After Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis shut down Patriots receiver Randy Moss during the Week Two meeting between the two teams, Moss chalked his quiet day to double teams from the defense.
As Revis prepares to draw Moss again, the third-year defender from Pitt is taking issue with Randy’s prior comments.
“I was in man-to-man coverage,” Revis said Wednesday, during a conference call with New England reporters.
"[E]veryone saw the game, everybody knows I was in man coverage, that was the case,” Revis said. “He’s supposed to say that because [that day] wasn’t his day, he got shut out and was frustrated about it, which is cool. I don’t have anything against him. I still think he’s one of the best receivers in the league. When we go up against each other, it’s great competition.”
Revis tried to state his case without getting Randy riled up.
“I’m not going to disrespect nobody about anything,” Revis said. “If Randy beat me on a touchdown, yeah, I’ll live up to it. Yeah, he beat me. He’s a great receiver. I believe I’m a great corner, too. That’s just how it goes. When you play against the best, you have to bring your game. You also have to give respect to the guys that you’re going against.
“I mean, they get paid as well as I do. So there’s no trying to get into a jarring match or a trash-talking match with Randy Moss. I say what I believe and that’s it. You live up to it or you don’t. One thing I know is I’m giving him respect, he’s one of their best and it’s great competition between me and him. I love it, and I’m sure he loves it, too.”
Later in the call, a reporter asked Revis whether he played Moss in man coverage, with help “over the top” from a safety. The line of questioning produced an awkward moment, to say the least.
Here’s the excerpt of the transcript.
Q: Is it possible to have safety help over the top, while you’re playing man coverage, so it sort of allows you to be more aggressive when you have the safety help rolled over the top?
Revis: Do you know football?
Q: Well, that’s why I’m asking. You know, if you could clear it up for me.
Revis: Yeah, I’m asking you. I’m asking you a question. Do you know football?
Q: Maybe parts of it, but not that part of it.
Revis: What part do you know?
Q: I said, like parts of it.
Revis: OK, so do you know defensive coverages?
Q: Not very well.
Revis: Cover two, over three, cover one.
Q: Not very well, quite honestly.
Revis: Well, OK.
A reporter than explained that the specific issue arose because Pats coach Bill Belichick has been saying that Revis had “help over the top.”
Said Revis in response, “I don’t believe that statement, so that question is dead from now on. I’m not going to just keep on answering the question.”
But here’s a key fact regarding the use of the safeties in that game. Receiver Wes Welker didn’t play in the game. So providing some “over the top” help to Moss wouldn’t have resulted in a guy of Welker’s abilities running free.
Regardless of whether Revis got help the last time around, Moss has been playing lately at a much higher level -- and we wouldn’t recommend anyone trying to contain him in single coverage.