trying to win a Super Bowl – not ensure that Revis gets the moniker of highest paid cornerback. Woody Johnson and Mike Tannenbaum have drawn a line in the sand and they shouldn’t cross it. Revis can take it or leave it.

Johnson said on Monday that he has a “gut feeling” that Revis won’t play for the Jets in 2010. Ryan said today that his defense would be fine without him. Maybe tomorrow Revis will wise up and realize that winning a Super Bowl and being a part of a team are much bigger than being the highest paid cornerback in the NFL.

If he doesn’t, then he should feel free to sit out. I hear Kyle Wilson wouldn’t mind seeing some PT this season.

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