On Friday, Jets coach Rex Ryan explained during Pro Football Talk that the season-ending ACL tear suffered by cornerback Darrelle Revis will have no impact on the team’s ability to sign Revis to a retirement contract.
The player’s current contract suggests otherwise.
As explained earlier this week on PFT Live, the timing of the ACL tear couldn’t have been worse. Prior to the injury, the thinking was that a new deal would be worked out early next year, before the 2013 season. But now that Revis has to prove that he can get back to being the guy he has been after rehabbing the injury, the Jets won’t want to give him what he thinks he’s worth if/when he’s healthy.
Instead, Revis may have to use 2013 to prove that he’s still healthy. Which could prompt him to decide to play out the final year of his contract. Which would make it more likely that he becomes a free agent, since the Jets can’t use the franchise tag on Revis in 2014.
And 2014 is where things will get interesting, if Revis won’t be able to get what he wants unless he shows he can still play. Because if he shows he can still play, the Jets will have to pay him market value in order to keep him from getting to the market.