For Woody and Rex, a ‘Breakthrough’ Visit
Posted by Eric Allen on September 6, 2010 – 7:28 pmIf there’s one thing New York’s Jets are not, it’s conventional. And determined to reach a new deal with star CB Darrelle Revis, Green & White owner Woody Johnson and head coach Rex Ryan went to South Florida over the weekend to meet with Revis, his mom and his uncle, Sean Gilbert.
“It was kind of a group-think deal,” Johnson said today, a few hours prior to Revis putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract. “Someone suggested that we do it and Rex and I said, ‘Yeah, let’s go down. That’s one thing we haven’t tried yet.’ ”
This was all about the urgency of now. After Revis held out all of training camp and missed each of the Jets’ four preseason contests, the Jets CEO knew the clock was ticking before the regular-season commenced.
“He had never been with the coach and me together,” Johnson said. “I think the thing was the season is upon us. The Ravens are the 13th, 7 o’clock, ESPN, at our new stadium. That’s a fact of life. So there’s plays to learn, there’s getting in shape, there are all those obvious things you have to do as a football player. I think the schedule was one of the more compelling parts of it.”
Revis, who has started 48 regular-season games and recorded 14 interceptions since being drafted No. 14 overall out of Pittsburgh in 2007, called the meeting a “breakthrough.”
“It meant a lot to me to show the passion they have for me to come down to Florida and just chat with me and see if we could come to a common ground,” Revis said. “I think it was good. I got to know Woody a lit bit more. It was the first time I actually sat in a conference room with him and just really got to know him.”
But Revis already had a special relationship with Ryan, who lobbied for No. 24 as the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year after Revis collected six thefts and a ridiculous 34 PDs in regular-season play. Then he performed at an elite level in the playoffs, picking off two passes while keeping Chad Ochocinco (two catches, 28 yards) and Reggie Wayne (3-33) in check.
“Me and Rex, we go way back,” Revis said. “It’s something where it’s the love there with me and Rex. I was happy to see him, it was good for them just come down. I hadn’t seen any of my teammates except for on ‘Hard Knocks.’ It was good to see both of those guys.”
While the deal was agreed to late Sunday and signed today, the earth moved Saturday in South Florida. There was common ground when it appeared a standstill would drag on.
“I think they realized how we felt, Woody and I, in representing the team,” Ryan said. “We felt good about the way they [Revis and his representation] felt and we just came together. The one thing I knew for sure when we left was both sides knew that each other wanted to get the deal done and I think that was big.”
They met for three hours, but Johnson said it felt like 20 minutes. The man, whose name is on every Jets check and just signed Revis to his second pro contract, mentioned the possibility of the Hall of Fame to the dominant defender’s group.
“He’s a modest guy. It’s an interesting dichotomy of what drives him,” said Mr. J. of Revis. “He’s obviously a great player, but he’s not a presumptuous player to think he’s a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. But if he continues this progress, the Hall of Fame and Darrelle Revis don’t sound like they’re a strange pair right there.”
The Jets have a strong trifecta and then some in regard to their negotiating team. GM Mike Tannenbaum wanted Ryan and Johnson to make the special visit, but Mr. T and the football administration pair of director Ari Nissim and manager Jacqueline Davidson have done yeomanlike work while nailing down three very important veteran deals this offseason.
Ryan credited all of them for their professionalism, but he also wanted to make sure his boss got some of the spotlight for getting involved.
“With Woody going down, I certainly think it helped because I don’t know how many owners would do that. Obviously Woody recognizes how important Darrelle is to this football team, but it was great,” he said. “I think when he was down there, there was some good talk back and forth and we felt more confident when we got on that plane heading back that a deal could be reached.”
The Darrelle Revis holdout is officially over and an unconventional but effective move changed the course of the proceedings. So football comes into focus once more and the books are closed on negotiating.
“This is a four-year deal and I hope his career goes until he’s 45. I hope it lasts a long time,” Johnson said. “We’d like him to be a Jet, but I guess it takes two to tango here. I’m happy we have him for four years, which is about the average length of an NFL player’s life in the NFL. That’s a long time to be together. That will be a total of seven years with Revis and what could be better?”
Tags: Darrelle Revis, Jonathan Feinsod, Neil Schwartz, Rex Ryan, Sean Gilbert, Woody Johnson
Posted in Eric Allen | 19 Comments »
By joe li/fla on Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
now lets get the left side of our o-line together! we can do this,but we only have a week! work hard boys.
By yanksjets2010 on Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
Great job on finally hammering down a deal to solidify our defense for years to come. Now all we need is consistency on our offense and our ticket is pretty much garunteed to the super bowl.. i dont wanna get cocky but we obviously have a paper champ roster with plenty of potential. consitency is key in the regular season we have a tough schedule ahead of us so lets put the pedal to the medal full force with the bullseye on our back and get errrr done…
By Doug on Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
shut em down on mon! #1D in the nfl gets better
By commentman on Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
If Woody and Rex didnt go down there, im not too sure that this would have ever ended
By nancyratner on Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
to whom it may concern,
i think that was great going down to workout something on the contract for both parties because if hes signed the defense becomes even better and the team has a chance which hasnt been in a superbowl since 1969 i ve seen the new york giants get in the superbowl 3x so far lets go jets.
By jetta on Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
I’m glad he is back but i have still lost allot of respect for the guy with his ” its all about me ” attitude.his interview was interesting with how he said ” I’m glad they came down and figured out what was best for me” not what was best for him and the organization or the team its still all about him…I’m sorry but i hate players like this.
By jetta on Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
i sure hope he was worth it .
By Harlan on Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
Woody, Rex, Darrelle……..great you guys got it together. Woody, way to get it done. Rex, you are awesome. Darrelle, welcome back…work hard, and “play like a Jet”!!!!!!!
By Jets Fan Since '64 Tom on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
I just hope Woody, Mr. T., Rex, and all the others show the same consideration to David Harris, who deserves it and more.
By charlton cannon on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
To all my J*E*T*S fans time to rejoice and book your hotel rooms in Dallas! My prediction is we will be playing Green Bay for the super Bowl
PEACE. TWIN
By Vincent on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
Let’s hope Darelle gets up to playing form very quickly.
By Jets Fan Since '64 Tom on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
jetta, I noticed that me-first tone from Revis and wasn’t thrilled with it, either. But the great thing about team sports is that if he doesn’t clearly help us win big in the next few years, he can try selling his “It’s all about me” act to some other team and we’ll be ready to deal him. Actually, I think four years for a guy like this, who hasn’t done it as long as Asomugha but for some reason thought he deserved more money, is just about right.
By Matt on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
Omg, JETS ALL THE WAY BABY, NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW…NOTHING!!!!!!!
By Coope on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
Welcome back Revis. Good job Mr. Johnson and Rex! Let’s not forget HARRIS Please!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has been patient so give him his due!!! He has been a force on the D-Line.
By HFW on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
Well now that he is back let’s hope he walks the walk to match the talk. I just hope nothing bad happens that causes him to fall flat on his face.
By Jack Johnson on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
Thank you Mr. Johnson for realy wanting to get this deal done, and not letting your own pride get in the way, and thank you Mr. revis for takeing this deal because I am a life long jets fan that has season tickets with a psl and now ifeel very good about this season, with revis back, we will be the best team in the NFL this year, I WILL SEE YOU ALL AT THE GAMES.
By Jets Fan Since '64 Tom on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
I don’t usually like to make “See, I was right” posts but I’ll do it today in defense of Rex and Mr. T. Chauncey made it to the practice squad along with Jarron Gilbert from the Bears. I’m disappointed we seem to be willing to let both Jackson and Cook go but Cook was back for another try this year so both might be next year or later this year, too. But like I said, Washington didn’t get a whole lot of attention when the Cowboys cut him and he apparently didn’t get it this time either. So he looked good in pre-season but let’s not start talking like we lost John Riggins. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him activated about the same number of times as McKnight this year, especially if Wilson completely steps into the punt returner’s role like they’re saying today they think he might.
By rasaan on Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
with revis on board da jet r going all da way
By nancyratner on Sep 10, 2010 | Reply
i hope so lets revis plays like we know he can.