Darrelle Revis Has More Leverage Than You, And He Knows It!

Vegas oddsmakers start early in guessing who will win the Super Bowl. Perhaps too early. Because shortly after the Super Bowl the New York Jets were a 14-1 shot to lift the Lombardi Trophy this February, and as of May 3rd they were at 10-1. But there's an issue with these relatively high odds. Vegas included the fact that the league's best defensive player, Darrelle Revis, was actually going to play, instead of deciding to hold-out for what looks like to be a very long time. Revis wants to be the league's highest paid cornerback. The Jets do not want to pay him $17 million a year. Both sides have legitimate arguments, which is why little to no progress has been made since January. Ultimately, though, it is Revis who will win out and get what he wants, because he is the one with all the leverage. If the Jets want a shot at winning a title, they can't do it without him.

There is no denying Revis's importance. He makes the league's best receivers look insignificant. Last year he took on six of the best in the NFL, and none could survive the wrath of Revis Island:

• Andre Johnson (best receiver in the game): 4 catches, 35 yards
• Randy Moss* (one of the top 5-10 greatest receivers ever): 9 catches, 58 yards, TD
• Marques Colston (should have been a Pro Bowler): 2 catches, 33 yards
• Terrell Owens (still dominant when he wants to be): 3 catches, 13 yards
• Mike Sims-Walker (sleeper WR of 2009): 3 catches, 49 yards, TD
• Roddy White (Pro Bowler): 4 catches, 33 yards

*in 2 games

The fact that Revis was not Defensive Player of the Year was an aberration, even more so because another cornerback, Green Bay's Charles Woodson, won the award. He is the best corner in the league. And although New York also has Antonio Cromartie, who is a solid defensive back, he is probably more well known for his 109-yard return or his one-handed interception of three years ago. Or some of you might even get him mistaken with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a cornerback for Arizona. Yeah, he's made a Pro Bowl, but he is not the playmaker Revis is. Facing off against Moss and Wes Welker, knee problems or not, twice a season -- plus seeing the likes of Sidney Rice, Greg Jennings/Donald Driver, Calvin Johnson, and Andre Johnson -- Revis will be needed. He's too much of a difference maker for Gang Green to survive without him for a long period of time. Revis knows this. The Jets probably have more pressure on them to perform than any team this season. It will only be a matter of time before the front office has no choice but to give in and give Revis the money he wants. It could be any of a number of things: an injury, a slow start (Baltimore, New England, Miami to start the year), pressure from places unknown. In terms of importance, Revis Island has all the leverage.

Then there's the part where the Jets shoved a Shaq-sized foot deep in their own mouths. On Tuesday coach Rex Ryan told the Associated Press, "You're taking the best corner in the league out of your defense." The front office has repeatedly given Revis the same title. So basically the team is willing to call Revis the best at his position, but they won't give him the money that goes along with the accolades. Seems a little unfair to me. I can see where the Jets would be unwilling to pay him $17 million a year, which would be $1 million more than the Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha, because that is extremely high (blame Al Davis for that, because the top cornerback would probably be around $10 million without that crazy old man). If Oakland wasn't paying that amount, this probably would not be an issue. But that is not the case. The best cornerback in the league deserves to be the highest paid cornerback in the league. The Jets themselves called Revis the best, so they should have acknowledged that they are willing to pay him the most. This is in a lot of ways their own fault. If they kept their mouths shut, or at the very least if general manager Mike Tannenbaum and his front office did, then they would have more leverage in this situation. Oops.

There's no telling when Darrelle Revis will agree to a contract. It could be tomorrow, it could be during the pre-season, it could be in Week 5. Who knows. However, the longer the Jets argue and fight over money with someone who has a lot more power than them, the more detrimental it will be to the team. And for a team who is expected to challenge Justin Beiber's wannabe and the Patriots for the AFC East title, abandoning Revis Island and letting receivers roam free will most certainly stall the Jets' engines.