National Football League

Jets' Revis refuses to be beat on the field or off

Published Nov. 4, 2011 12:44 a.m. ET

foxsports

Darrelle Revis had revenge on his mind and Kyle Wilson right where he wanted him.

Revis sneaked behind his New York Jets teammate, who was relaxing in the cold tub at the team's training facility, grabbed a towel, quickly wrapped Wilson's head in it and dunked him into the icy water.

Revis howled with laughter, fully satisfied after getting back at Wilson for splashing water on him the day before.

''Yeah, I did that,'' Revis said, chuckling.

''I knew he was going to get me,'' Wilson said, shaking his head. ''I was on alert, man, and, he still got me.''

That's how things have gone for Revis on the field, too. Opposing quarterbacks generally stay away from his side of the field, which has been dubbed ''Revis Island,'' and he still makes huge plays.

''Revis is the best player in football,'' Jets coach Rex Ryan said. ''It doesn't matter - midseason, postseason, whatever. There's only one Darrelle Revis in this league, and we're fortunate to have him. If we choose to lock him down on somebody, it's probably going to be a long afternoon for that player.''

And that's not just a bunch of bluster. Revis has allowed just 10 catches in seven games this season, and has key interceptions in the Jets' last two victories.

''Every time you look at him, he's probably better than you even remember,'' said Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who'll have to deal with Revis on Sunday in Buffalo.

Revis is all business on the field, drawing comparisons to Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Willie Brown by routinely making star receivers such as Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Dez Bryant and Vincent Jackson look nothing more than average.

''I'm just the type of guy that when I hear things like what Rex said,'' Revis said, ''it just makes me want to work harder and try to be, if not the best, one of the best to ever do it at my position.''

That's something he has been working toward since the day he entered the league as a first-round pick out of Pittsburgh in 2007. The 26-year-old Revis is a two-time All-Pro selection and a three-time Pro Bowl pick who has 17 career interceptions, including four this season, and an ever-growing reputation.

''This dude Revis has proven himself over and over,'' Bills receiver Stevie Johnson said, ''so it's just another challenge for the wideouts and for myself.''

It all starts in practice for Revis, who is as competitive there as he is in games. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is used to seeing Revis perform at such a high level, ''but then again, it still never ceases to amaze me.'' Just like at practice Thursday when he made a play on a post route in the end zone that had the entire team laughing.

''It was ridiculous how good it was,'' Pettine said. ''It was freakish. You think you couldn't be surprised by the guy and he just goes and does something else.''

Added fellow cornerback Antonio Cromartie: ''With him, he just wants to try to be the best in everything he does.''

That includes off the field, where he can be an absolute goofball - and a top-notch prankster.

Wilson has been the biggest recipient of Revis' fun and games, such as the time he was at practice and all of the defensive backs came up to him asking him about the ugly mark on his face.

''I'm like, `Dude, I know I don't have anything there ... but I might have to go check,''' a grinning Wilson said. ''Of course, there wasn't anything there, but I'll give it to him. He got everybody in on it and he pulled another good one on me.''

Wilson gets his shots in, too. He left a note on Revis' stool in front of his locker - right next to Wilson's - that read: ''I need to see you in the weight room.'' Wilson signed it with strength and conditioning coach Bill Hughan's name, and Revis headed out of the locker room before he figured out it was a trick.

But Wilson knows the punishment for pranking the prankster will always be rough.

''Those two guys, it's like big brother and little brother,'' safety Brodney Pool said. ''You always see Reev pushing Kyle around. It's pretty funny to watch.''

Things can get pretty tense playing in a big-time media market, where every move is magnified - especially when your coach keeps guaranteeing Super Bowl trophies. Revis chooses to smile through it all, something he learned from his uncle Sean Gilbert, a former NFL star.

''During the game, I approach it serious, but through everyday life, I'm joking,'' he said. ''My uncle's a big jokester and my whole family is, so I just try to have fun and enjoy life. It's just my personality.''

Revis is one of the Jets' most accessible and media-friendly players, regularly answering questions at his locker when many stars of his magnitude would make themselves scarce for most of the week. He doesn't seek the spotlight, letting his play speak for itself while still making himself a constant topic of discussion with each impressive performance.

''My uncle always tells me, `Man, just be humble because it can be stripped away from you so fast, just a matter of seconds,''' Revis said. ''So, I just kind of go around trying to respect people and also it's important to be yourself. People know when someone has a good heart.

''I'm just a regular person.''

Except when he gets on the football field, of course. Revis' three interceptions in the Jets' last two wins had plenty of people around the league buzzing about his season.

''You've got to say Darrelle Revis is now making a bit of a case to be defensive player of the year,'' said former wide receiver Cris Collinsworth on NBC's ''Football Night in America.''

That's great, Revis says, and he appreciates the praise. He's more concerned with shutting down the next opponent.

''I can't be satisfied by what I'm doing now because I've got a lot more football to play, a lot more years left,'' Revis said. ''I've just got to focus on what I'm doing and hopefully one day down the road, I can look back at everything and have no regrets and just be proud of my career.''

Pranks and all.

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AP Sports Writer John Wawrow in Orchard Park, N.Y., contributed to this report.