New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis' future with the team is hazy after this weekend's Super Bowl. New England has a team option for Revis in 2015, but it comes at a steep price. The option itself costs $20 million while Revis would be due a $12 million roster bonus on April 1. All combined, he would count $25 million against the salary cap next season. Yikes.
The Patriots have always prided themselves on protecting the bottom line. Committing that type of money to one player goes against that organizational philosophy.
"The hope from both sides is...begin talking on a long-term extension [after the Super Bowl] that would keep Darrelle Revis in a Patriots uniform for the balance of his career," Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said.
While a long-term deal would be the best scenario for New England, it appears they are still willing to pay top dollar to keep Revis in town for 2015.
"What I am told is that if the Patriots cannot work out a long-term deal with Darrelle Revis, they are not opposed to actually just paying the $20 million option and going into next season with him on a one-year deal."
Revis proved he is still one of the elite cover corners in the NFL this past season. He is too valuable to the Patriots for them just to let him walk this offseason. New England devised its defense around him and fellow corner Brandon Browner to shut down volume passing attacks. How the team handles his contract situation will be very important.
"Revis is technically under contract through 2015, but given that his cap number would be $25 million, it seems unlikely he'd play out the contract under those terms (note: the Patriots intentionally structured Revis' two-year deal as such, as it lowered his cap number significantly for the 2014 season)," ESPN's Field Yates wrote. "The Patriots have certainly loved having Revis around, and the veteran cornerback, by all accounts, has enjoyed his time in New England. But if the team is unable to come to terms on an extension for Revis, he immediately would become one of the most coveted players available. He changed the complexion of the Patriots' defense in 2014 and reestablished himself as one of the top defensive players in football."
