What the Patriots need to do to repeat as Super Bowl champions next year

Coming to the conclusion that the Patriots need Revis is easy, but figuring out a way to make it work is not. The Patriots are facing a salary cap hit of more than $152 million for the coming season, meaning they are more than $4 million over the cap.

Based on the deal that Revis signed last year, he will be due $20 million if he remains on the roster at the start of the league year, and that would force the Patriots to absorb a $25 million cap hit.

That’s not an acceptable position, and don’t think for a second that the Pats are going to sit tight and absorb that number. However, there are 34 days between now and March 10, and if the Patriots want to keep Revis and he wants to stay with them, it’s possible to work out a new, long-term deal.

Losing Revis would not necessarily be fatal to the team’s championship chances, but it would be a huge blow for this team to absorb.

Next: Revis still at the top