When John Idzik became the new Jets general manager, pissing off his best player was surely his top priority. Bravo then, sir.
Whether the Darrelle Revis trade rumors leaked from inside the organization or not is irrelevant. What’s important is that when Revis appeared on NFL Network earlier this week he asked for answers regarding those rumors of his demise in New York, and he was frustrated by a lack of communication. The Jets aren’t a team that can have such a problem with one of the few sources of talent on their roster. Yet there was Revis last month, having to hear about his possible trade through the media instead of from his new general manager.
One way to fix the public perception of a problem is to put Rex Ryan behind a microphone and have him say a lot of things loudly. Or maybe that just makes it worse. So much worse.
Ryan made his annual Combine podium appearance today, and this time he didn’t make any guarantees of grandeur. But he talked a lot about Revis, and said many words that amounted to many denials.
Rex on Revis: “Could there be a trade? Yeah, anybody could be traded. But do I expect there to b a trade for Darrelle Revis? No” (cont) #nyj
— Manish Mehta(@MMehtaNYDN) February 21, 2013
Ahhh, so you’re saying there’s a chance.
Rex on Revis (cont): “But that doesn’t mean something couldn’t come up…. Again, we have not discussed trading Darrelle Revis.” #nyj
— Manish Mehta(@MMehtaNYDN) February 21, 2013
OK, so probably not, but maybe and it’s possible? Cool.
Rex Ryan on teams showing interest in Darrelle Revis: “No team has approached me about Darrelle…” #nyj
— Manish Mehta(@MMehtaNYDN) February 21, 2013
When he accepted the job, Idzik had no idea that he would actually be the assistant general manager, and teams would approach Ryan first with all trade inquiries.
Rex Ryan says “there wasn’t an ounce of validity” to Darrelle Revis trade rumors story. #nyj
— Manish Mehta(@MMehtaNYDN) February 21, 2013
There’s the emphatic denial and rumor gun down, even though right now it means so very little. But what’s odd is that when Idzik had the opportunity to do the exact same thing earlier today and deny a possible Revis trade, he gave only a generic, boiler plate line.
Regarding Revis trade Idzik says #Jets will always field calls about how they can improve the team and is not unique to any one position.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) February 21, 2013
He said very little by saying a lot. A classic, veteran move.
The Jets have a blatant, pressing need: quarterback. It’s a problem which runs so deep that in a passing league, having a set of below replacement-level QBs could continue to subtract from Revis’ ability to severely limit opposing QBs who play far above replacement-level. So in addition to the contract Revis will pursue after next season (likely in the neighborhood of $16 million annually, which would make him the league’s highest-paid defensive player), as we progress towards late April Idzik also has to weigh the problem of what he needs more: a quarterback who’s remotely competent, or the league’s best cornerback.
Getting Alex Smith and a high pick (a second rounder at worst) from the 49ers for Revis if it’s determined he can’t be signed to a long-term extension is a fine haul which would address a core need, and Antionio Cromartie is still around for two more years.
