Revis wants to silence skeptics, says former teammate

During Darrelle Revis' first stint with the New York Jets, the superstar cornerback was widely considered the best player at his position, maybe even in entire the league.

But since rejoining the Jets in the 2015 offseason, Revis has lost some of his air of invincibility.

His performance last season was solid but not up to his usual Pro-Bowl level standards, and at 31 years old, many have begun to question how much he has left in the tank.

But Tony Richardson, who played with Revis during his prime from 2008 to 2010, believes he will prove his doubters wrong in 2016.

"There's been some chiming and chatting about how he's too old, about how he's lost a step," Richardson said Sunday, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. "I think he hears it. I know what kind of competitor he is, and I think he's going to have a really good year. I think the rest of the guys on the defense will feed off the kind of year he's going to have."

Richardson continued, "I took a picture with him at practice, and I could tell by the look in his eyes. He was in a different place, a different mode."

It was revealed after last season that Revis had played the majority of the campaign with a torn tendon in his right wrist, a significant injury for a cornerback asked predominantly to play in man coverage.

"People say he can't cover big receivers and he can't cover speed receivers, but I don't think there's a receiver he can't cover," Richardson said. "People forget that he was injured. I'm sure that was a factor, too."

Revis is just one season into a five-year, $70-million deal.

The Jets need the veteran to perform up to his contract and return to his All-Pro form, and Richardson expects him to just that.

"I don't think you could call it a breakout year," Richardson said, "but I think you're going to see the old Darrelle."