New York Jets

New York Jets: Revis Island is Probably Closed For Good

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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New York Jets’ cornerback Darrelle Revis reigned as the NFL’s top cornerback for a lengthy time. Is his time at the top over?

Playing for the New York Jets carries an unpredictability factor, meaning things can change rapidly. Remember when people used to casually throw this joke into conversation about sports: 70 percent of the earth is covered by water. The rest is covered by Darrelle Revis.

I certainly remember those days from 2007-11. But those days seem like an eternity ago, as the once undisputed king of cornerbacks in Revis has appeared amateurish as of late. It’s really strange to see, almost like watching an old reliable car break down after years of great service.

All of the criticism of Revis began in Week 1. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, A.J. Green torched Revis, en route to a 12-catch, 180-yard, one-touchdown day. While Revis began the season looking sluggish, it’s not the first time. Actually, that’s the same way he ended the season, too.

In Week 17 of 2015, Buffalo’s Sammy Watkins worked Revis for 11 catches and 136 yards. Nov. 2015 featured DeAndre Hopkins totaling 118 yards, including an absolute smoking of Revis on a 61-yard touchdown.

Look, people need to realize that Revis was never a standout athlete, per say. Obviously, every professional athlete holds a rare blend of athletic ability. But cornerbacks such as Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, Josh Norman, and Chris Harris Jr. posses athleticism that trumps Revis’.

When he entered the league, he was a good, not great, athlete. He possessed speed and quickness, though nowhere near to that of Patrick Peterson. Scouts never lauded Revis for his outstanding athleticism. Even for scouts who considered Revis an elite athlete, those days are far behind No. 24.

Don’t interpret this as me saying Revis can’t play anymore. Revis was, and probably still is, the most technically sound cornerback in the entire league. When Revis works on receivers with press coverage, it’s tough for his opposition to find any room. The way Revis dissects plays is still uncanny, as well. When it comes to reading an offense, few players posses Revis’ football IQ.

But that only gets a player so far. The only problem is, while Revis’ technique once made up for his ‘okay’ athleticism, that’s no longer the case. Revis simply can’t win foot races against younger, faster receivers. It’s unfortunate to see, but that’s how Father Time operates. Because of that, Revis can no longer be considered a true shutdown cornerback. If you look up-and-down at the best receivers in the league, it’s tough to find a matchup that would favor Revis.

If this were fantasy, you would likely have no qualms playing Antonio Brown, Julio Jones or Odell Beckham Jr. against the New York Jets’ defense. Most recently, Marquise Goodwin torched Revis. Is that something to be ashamed about? No, absolutely not. Goodwin is an Olympian, with world-class speed.

.@flashg88dwin visits Revis Island.
Leaves with an 84-yd TD. ????#NYJvsBUF #TNF https://t.co/T3HIQ6IIVz https://t.co/m3LpECvwNQ

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 16, 2016

But speed remains the overwhelming theme here. As these receivers get faster and more athletic, Revis is going to become less and less reliable on the outside. I can’t believe I’m about to type these words into an actual article, but here it goes: Darrelle Revis is now a liability on the outside.

When the New York Jets throw Revis out there on the proverbial island, they’re asking for trouble. On vertical routes, Revis can’t contest with opposing team’s No. 1 receivers in a dead-out sprint. The issue for Revis is that, unlike in the past, pretty much every top receiver has top-end speed.

Could all of this be an overreaction? It’s unlikely, yet still possible. According to Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole, Revis is out of shape after recovering from surgery.

However, logic sides with the fact that Revis is 31, and isn’t getting any younger. Furthermore, Revis was supposedly “in shape” last season when he was getting schooled by Nuk Hopkins and Sammy Watkins. Revis enjoyed a prominent stay at the top of the proverbial cornerback mountain. However, his time is up.

Honestly, this should surprise nobody, though. This is what happens in sports. Players age, slow down, and become less spectacular. Revis won’t be the first corner whose fallen victim to old age, and he won’t be the last. Unfortunately, that means the New York Jets may have to begin the search for Revis’ successor.

Bottom line: nobody is afraid to throw at Darrelle Revis anymore.