The Jets have a big problem, and it’s not related to their quarterback position.
And they have to deal with it. It’s not going away.
One of their highest paid players admitted publicly, on more than one occasion, that age has caught up to him.
Cornerback Darrelle Revis, who makes $17 million this year, and is in the second year of a five-year, $70 million contract, recently admitted to Newsday, “My body’s breaking down.”
And then on Sunday, after a rough game against Los Angeles Rams receiver Kenny Britt, Revis was asked about the reason for his struggles, and responded “Because I’m old.”
Revis is 31. He has lost a lot of speed and quick-twitch. Receivers are consistently running away from him. He’s having a rough season.
And it’s impacting games.
If this keeps up, he might need to be benched. You don’t make line-up decisions based on contracts. You make them based on what players give you the best chance to win.
This Revis’ contract represents a seminal moment for the team’s brass.
You should NEVER make personnel decisions for public relations or business reasons (we have a feature on this in the latest issue of Jets Confidential Magazine on news stands). Every personnel decision needs to be about pure football, without a tinge of marketing.
You can rip Todd Bowles all you want, but the Revis’ contract decision wasn’t his, and it’s turned into a ball and chain around his ankle from a football standpoint.
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