When cornerback Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets suffered a torn ACL injury back in 2012, most fans assumed it was the same kind of injury that plagued athletes such as Adrian Peterson, Tom Brady and many others. Everyone believed, just like all the other athletes, he would bounce back and have a memorable season. That was not the case in the beginning for Revis following his injury.
A few years later, Revis revealed just how serious the injury truly was and the effect it had on his desire to play football. The injury was so serious, he contemplated retirement following 2012. The injury also required micro fracture knee surgery, which is not a simple and easy procedure. Following his injury, Revis was then traded from the Jets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he was awarded an enormous $96 million dollar contract.
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But $96 million dollars was not enough to quench the thirst of the once “best” cornerback in the game as he played just one season in Tampa. Revis then moved onto the current reigning Super Bowl champions New England Patriots via free agency.
Thankfully, Revis healed himself physically and mentally as he returned back to his old self. He remains as one of the best corners in all of football. It’s never easy for any athlete to overcome an injury as serious as a torn ACL, but Revis defied the odds and bounced back as one of the most shut-down players in football today.
Reuniting with the Jets this off-season signing a five-year $70 million dollar contract with $39 million guaranteed, Revis is looking to make the Jets’ defense elite and as great as they once were when he was apart of the franchise from 2007-2012.
The Revis 2.0 era in New York has begun with some fanfare and some spiteful Patriot fans. Yes, he did help New England last season win a Super Bowl title, but nowadays you have to do everything you can to win yourself a ring before your career is over.
God bless Revis, whether he’s in New York or in New England as he always finds a way to entertain football fans everywhere with his unique style and attitude. Did he truly consider retiring following his ACL injury? Most-likely so but many are happy he overcame this major obstacle and bounced back nicely.
Has Revis ignited an old but terribly one-sided rivalry between New England and New York? Absolutely. With his defection within the AFC East, both times these teams face-off this upcoming season will definitely create major headlines across the football world.
May 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) and cornerback Antonio Cromartie (31) walk off the field after organized team activities at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
With Revis pairing up with an old friend in Antonio Cromartie, the Jets’ defensive secondary once again seems to mirror its former self back from 2010. Can Revis help New York win their first Super Bowl title since Joe Namath? I mean, one man can’t deliver a team to stardom, but defense wins championships.
Revis may not solely lead the Jets to their first play-off appearance since 2010, but with help from recent additions to the franchise such as Cromartie, Buster Skrine, Brandon Marshall and many others, the Jets seem to be in great shape for the start of the regular season.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to the start of the regular season, what Jet fan isn’t. This is the best team we have had arguably since the seasons where we made back to back AFC Championship appearances.
Revis Island has landed back in New York and hopefully for good this time around.
Next: Coffee with the New York Jets: Revis takes shot at Sanchez