Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis has yet to test his surgically repaired knee in game action. That doesn't mean his former coach is eager to see if the three-time All Pro still has "Revis Island" form.
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan laughed and shook his head when asked about attacking Revis in Sunday's season opener.
"That might be some teams, but I don't think that's going to be our philosophy," Ryan said, via Newsday. "I can't even lie and say, 'Oh, yeah, no, absolutely we're attacking him.' I don't see that happening. We know what kind of talent he is. All Jets fans know what kind of talent he has. If I had my way, he would rest one more week."
Ryan has immense respect for Revis, coming back from a torn ACL, but he wouldn't be the first coach to deviate from his public comments in the name of gamesmanship.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was more coy on the subject, offering only "we'll see" when asked if he would adhere to the "Revis Rules" that mandate avoiding the lockdown cornerback's side of the field.
Revis' knee certainly will be tested early this season. We remain skeptical that the Jets possess the skill-position talent to probe that matchup with receivers Stephen Hill or Santonio Holmes even if Ryan's actions fail to match his words.
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