Revis Island is No More, but None Should Forget its Danger
Darrelle Revis made headlines this week when he finally acknowledged what so many people around the league realized weeks ago: Revis Island is no more.
“My body is breaking down,” said the 31-yeard old corner who has been nursing ankle and hamstring injuries this season. “When you play Cover Zero on some of the best receivers on the world, it takes a toll on your body.
Revis has battled many injuries throughout his ten-year career, including a torn ACL back in 2012, an injury that placed a question mark on his abilities, causing the Jets to trade him to the Buccaneers. After one-year stints in Tampa Bay and New England, he returned to New York, where he had made a name for himself as not only the top corner in the league, but one of the top cover corners of all-time.
As Revis’s body continues to deteriorate, and he can no longer cover the top receivers in the game in single coverage, it’s important to not allow his current play to define his career. When Kobe Bryant was chucking up shots and hurting the Lakers his final years, he took a lot of heat, but he’ll always be recognized as one of the game’s great players, and Revis should receive a similar distinction when he chooses to retire. With that in mind, here are some of Revis Island’s top moments of his career.
Revis Breaks Out
This was less of a moment and more of a testament to one of the great individual seasons by a cornerback in the history of football. Revis first established himself as the league’s premier cover corner in 2009, where he made a name for himself by shutting down number one wide receivers week after week. Here are the numbers for the league’s top pass catchers against Revis:
Andre Johnson: 4 catches, 35 yards
Randy Moss: 4 catches, 24 yards (Interception)
Marques Colston: 2 catches, 33 yards
Terrell Owens: 3 catches, 13 yards
Moss: 5 catches, 34 yards
Steve Smith: 1 catch, 5 yards (Two interceptions)
Owens: 3 catches, 31 yards (Interception)
Roddy White: 4 catches, 33 yards
Reggie Wayne: 3 catches, 33 yards
Chad Ochocinco: 0 catches, 0 yards
*Ochocinco: 2 catches, 28 yards (Interception)
*Vincent Jackson: 7 catches, 111 yards (Interception)
*Wayne: 3 catches, 55 yards
*indicates playoff game
It’s a tragedy that this season didn’t result in the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Revis Comes Through On 9/11
The Jets opened up the 2011 season with a Sunday night game on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The Cowboys started out strong, with a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter, but the Jets game back to tie it with a minute to go. Dallas got the ball back with a chance to drive down and win the game, and despite Revis’s good coverage all night on Dez Bryant, Romo looked there on the first play of the drive. Revis stepped in front of the pass and picked it off, setting the Jets up for a game-winning field goal on an emotional night for New York.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d8222842a/Revis-interception
Revis Shows Out Against his Future Teammate
In their first Monday night matchup of the year, the Jets took on the Dolphins and Brandon Marshall. The Marshall vs. Revis matchup was a highly anticipated one, as Marshall had become the new receiving threat in the division, replacing Randy Moss. Marshall had success against Revis in their first matchup in 2010, and Revis shut him down in their second matchup. The third matchup wasn’t even close, as Revis had two picks, returning one of them 100 yards for the score, and the Jets rolled 24-6.
Revis Bites his Former Team
After winning the Super Bowl with New England, Revis came back to New York, where the Jets found themselves out of the playoff picture needing a win in week 16 against the rival Patriots. Tom Brady was in the midst of an incredible season in which he had thrown only six interceptions, so the task looked daunting for the Jets. Brady made a point of not letting Revis hurt him, saying that he was his “least favorite option” on the field. With the Patriots driving to tie the game in the third, Brady looked to Gronk down the middle of the field, but Revis was there to read the pass and make the interception, Brady’s first pick in almost 100 attempts. The Jets went on to pull off the upset, in what proved to be a subpar day for Brady, as Revis got the better of his former teammate.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000609857/Darrelle-Revis-picks-off-Tom-Brady
