Darrelle Revis is officially a problem in need of a solution. He wants to be paid as if he’s the best cornerback in football. That’s not unreasonable. The Jets say he has three years left on his current deal, which he held out for in 2007. That is also a reasonable position. But let’s look at that 2007 contract and see if there is an answer to this stalemate.
Because of his signing bonus in 2007, Revis is set to earn just $1 million this year. No matter what that his bonuses were ($4.75 million signing, $2.2 million roster in 2008 and $5.7 million roster in 2009), that number is ridiculous. It was clear when the deal was signed that 2010 was going to be a holdout year if Revis ended up being great. Both sides tried to avert this by giving Revis the ability to become a free agent at easy-to-meet playing time levels and then allowing the Jets the ability to buy back years five ($5 million) and six ($15 million). But this fourth year was always no-man’s land.
Salfino investigates Darrelle Revis’ holdout and offers a pretty interesting solution.
I have no idea how agent-GM negotiations work. I do know that Revis’ is a special case for a number of reasons: This is an uncapped year, he’s several years away from free agency, and he’s probably the best defensive player in football.
The last one there is the only thing I’m certain of. Revis was unbelievable last year — unbelievable like actually difficult to believe. And he’s 25.
The Jets added depth in their secondary this offseason, but Revis’ ability to shut down the opponents’ top receiver in single coverage is a huge key to Gang Green’s defense. All Super Bowl guarantees and blustering must cease if Revis doesn’t play.
I can’t imagine Rex Ryan is doing much for the Jets’ negotiating position by constantly reminding everyone how good Revis is, but then — as Tom Boorstein pointed out today — that’s probably why Ryan’s players like him so much.
I hate to sound like a WFAN guy because I know there’s always a lot more to it, but the Jets have to sign Revis. Have to. I’m sure they will eventually so I’m really not that concerned about it, but imagine what a shame it would be for the football-watching world to miss out on the wonder of watching Revis for an entire season.
Tedquarters 
My only problem with the football players that hold out are that they compare themsleves to other players and base thier salary on that, instead of what the actually going rate for a player like him is.
I just dont think that the Radiers, paying a cornerback some dumb amount of money, should be a factor in the Revis nagotiations. The Jets shouldn’t have to pay because the Radiers are stupid. I dont know how much something like this really factors in, but it seems to always be brought up.
I agree with you, but for different reasons. Asomugha is irrelevant because he was a free agent, free to negotiate with any team. Asomugha had already fulfilled his rookie contract (which was assuredly not as lucrative as Revis’) and had already been franchised once by teh Raiders. Revis, on the other hand, is under contract for three more years, and the Jets therefore hold exclusive bargaining rights. Its simply not reasonable for Revis to expect to get free agent money when he’s three years away from free agency and only half way thru his rookie contract.
Revis lost me with his “need to feed my family” nonsense a few weeks back. I usually side with the player in these situations because NFL contracts are not guaranteed, but he has already earned 15 million in his first three years and still has three years left on his deal, which includes 20 million guaranteed in years 5 and 6 (unless he gets hurt this year and the Jets cut him). Of course he will be massively underpaid this year, but wasn’t he massively overpaid his rookie season? The greed is becoming tiresome for me.
And how many Jets fans who are now taking Revis’ side and saying that the jets should give him what he wants, complained out of the other side of their mouths over the past year about the PSL and ticket prices? What a disconnect.
It’s funny because when it doesn’t involve my favorite team, I’m all about players holding out in the NFL to get better contracts.
But when it involves the Jets, I get annoyed at both sides equally. Obviously Revis deserves a lot more money, but Asomougha was a free agent and Revis isn’t. And unless Ruben Amaro is your GM, teams don’t often give out crazy contracts when players have multiple years left on a deal.
I have to think this will get done, though. The Sean Gilbert thing scares me a bit, but I’m trying not to freak out yet.