Skip to content

Revis won't face NFL discipline for February incident

Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports

Nearly three months since his release from the New York Jets, Darrelle Revis remains on the open market. However, his lack of suitors has nothing to do with the felony assault charges stemming from a February street fight.

Revis ultimately had the charges dismissed, and a league spokesman told ESPN's Rich Cimini the NFL continued to investigate the incident after they were dropped and has cleared the cornerback of any wrongdoing.

Cimini asked an NFL head coach, team executive, and scout about what's keeping Revis unsigned if his off-field issues are resolved, and all pointed to his significant decline in performance last season.

"He has lost a step with his age and some change-of-direction (ability) with his knee (surgery in 2012)," said the head coach, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "I still believe he can do an adequate job at corner. I'm not sure if he has the range for free safety. He used to be a physical tackler, but with age that's gotten worse, so playing strong safety is out of the question. Let him play corner with some protection and he'll do fine."

"I think he can still play - not an elite player, but at a good level," the team executive said. "I'm a little surprised he hasn't signed yet."

"His tape is so bad that it's probably scaring a lot of teams away," the scout said. "If he still thinks he's a starter -- and wants to be paid like a starter -- that will be an issue."

Revis is still on the Jets' books for $6 million, even if he sits out 2017. If the perennial Pro Bowler does decide to continue playing and finds another team, his new contract's 2017 salary will be taken off the $6 million owed by the Jets.

Essentially, unless Revis can find someone willing to pay him more than $6 million to play this upcoming campaign (highly unlikely based on the contracts handed out to veterans this offseason), he has little financial incentive to play.

"I hope he plays," Revis' former teammate, Jets tackle Ben Ijalana said last week. "I always want to see guys end on good notes. But, more importantly, I want to see a guy end on his own terms."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox