Darrelle Revis: Patriots' offer 'wasn't in the ballpark'
Darrelle Revis' lone season with the New England Patriots went as well as possible with Revis returning to first-team All-Pro form and steering the Patriots' defense to a Super Bowl victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
However, the star cornerback signed with the Patriots' AFC East rival New York Jets during free agency, returning to the franchise where he began his career.
In interviews Wednesday, Revis said the Patriots didn't present a comparable offer.
"They could've picked up the option for 20 million," Revis said to Adam Schein and Chris Carlin of SportsNet New York.
Revis signed a one-year deal with the Patriots, and had a team option for $20 million entering the 2015 campaign. New England elected to allow Revis to become a free agent, a decision they may be ruing as it allowed the shutdown corner to join a club they'll play twice a year.
Darrelle Revis tells ESPN Radio in NY that the Patriots' offer "wasn't in the ballpark". Kraft said offer was "competitive".
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 25, 2015
The Jets filed tampering charges against the Patriots, alleging the defending Super Bowl champions tried to illegally recruit him back to Massachusetts after he signed with New York.
Revis made a number of media appearances Wednesday, telling the YES Network's Michael Kay Show he briefly entertained an offer from the Buffalo Bills via Newsday's Kimberly A. Martin.
He also reportedly received an offer from the Kansas City Chiefs:
Revis says that Packers, Steelers, Chiefs, Ravens and Browns were interested in him
— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) March 25, 2015
Revis (on SNY) said he definitely plans to sit down with Woody Johnson "behind closed doors" and thank him for bringing him back #jets
— Kimberley A. Martin (@KMart_LI) March 25, 2015
It appears Revis is content to play in front of the largest media market in the world and is satisfied to be rejoining the Jets, claiming his team's secondary is loaded with Antonio Cromartie returning to New York as well, and Calvin Pryor developing into a bonafide star safety.
However, some may wonder what could have been if the Patriots picked up Revis' lucrative option.