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This is a really big issue for the Jets, and people want to put their heads in the sand, that is their problem. I’m here to cover the team.
I’m getting a little tired of getting attacked for bringing up how bad the Darrelle Revis contract is.
I’m a big boy.
I can take it.
What bothers me is the number of people who don’t want to deal with reality.
It’s almost like me pointing out that the Revis contract is bad is an inconvenient truth.
Look, I’m not a hater.
Revis was a tremendous player his first go-around with Gang Green.
An all-time great in team annals.
But Mike Maccagnan and company made a HUGE mistake last off-season.
In pro sports, when it comes to spending money, especially in a cap sport, sentimentality should be a zero factor in your decision-making.
Do you think it was easy for the Chicago Bears to recently tell 30-year-old tailback Matt Forte, a terrific player and person, and beloved by the fans, that he’s no longer in the plans, and they aren’t going to re-sign him?
Of course not, but that is what you have to do.
You can’t pay people for PR or nostalgia. It has to be all about – what can you do for us NOW!
The Jets gave $39 million guaranteed to a 30-year-old cornerback who has slowed down and slipped as a player.
And here is the biggest problem with this.
It’s going to preclude them for re-signing players they might want to bring back, whether it’s Damon Harrison or Chris Ivory.
And who knows what is going to happen with Ryan Fitzpatrick. I’m sure they will work something out, but spending a bloody fortune on Revis, is going to make that deal more difficult to execute.
It could also impact their talks with Mo Wilkerson on a long-term deal.
Honestly, if one monster deal was going to be done last off-season, from a pure football standpoint, the money should have gone to Wilkerson, a dominating defensive lineman who was 25 at the time, not a 30-year-old corner.
I’m sorry people, that was just a bad football decision. There is no way around it.
Revis is scheduled to make $17 million this year.
That is beyond insane.
I won’t call him pedestrian. That would be unfair. I will be fair and call him above-average at this point.
I will call his speed pedestrian.
To spend $17 million on an above-average cornerback with pedestrian speed, is really bad from a cap standpoint.
I’m sorry if this offends people who are uncomfortable with me questioning Revis, so be it.
I’m not holding back like other writers because they get stuff from the agents, or they don’t want to offend the player. I’m not looking to offend, I’m looking to do my job.
I’m trying to deal with reality.
Jets fans can only hope that Maccagnan learned a valuable lesson from all this – that cap space is precious, and you can’t spend big bucks for sentimental or PR reasons.
This is a production-based business.
Hey, the Jets should still put a terrific team on the field next season, even with their cap limitations.
But perhaps if could be a little better if they had more disposable income to work with.
February 17, 2016
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