New York Jets’ Darrelle Revis shows humility after Rex Ryan’s praise
New York Jets’ coach Rex Ryan has a talent for words. Some would call that a talent for exaggeration and pushing his opponent’s buttons but whatever you call it, Ryan’s words always have an impact. They have
had an impact on Jets’ cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Ryan praised Revis as the best player in the NFL causing Revis’ jaw to drop. “What?” the Pro Bowl cornerback said. “He said that?”
He thanked Ryan for his words. “I do strive to try to be the best in what I do. If he feels that way, he feels that way.”
If not the best, Revis is certainly right up there with the best players in the league. This season has been marred with adversity for the cornerback. He was involved in a contract holdout which meant that he
missed most of training camp and then he missed a few games due to an injury. However, his performance in the games he played has more than redeemed the cornerback.
Last week Revis covered Indianapolis Colts’ star receiver Reggie Wayne, allowing just one catch for one yard. “That tells you how good Darrelle Revis is,” Ryan said. “I know he's probably not going to win the
Defensive Player of the Year award, but the impact he has is amazing.” Last year Revis was the runner-up for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year with six interceptions and a touchdown.
His numbers this year don’t compare to last year, mostly because New York’s opponents just don’t throw the ball on the side that Revis is covering. He is just that good.
“That's kind of a big, bold statement,” Revis said. “People can differ from that. They have different opinions, and usually it's a quarterback, a Peyton Manning or a Tom Brady, a guy who can really control the
game, or an offensive player.” Revis said that for Ryan to call a defensive player the best football player was ‘mind-boggling.’ “But, hey, I guess that's how he feels.”
Revis is humble but not naive. He didn’t say he was the best player in the league but he knows he is one of the best and isn’t afraid of saying so himself. The effectiveness of his coverage earned him the nickname
of ‘Revis Island,’ where offensive players are stranded and get cut off from the rest of from the quarterback.
Ryan isn’t the only one who holds Revis in high regard. Teammate Brodney Pool noted that Revis had not allowed too many catches in this season and had quarterback scared of throwing the ball at him. Cornerback
Antonio Cromartie chipped in with his own words of praise. “If you look at the things he does to a receiver to the point where an offensive coordinator won't even look to his side, it speaks for itself,” Cromartie said.
The fact that no one, not even Peyton Manning, throws the ball at him has Revis actually getting bored during football games. That is in part because Revis had Wayne covered so well and in part because of his
reputation.
New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was less than willing to give credit to Revis. Branch has been studying the games from the regular season and trying to figure out how to sail around the Revis
Island. “There were some times that Reggie was open and he didn't get the ball, and there were other times that he was covered,” Branch said. “It's 50-50. It's just hard to sit back and say, 'He did this. He did that.' Both of them are great players.”
Revis himself doesn’t want the credit for stopping Wayne or Manning. “This is not tennis, this is not golf. As a whole, I think our defense played well. We all played a part in shutting down Reggie Wayne and
Peyton and all those guys.”
When the Jets faced off against the Patriots in the regular season, Revis covered Wes Walker and Brandon Tate. While Tate was able to receive just one pass for 4 yards, Walker received 7 for 80 yards and a touchdown
in the game that the Patriots won 45-3.
Revis said that he didn’t know who he would cover at Foxborough this weekend but added that it didn’t matter to him. “I just have to do my job and trust my teammates to do their job as well.”
Tags: