New York Jets premier shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis, who missed almost all of last season after suffering a torn ACL, could find himself in a different uniform because Jets owner Woody Johnson is open to trading him, according to ESPN.
Johnson is strongly considering the option because Revis’ contract will be voided after the 2013 season, but there is also a clause within the contract that excludes the Jets from slapping the franchise tag on Revis.
Revis, 27, is schedule to make $6 million in 2013 in base salary and bonuses, but Johnson is apprehensive that he will be able to extend Revis’s deal, according to sources. Johnson would like to trade Revis now, so he can get the most for him, instead of losing him as an unrestricted free agent.
But Johnson may find problems in pinpointing a suitor to trade with right now. Revis had surgery to repair his ACL three months ago, so teams may want to see how the lockdown cornerback responds in his return.
The perennial Pro Bowler is expected to seek more than $16 million per year once free agency hits, despite his knee injury. Revis’ potential asking price has left Johnson without any confidence in his ability to re-sign him, according to a source close to Johnson. The Jets are already over the 2013 salary cap by $19.4 million.
John Idzik, who is the Jets new general manager, will face his first pressing issue in his new role once he is introduced on Thursday. If Idzik decides to trade Revis, the team will take a $9 million salary-cap hit if they trade him before June 1.
Contract situations are nothing new to Revis as he sat out the 2010 preseason over a contract dispute. He eventually signed a one-year extension to the remaining three years he had, which was worth $46 million and labeled as a “Band-Aid” deal.
Revis has never asked to be traded by the Jets and has even said that he would like to retire as Jet. But his days are looking gloomy because Johnson feels otherwise.
“I definitely want to be here,” Revis said the day after the season ended. “This is where I live, this the team I got drafted by.”
