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New Jersey – “Behind the Jets” continues with notes on Darrelle Revis, Dee Milliner and more. Let’s get this show underway . . .
I saw this item on NFL.com –
“NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport reports New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis is not optimistic that he will be traded prior to the 2013 NFL Draft,” according to the website.
With all due respect to Mr. Rapoport and NFL.com, while it’s an interesting angle, it’s a moot point.
The Jets aren’t consulting Revis on this issue, nor should they. He has no idea what is doing on. He’s in the dark.
Revis’ lack of optimism means nothing. This trade could still get done.
But if the Jets don’t get what they want before or during the draft, they could hold on to Revis, and deal him in the summer, or before the trading deadline . . .
Manish Mehta reports that Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner (pronounced Millner) will visit the Jets before the draft.
But you know what, if the Jets trade Revis, it might be a mistake to pick Milliner to replace him, with the ninth pick of the draft.
The pressure would be enormous on this kid, especially in this market, with the feeding frenzy that goes on around this team, in relation to the beat writers, columnists, and the like.
It’s brutal. Every play would be put on the microscope to the nth degree, every time he got beat, the “Chicken Little” brigade would make turn it into armegeddon.
Hey, the kid played at Alabama, the top program in the country over the last several years, the winners of two recent national championships, so he might be able to deal with this.
However, all of this conversation might be meaningless, because he’s probably not going to be there at nine, when the Jets are on the clock. There are so many teams ahead of them with a dire need at corner, and he’s the top player at the position in the draft.
Plus, the Jets will still have a #1 cornerback, even if they trade Revis, in Antonio Cromartie.
It is very unusual, in the NFL, for a team to trade a #1 corner, and still have one – very unusual.
The Jets have a bunch of in-house candidates to replace Revis in Kyle Wilson, Ellis Lankster, Darrin Walls (underrated) and Donnie Fletcher.
And also, this is a terrific second round for corners.
There are a pair of Mississippi State corners – Johnthan (that is how he spells it) Banks and Darius Slay, a couple of UConn corners – Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Houston’s D.J. Hayden, San Diego State’s Leon McFadden, Rutgers Logan Ryan, Boise State’s Jamar Taylor and Utah State’s Will Davis, all who are getting second round grades from teams.
I’m telling you, there is a really solid second round for corners.
And if you trade Revis, and pick a corner in the second round, and ease him in to nickel and dime situations, and perhaps eventually start him, that is a lot easier mentally, than picking a corner in the Top 10 as “Revis’ replacement” . . .
Interesting media tidbit a got from somebody in the industry involving the Jets’ beat.
The Daily News is thinking about promoting Manish Mehta to a more prominent NFL role, and letting his backup handle most of the day-to-day minutia.
Mehta would still be around the Jets a lot, but this would give him more time to focus on features, and break more stories, and not have to worry about the day-to-day stuff, like who practiced, and what do the DB’s think about facing Tom Brady.
April 5, 2013
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