Chiefs quickly give up on Darrelle Revis experiment

After signing him late in the 2017 regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs have cut Darrelle Revis.

After showing clear signs of decline during the 2016 season with the New York Jets and being guaranteed $6 million from the Jets for the 2017 even if he didn’t play, Darrelle Revis got no real sniffs on the free agent market last offseason. But in November, the Kansas City Chiefs surfaced and signed the seven-time Pro Bowler to a two-year deal.

Revis seemed to acquit himself solidly with the Chiefs, with 11 total tackles and two pass breakups in five regular season games. But with an $8.8 million roster bonus and a total of $10 million in guaranteed money due to him if he was on the roster at the start of the new league year, keeping a cornerback who’s approaching 33 years old was not likely.

On Thursday, via ESPN’s Field Yates, the Chiefs released Revis.

The agreed upon trade of quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins will help when it can be official, but the Chiefs entered the offseason over the NFL salary cap. Shedding Revis will help too, as Yates further alluded to. The looming acquisition of cornerback Kendall Fuller in the Smith trade also helped make Revis expendable.

As for Revis, he has always played the market like a mercenary when he has hit free agency or been angling for a new contract. But that was when he was among the elite cornerbacks in the league and welcoming opposing receivers to “Revis Island,” not now with a partial season most recently on his resume as he lingered available until Thanksgiving. That kind of “pay me or I won’t show up” leverage is long gone, and he’s now got nothing coming to him for the 2018 season.

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A contending team or two may have interest in Revis now. But if his price is not met before training camps start, a decision to retire won’t be far away.