FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Darrelle Revis couldn't believe Rex Ryan's latest declaration.
His coach labeled him the best player in the NFL, hands down. It was some lofty praise that made Revis' eyes widen at the thought.
"What?" the New York Jets' Pro Bowl cornerback said with a laugh Tuesday. "He said that?"
He sure did, Darrelle.
"Well, thanks, Rex, for the quote," Revis said, laughing again. "I mean, I thank Rex for respecting me that highly. I do strive to try to be the best in what I do. If he feels that way, he feels that way."
This certainly has been a whirlwind of a season for Revis. There was a long contract holdout that caused him to miss all of training camp, some hamstring issues that sidelined him a few games and doubts as to whether or not he could reach last season's lofty level when he finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Ryan shoved all that aside Monday when he went out of his way to pump up Revis, who held Indianapolis star wide receiver Reggie Wayne to one catch for 1 yard in New York's 17-16 playoff victory over the Colts last Saturday.
"That's kind of a big, bold statement," Revis said. "People can differ from that. They have different opinions, and usually it's a quarterback, a Peyton Manning or a Tom Brady, a guy who can really control the game, or an offensive player.
"Him saying that for a defensive player, that's mind-boggling to me. But, hey, I guess that's how he feels."
Revis knows he's a good player, but that good?
"I think I'm one of the best," he said. "I don't know if I can say I'm the best, because I really have no stats this year. I have no interceptions and a couple of tackles, and that's about it. But one thing I do strive on is just trying to be consistent in my techniques in what I do and when I cover guys."
That's what he has done all season -- week after week. For a few years running.
"How many catches has he even allowed this season?" safety Brodney Pool asked. "There haven't been many, and that's just incredible. If you can make quarterbacks scared to throw at you like he does, that's pretty tough to do."
Revis' reputation ballooned last season, when he repeatedly shut down elite wide receivers to the point that he was nicknamed "Revis Island" -- a destination where opposing players got lost, just as Wayne did last weekend. It has been more of the same this season, especially during the past two months.
Detroit's Calvin Johnson made one catch for 13 yards. Houston's Andre Johnson: four catches, 32 yards. Cincinnati's Terrell Owens: three catches, 17 yards. Miami's Davone Bess: one catch, 6 yards. Pittsburgh's Hines Ward: two catches, 34 yards. That's five receivers, 11 catches and no touchdowns.
"If you look at the things he does to a receiver to the point where an offensive coordinator won't even look to his side, it speaks for itself," cornerback Antonio Cromartie said.
That's impressive when you consider what Revis has been through this season, with missing camp and being hobbled a few weeks. In August, Revis wasn't with the Jets at all, frustrated with his contract negotiations and hoping for a chance to return to the playoffs with New York.
"I didn't want to miss that," Revis said. "That had always been on my mind. I wanted to be on this team and experience all that once again."
Revis has said he must fight boredom in some games because he sees few throws in his direction. Wayne was frustrated after the Colts' loss after being targeted by Manning just once, even after leading the AFC with 111 catches during the regular season.
"I can't sit here and say, 'Yeah, he shut him down,'" said Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch, who has been watching film from that game. "There were some times that Reggie was open and he didn't get the ball, and there were other times that he was covered. It's 50-50. It's just hard to sit back and say, 'He did this. He did that.' Both of them are great players."
Revis agrees, and he humbly credits all of his teammates for the outcome.
"I'm not going to put it on me," he said. "I'm one piece to this puzzle. This is not tennis, this is not golf. As a whole, I think our defense played well. We all played a part in shutting down Reggie Wayne and Peyton and all those guys."
In the last game against the Patriots, a 45-3 loss Dec. 6 at Foxborough, Revis was mostly on Wes Welker and Ben Tate. He's unsure what his assignment will be when the Jets (12-5) and Patriots (14-2) meet Sunday for a chance to go to the AFC Championship Game.
"If they want to put me on (running back) Danny Woodhead, it really don't matter," Revis said. "I just have to do my job and trust my teammates to do their job as well."
"You've got to think twice before throwing it that way," Pool said, "because it's usually a win-win situation for Darrelle."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
