Darrelle Revis: Do The New York Jets Need Him More Than He Needs Them?

No player is more valuable than their team and Darrelle Revis is no exception to that universal rule. As he will soon learn, the New York Jets can live without him, but Revis’ football life cannot go on this season without the New York Jets.

The first half of Monday’s preseason battle between the Jets and the New York Giants made this issue inordinately clear.

At halftime of the game the Jets led 13-10 behind the strength of a punishing first-string defense. Led by Kris Jenkins in the middle of the defensive line, a hard-hitting linebacker core, and a still-great secondary, the Jets defense simply manhandled the Giants.

No play demonstrated this more than the one Eli Manning will remember most. On a third-and-one from the redzone, Manning called an audible and ran into his own running back, Brandon Jacobs, before the Jets defense set in.

Upon the conclusion of the play, Manning was escorted to the sideline with blood dripping from a gash on his temple, a wound that would later require 12 stitches.

This is the Jets defensive mentality. With Revis or without Revis, the men on the field are intent on stopping the ball Rex Ryan-style: don’t hold anything back, leave it all on the field, don’t stop until you collapse.

Truthfully, as this type of play requires dedication to the game and to the team you’re playing for, Revis may actually not be missed as much as everyone thinks.

Giant Beatdown In The Second Half

The Jets did get crushed in the second half of the Giants game. Backup quarterback Jim Sorgi torched the secondary for 146 yards and two touchdowns while unheralded Victor Cruz reeled in six catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

Rex Ryan explained this letdown by saying that the Jets minus Revis were indeed slightly thin at the cornerback position 

Speaking about Dwight Lowrey and other backups he said “You're one injury away from one of these guys being a starter. Dwight Lowrey has played a lot of football for us, and he had some great coverage, but then Cruz did make some plays.

“And then we had a blown coverage assignment as well in the second team, where it looked like Drew Coleman got beat but really it was a miscommunication.”

Jets Have Talent In The Secondary Without Revis

Darrelle Revis is without a doubt one of the premier cornerbacks in the NFL, but as blasphemous as it sounds, the Jets may be better off without him in a green uniform this season unless he gets his head screwed back on correctly and quickly.

Without Revis, the Jets still have a strong group of cornerbacks.

Antonio Cromartie is an incredibly gifted player who can shut down the best receivers in the league without Revis. Rookie Kyle Wilson, in his first season since leaving Boise State, was impressive in his first appearance. All indications point towards the two forming a dynamic duo. 

Now in the first three weeks of the season the duo will undergo a trial by fire. In those three games they’ll have the pleasure of facing Anquan Boldin and the Baltimore Ravens, Randy Moss and the New England Patriots, and Brandon Marshall and the Miami Dolphins.

Having Revis to shut those men down would no doubt be a huge help to the Jets playoff aspirations, but his presence is not a necessity.

Even without his services, the Jets still have one of the most gifted defenses in the league. They should still be able to at least partially shut down the three excellent receivers they face the first three weeks.

The New York Jets would like to have Revis in uniform but they don’t really need him this season. Revis on the other hand better enjoy sitting on the sidelines until he realizes he needs the Jets.