No JETS Welcomed on REVIS ISLAND

I originally was going to write this post before the weekend, but because of Jets owner Woody Johnson's comments about not expecting Darrelle Revis to suit up for Gang Green in 2010, I decided to let things cool off for a few days. As we reach the premier of Hard Knocks tonight (HBO 10 PM), the Jets and All-World DB and the newest Island on the map Darrelle Revis are engaged in a contract dispute for the ages. Coming off what many feel was the best season for a DB in NFL history, there is no arguing that Revis deserves a pay raise, and he and his people will be the first to let you know.

ESPN has covered this story about as much as they cover what high school Brett Favre has thrown at in the last few hours, so you know that it has turned from relaying the facts, to a TMZ headline. What I'm going to do, unlike the world wide leader, is explain to you why both sides are sticking to their guns, and what attempts have been made.

JETS:

Contracts: Although ESPN would never tell you this, there are other players on the Jets roster. LB David Harris, leader of the front 7 of the NFL's #1 defense, and All-Pro C Nick Mangold, the unquestioned leader of the NFL's top ranked OL, are both entering the final year of their contracts. It's easy to see based of the plethora of moves the Jets made this offseason, they are built to win over the next 2 years. Without these 2 under contract, there is no chance the Jets win the division let alone a Super Bowl

Al Davis is a MORON: Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, has made a habit of overpaying players directly after a solid year, and Nnamdi Asomugha wasn't any different. Yes Asomugha was arguably the best DB in the NFL when he signed his deal, but the numbers that he signed for were absurd. Asomugha's 15 million dollar a year deal was by far the highest contract for a DB, with the next highest being 10 million. The Jets are a team on the rise unlike Oakland, and have continually reiterated to Revis' agents that they are not going to be fiscally irresponsible like Davis. To make Revis the top paid DB is almost out of the question, and they would rather work out a deal that is comparable to the rest of the league's defensive backs.

REVIS:

Get paid like the best: Sports are a business, and in business, the top "talent" gets paid the most. The Jets management and Head Coach Rex Ryan have made it extremely clear who they feel is the best defensive back in the league, and he wears #24 for their team. Revis and his agents,Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod, feel that if the Jets as an organization are willing to admit that Darrelle is the best, they should be willing to pay him for that distinction. By holding out of training camp, Revis has forfeited 20 million over the next 2 years, so he obviously means business when it comes to getting this type of money.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT: If I could have made this statement blink, I would have. Now for some reason that I just completely do not understand, the entire coverage of this story has not been based around this. Ladies and gentleman, the potential lockout and the changes to the CBA are the reason that Revis Island has shut down for business. One of the main issues that faces the NFL this year is the potential lockout. As in any sports lockout, player salaries are a big issue. One of the key factors involved in this potential lockout is the changing or even abolishing of GUARANTEED MONEY. Revis is in year 4 of his 6 year 30 million dollar rookie contract, and would obviously become a free agent after the new agreement was reached. You may call it selfish or greedy, but plain and simple Darrelle Revis is trying to get paid while the system is how it is.

Both parties have made it known that they want Darrelle to play for the Jets in 2010 and be a "lifetime Jet." The Jets attempted to make strides by offering Revis 2 different contracts. The length and official figures weren't announced, but it was reported that the Jets offered Revis a contract "for life" ranging in the 7 year 84 million or 8 year 96 million dollar range. They also were to have reportedly offered him a 2 million dollar a year increase to his current contract. Both ideas were shot down by Revis' camp, leaving us where we are today.

Now I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this solution, but as Jets fan, I feel I know how to get this done:

Darrelle, show up to camp, practice and then make a statement saying that at the end of the day the most important thing to you is going to Dallas and winning a Super Bowl! If you show Woody Johnson and Mike Tannenbaum that your top priority is to win a championship, I have a feeling they will succumb to your requests and get something done. Maybe I'm a wishful thinker but I see it working