New York Jets: Darrelle Revis is imperfect but belongs in Canton on the first ballot

We take a look back at the New York Jets career of Darrelle Revis. He may have his flaws, but he belongs in Canton on the first ballot.

If anyone has missed it by the time you are seeing this post, Darrelle Revis has announced his retirement from the NFL. The former member of the New York Jets has hung up his cleats after 11 years in the league. What a career it was.

Today we are going to look back at his time in the league, specifically with the Jets. He wasn’t perfect and some of his decisions off the field weren’t the best. Despite all of that, he belongs in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

Revis was selected by Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets in the first round of the 2007 draft with the 14th overall pick. Immediately as a rookie Revis made his mark, with three interceptions and 87 total tackles while starting each and every game.

2008 was the first of seven Pro Bowl appearances, five of them with the Jets. Over the next two seasons he picked off 11 passes, returning two of them for touchdowns. Two of the 2008 interceptions were on fade patterns to star receivers, one was Larry Fitzgerald and the other was Terrell Owens.

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The following year was arguably his best, though it didn’t include a single interception. 2010 Revis could have been Defensive Player of the Year, mainly because nobody threw his way!

Interceptions can not be had if the ball doesn’t come in your direction.

2011 saw Revis run back a 100 yard interception against the Miami Dolphins on his way to a four interception season.

2012 came the knee injury, and though he returned to the Pro Bowl, his explosiveness was never the same. When he returned in 2015 the speed wasn’t there, even with five interceptions.

He fell off the cliff from that point on, but that doesn’t mean his Hall status should be tainted. Some thought it should, but remember, everyone falls off of that cliff.

That doesn’t take away from his accomplishments on the field.

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The only blemish on the legacy of Darrelle Revis is the holdouts. One of them played out at the Roscoe Diner prior to the 2010 season, but that wasn’t the only one. Revis held out when it suited him. He didn’t always have the team’s best interests at heart.

But, can you blame him? NFL careers are so short, doesn’t he have the right to make as much money as possible?

Four First Team All-Pro selections to go with seven appearances in the Pro Bowl make the Canton decision easy. Get him to the Hall of Fame. See you in five years Darrelle.

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