In a monopolized age when athletes are pampered with enormous deals without proving to be superstar-caliber, it’s not only a business where performance counts, but a business mismanaging to implement a wage scale as rookies are becoming rich and famous.
Considering that we live in a society where money is poorly invested and notoriously sabotages the integrity of sports because of the flow of cash, there is a shortage in teams' payrolls.
The perception of the Jets refusing to compromise with Revis is that it has induced the most complex holdout in NFL history, and as much as the shutdown defensive back is disgruntled over contract disputes, the longer he’ll be a no-show in the regular-season. It’s very clear that this is Woody Johnson’s franchise, and he’s evidently not desperate or anxious in having his best defensive player on the field in time for the season-opener.
For once, a team is unwilling to become victimized of a shortage in payroll or Johnson is just too cheap to give the star cornerback the highest-paid deal. Before he ever announced that he wanted an outrageous raise, the All-Pro defensive star said he wanted to be a Jet forever.
If he is ardent to retire as a Jet, then why is it so complicated for each party to reach an agreement? As of recently, the Jets turned down the latest contract proposal from Neil Schwartz, the agent representing Revis in this unusual conflict and at a preoccupied meeting at Roscoe Diner on Friday afternoon and negotiated for three hours, but failed unanimously to pacify Revis.
All of this, of course, is risky and could be regrettable in the end as Revis—who is expected to earn $1 million this season—is still without a new contract, requesting to be the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
For now, however, he’s holding out until the deal accommodates his needs and wants, even though he’s being greedy and moping over higher salary, increasingly fixated on ego other than conceivably beginning the season on a convincing winning streak.
In the first three games alone, the much-anticipated fans were waiting for the Jets to start the season with a 3-0 record. But as it turns out, the Jets are destined to suffocate without the aid of Revis, who is a requisite element in the backfield. Even if a very optimistic Johnson admitted Monday that he wasn’t sure Revis will return in time for the season, and could sit out the entire season. If one side doesn’t compromise in time, the Jets are in dire uncertainty.
Without their Pro Bowl cornerback, the Jets aren’t nearly as efficient in the secondary, but may still be relevant enough to rise as contenders in the postseason, given the size and depth on defense. At least someone is confident in his defense, while awaiting the arrival of Revis, who is very stubborn and threatens to holdout until he is Richie-Rich.
It happens to be coach Rex Ryan, the animated comedian of New York, too. As this unjustifiable and far-fetched drama seems implausible solving in a negotiation anytime soon, Ryan is optimistic the Jets are a productive force without Revis and isn’t worried missing his defensive leader.
“Don’t feel sorry for us,” Ryan told reporters Tuesday. “We have everything we need here on defense.”
If Revis is missing in action, it’s hard to imagine the Jets as a primary factor in the AFC East. The presence of Revis is indomitable and instrumental, but his absence is clearly a loss. And if the Jets are aiming to punch a ticket at the Super Bowl, they’d need a healthy and content Revis to have a pragmatic impact.
Regardless of a promising offense in working progress, the Jets specialty is a conscious defense and with the addition in bringing aboard former Pro Bowl corner Antonio Cromarite, a tenacious secondary is dangerous and to be reckoned with, particularly with the presence and abilities of Revis.
The point of precisely putting together arguably the toughest defense in the AFC East was to build around Revis and likely present trouble for its opponents and constitute much buzz on the East coast.
In retrospect, though, the fairest solution would be for Revis to surrender his ego and cease greed, just as a way to help the Jets benefit in victories. But again, he’s reluctant in sacrificing his ego and individuality for earning more money, as many unhappy fans in the community are imploring for Johnson to issue out the check and unleash the money from his wallet.
As it is, he isn’t acknowledging Revis’ sensational season previously, and the Jets are holding their end of the bargain.
Even if he signs by the time the regular season begins, he will be a bit rusty and passive for missing out on training camp and not participating in workout drills that benefits a player’s capabilities entering the season. Besides holding out on the franchise that he mustered notability, he is fined $16,523 each day.
When an eventual signing does happen, he’ll represent the Jets as the most talented defensive player and he is sure enough a needed fragment to their postseason pursuits.
Just a year ago, the Jets suffered a loss at the AFC title game against the Indianapolis Colts, but had the most forceful defensive player. The lack of guaranteed money is upsetting Revis. Meanwhile, he’s rejecting all offers, until he’s handed the richest deal as a cornerback, but of course, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum believe he needs to settle for a lesser amount to accommodate with his team.
“As I said at the start of training camp, our offer to Darrelle Revis conveyed that we are flexible on how the guaranteed money is structured, including the areas of singing bonus, roster bonus and option bonus,” Tannenbaum said in a statement Tuesday night. “This situation revolves around a fundamental disagreement in total compensation.”
A numerous of sporting franchises are allowing prima donnas to compel financial defaults for overly paying and providing an unproven or overvalued athlete with countless cash. As routinely, the Jets are subjecting themselves to an ugly holdout, almost in a tough situation with usual patterns of possibly losing Revis.
Because the Jets said they won’t trade their star player elsewhere, it’s hard to think otherwise when a long-suffering holdout remains a problem and disrupts what is expected to be a credible year.
But it’s unnecessary to guess that he’s the next millionaire in the metropolitan area, when Tannenbaum treated Revis’ agent to lunch without settling a deal. So the Jets are downplaying the possibilities of a trade, like the time the franchise traded Keyshawn Johnson to avoid a holdout and even dealt former defensive end John Abraham, regarding contract disputes.
For all the suggestions that the Jets are the most talented team in the AFC, building around a young and mobile Mark Sanchez, who quarterbacked the Jets last season in a marvel postseason run, is troublesome and places much pressure on the rookie corner Kyle Wilson.
In addition, LaDainian Tomlinson, an aging running back, was brought to New York in hopes of changing the dimension at the rushing attack and strengthening the landscape. But lately, the Jets have increased the posture by putting the matter into perspective of life without Revis.
Clearly, are there any teams afraid of them minus the effects of Revis? Not a chance. How long will Revis sit out? Until he earns as much as Nnamdi Asomugh, the compelling corner of the Oakland Raiders, he’ll return at full strength and thrive to be the best cornerback in the NFL. There is a clear understanding that he is a unique talent, but is he worth the richest contract in NFL history?
Not even Asomugh is, but sullied owner Al Davis gave the invigorated defensive player a huge contract. Apart from the biggest contract ever giving, Ryan acknowledged that no player is greater than the system.
“We have a great collection of individual talent,” Ryan said. “These guys will play great as a team. That’s what we’ll do. Obviously, Revis is a tremendous player. But it’s about the unit, and we’ve been selling that from the day we walked on here.
“We can get it done,” Ryan said. “We’re not afraid of anybody.”
We’ll see. But it won’t be easy without the star player.
If there’s no Revis, opponents aren’t afraid, either.
