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New Jersey – A number of soap operas have been cancelled the last few years. Another one has just been cancelled, staring Darrelle Revis, Neil Schwartz and the Jets . . .
I was on a TV show earlier (on the phone) in Boston with Mike Felger (Comcast New England).
Obviously, the topic was the Darrelle Revis’ trade.
And I said, “It was time for a divorce – this was Revis’ fourth contract dispute in six years. Enough already.”
Felger wasn’t buying that answer saying you don’t trade a player because of his agent.
Hey, that isn’t a bad point.
But maybe you had to be around here to realize how bad it was.
It wasn’t just contract disputes every time, it was Schwartz’s scorched-earth campaign all four times, using his friends in the media to smear the Jets – over and over and over.
Look, I think Woody Johnson has some work to do to become a better owner (like stop the Wilpon-Jason Bay approach to Mark Sanchez), but on this one, I can’t blame him for saying – “that’s it – let’s move on.”
Do you know how many times the Revis’ camp, presumably Schwartz, dragged Woody’s name through the mud in the press during these four contract disputes? I lost count. Put yourself in his shoes.
And I have to admit, I’m tired of Revis getting a free pass in all this. Schwartz is his agent – he could call off the dogs at any time, and he didn’t. He acted like he was above the fray, and he wasn’t. He liked the good cop (Revis), bad cop (Schwartz) scenario.
There is a huge factor that hasn’t been brought up enough, and that must be stressed.
“We’re a football team that has a No. 1 corner – we’re fortunate to have Antonio Cromartie,” Rex Ryan said after the trade.
This isn’t just spin – it’s true.
I’m not saying Cromartie is as good at Revis, but he’s not that far behind. “Cro” is a bonafide #1 corner, and those are hard to find.
It’s very unusual for a team to lose a #1 corner, and have a #1 corner on the roster to replace him. The Jets have that luxury.
Now they just have to find a #2, whether that’s Kyle Wilson (if he becomes more consistent), Darrin Walls (underrated), Ellis Lankster, Aaron Berry or a draft pick.
Berry is the ex-factor in all this. He was scheduled to start for the Detroit Lions last year, but got into trouble in his hometown of Harrisburg, twice, and they released him.
He’s underrated, and very tough. I was in Harrisburg over the weekend, and I can see why he’s so tough – the place has seen better days.
Perhaps the Jets will pick a corner in the first round, but they should not reach for one – if the board says pick a guy, pick him.
But since the Jets have a bunch of players already in house to compete for the #2 job, if they wait until the second round to pick a corner, it’s not the end of the world.
I love the second round this year for corners. Guys like Johnthan Banks (Miss. State), Jamar Taylor (Boise State) and Blidi Wreh-Wilson (UConn) are all solid second round corners with starting potential. And there are more.
People think the Jets should have pulled in more in a Revis’ trade, but I don’t have a big issue with what they got in return.
Remember, the Jets wanted a 1, 3, and a 5, and the Bucs (the only suitor) weren’t willing to go there. They were fine with the one and five, but didn’t want to give up the three.
So for the Jets to drop their demands for a five, and a get a conditional three next year (if he stays healthy), is a pretty good package.
They get a four if he gets hurt, and honestly if he gets hurt again, a one and a four won’t look that bad.
And you know what will really help the Jets’ secondary overcome the loss of Revis – an improved pass rush. A good pass rush is a defensive backs best friend.
And the Jets should be able to land a decent pass rusher with nine or 13 (and remember, they already added pass rusher Antwan Barnes in free agency, who had 11 sacks two years ago for the San Diego Chargers).
I know the Jets are going to be heavily criticized for the Revis’ trade, especially with Schwartz pumping some writers with his side of the story, but I had no issue with what they did.
This soap opera had to come to an end. It has become a major strain on the Jets’ whole operation, a black cloud that would not go away.
While trading Revis wasn’t an easy thing to do from a talent standpoint, getting Revis-Schwartz-Sean Gilbert (Darrelle’s uncle) out of their hair, is something they needed to do.
Four contract disputes in six years. Are you kidding me?
April 21, 2013
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