Did the Jets Mislead Darrelle Revis?

May 24, 2012; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive back Darrelle Revis (24) stretches during organized team activities at their training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

Darrelle Revis wants to retire as a New York Jet. The question, in Darrelle’s mind, is whether or not the Jets feel the same way. He talked about the situation on Thursday:

“I want to retire here,” Revis said in an interview Thursday. “I think Mike (Tannenbaum) knows that. I think Rex (Ryan) knows that. (The Jets) drafted me, they gave me a chance, so yeah, I want to be here and never play for another organization again. If they feel that, if Mike feels that I’m that type of person to be here, then they will compensate me. If not, then it’s the business of it.”

As has been widely reported, Darrelle has not said he is unhappy with his deal, but has not guaranteed reporting to work on time this summer either.

What Darrelle Revis is looking for, is a long term deal that will keep him a Jet for life. He has referred to “some things” that were said when he signed the contract in 2010. Those things, were references to the deal being a “band-aid” type of deal, an intermediate step to get him to work, and just a bridge to a long term contract.

Revis has stated that his representatives were indicated the same thing.

“That was the initial talk of it,” he said, referring to the idea of getting a long-term extension done. “But it’s in a place where if Mike and them want to move on it, it’s really on them, on what they want to do. And then we’ll go from there. We’ll negotiate it out if that’s the case, and if not, then it’s not.”

Revis said he’ll sit down with his agents and “digest” scenarios to decide what’s best for his career. There is some fine print to consider. If he holds out, his deal will last three extra years at the modest price of $3 million per season, and he will lose the leverage of becoming a free agent after the 2013 season, with the team unable to franchise or transition tag him. He also has a $1 million bonus contingent upon reporting to camp in July.

He hasn’t said much about his contract, wanting to focus on workouts.

The question here becomes, does Revis feel mislead? And if so, what do the Jets do about it? He is making, and has made, a lot of money, nobody is disputing that. When it comes down to it, however, if he wants to be a Jet for life, and he feels that the Jets have mistreated him, he could be gone.

Whether you like the idea of a holdout or not, that would be a disaster.