If the New York Jets are unable to trade Darrelle Revis before the start of training camp, it won’t be due to a lack of effort on their part. New York is trying to move Revis and get some value in return rather than having to let him leave via free agency, but that doesn’t mean they are making him exempt from team rules.
According to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com, the Jets are forcing Revis to attend team workouts beginning on April 15 if he wants to collect his $3 million bonus. The 27-year-old corner has been working with his personal trainer in Arizona to rehab his surgically-repaired knee, and he would reportedly prefer to stay there. At the very least, Revis wants to wait until after the draft to see if the team is able to trade him.
But that is apparently not going to happen. There is language in Revis’ contract stating that he is required to attend voluntary workouts in order to collect his bonus money, and New York plans to hold him to it. If Revis doesn’t attend roughly 80% of the workouts, he will forfeit a $1 million workout bonus, a $1 million roster bonus and a $1 million reporting bonus at the start of mandatory workouts.
“We have a fine medical staff. We have a great training staff,” GM John Idzik said back in February. “We have tremendous facilities, so we feel that we have a lot to offer Darrelle and all of our players. We would hope that they would be there, but at the end of the day, it’s what’s best for Darrelle, how can we get him to clear medically and get back to the field to where he was before as quickly as possible.”
The belief is that having Revis attend voluntary workouts will prove that he is making progress and potentially strengthen the Jets’ position in trade talks. While we’re talking about the business side of the NFL, you can understand how Revis might feel uncomfortable being around teammates that will likely no longer be his teammates in about a month or so. However, I think he can manage if it means collecting an extra $3 million.
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