What To Do With Revis Island

The New York Jets stand just one day away from perhaps the most anticipated training camp in team history. Between the Super Bowl hype, the appearance on HBO's "Hard Knocks", and the bombastic mouth of Rex Ryan, the Jets refuse to give up the spotlight. However, despite all the anticipation one big problem still remains...What to do with Darrelle Revis? The ongoing contract dispute may potentially serve as the kryptonite to the Jets Super Bowl dreams.

In 2009, Darrelle Revis had perhaps the greatest season an NFL Cornerback has ever had. At a time when the offensive passing game seems to be facilitated every year, Revis reminded football fans that it may be too early to abandon the term "Shutdown Corner." After only 3 years in the league, Revis has established himself as undoubtedly the best Cornerback in football, and quite possibly the best defensive player in football. Don't believe me? Just ask his head coach. Ryan has done a wonderful job of marketing the Jets best player since day one, and rightfully so, Revis is a potential all time great.

Finally, after all the praise and worship, the Jets approached Revis following the AFC Championship about re-doing his current contract. It is a contract that will keep him a Jet for the next three seasons and will pay him only 1 million dollars during the upcoming 2010 campaign. That would make Revis the 8th highest paid defensive back on the Jets! It would seem only logical to reward a home grown 25 year old superstar with rewards and riches. Apparently for the Jets, that logic is too complicated. The Jets and Darrelle Revis have been trying to come to an agreement for over three months and the end doesn't appear to be in site. Revis appears to be a potential training camp holdout and a big time distraction as the Jets prepare for their "Super Bowl or Bust" 2010 season.

If Revis is the best player at his position, isn't it only fair that he be paid like it? Did the Jets not realize that promising Revis a new deal meant he would have to be the highest paid Cornerback in the NFL? Did the Jets think Revis would not take a glance at the contract his contemporary Nnamdi Asomugha signed on February 19th, 2009? If Asmugha's contract is where the bar has been set, then the Jets need to do everything in their power to go above and beyond that number. If an employee receives a promotion for good service then they should receive more money then those they are superior to. The Jets have continued to insult Revis by offering him substantially less then Asmugha, which has led the two parties farther and farther apart.

The NFL has become a passing league. Quarterbacks and Wide Recievers are now putting up more numbers then ever before. Having a commodity like Darrelle Revis in your secondary allows you to go into a game with no fear of the opposition's number one Wide Reciever. The Jets play in a division that features Randy Moss and Brandon Marshall and a conference that features Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Vincent Jackson, and countless other great receivers. If the Jets plan on achieving their Super Bowl dreams, they will need Revis to get through the Tom Bradys and Peyton Mannings of the AFC.

The Revis situation is not the first time the Jets have seemed to butcher contract negotiations. Pete Kendall, Chris Baker, and Leon Washington were all proven starters on the team that wanted and deserved more money. All three times the players were denied, and all three times the players were shipped out. The Jets cannot make that mistake again. Not when the player is one of the best in the sport. One would think the Jets have learned from their contract disputes of the past but their stubborn arrogance remains.

In the meantime, there is still a chance this is resolved soon. For the Jets and their fans, the sooner the better. This should be a time for Jets fans to dream about putting an end to a 41 year Super Bowl drought...Not a time to question if the teams best player will be on the field come week one.