Upon signing a five-year, $70 million deal with the New York Jets, Darrelle Revis says it was not about the money.
Darrelle Revis insists that he did not return to the New York Jets simply because of the money. Instead, he says it was a “homecoming”. He also called it “a no-brainer”.
Yet, despite his insistence that returning to the Jets was not about the money it’s hard for fans and analysts alike to look at the five-year, $70 million deal he signed and not question him. Even more when $39 million was guaranteed.
The four-time All-Pro corner is expected to make $16 million in 2015, $17 million next season and then $15 million in 2017. The final two years of the deal will cost the Jets $11 million per year, assuming he remains on the team.
Revis is by far the richest NFL cornerback ever. He was scheduled to make $20 million in 2015 with the Patriots before they declined an option on his deal.
That action opened up the option for Revis to return to the Jets as a free agent. Revis played a similar card to LeBron James in returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer.
Similar to James’ return to Cleveland, the Jets are in the works of getting some of the old band back together. While adding Buster Skrine from Cleveland prior to signing Revis, the Jets are also in discussions with former Jets corner Antonio Cromartie, who partnered with Revis to make up one of the most dominant secondaries in recent memory the first time around.
Revis will try to help in recruiting his old teammate.
"“I’m going to get in contact with him very soon here and try to convince him to hopefully come back and join our Batman-and-Robin tandem we had a couple of years ago.”"
Some experts have questioned whether Revis is in decline, while some are resolute that last season in New England he regained his claim on best corner in the game.