One of the subplots to the Darrelle Revis case is his large contract with the New York Jets. They owe him $6 million even if he’s not on the team in 2017, but they could try to have the contract voided because of his legal issues stemming from his alleged involvement in a street fight last weekend in Pittsburgh.
At this point — assuming they release him, which is the likely outcome — it’s unknown whether the Jets would try to recoup the $6 million.
We’ll walk you through what could develop into a controversy over his money. Here are the particulars:
The deadline: As part of the five-year, $70 million contract he signed in 2015, Revis is due a $2 million bonus if he’s on the roster the second day of the 2017 league year (March 10). He also has a $13 million base salary that includes a $6 million guarantee. The Jets don’t want to pay $15 million to a declining, 31-year-old player, so they could ask him to take a pay cut or simply release him on March 10 to avoid paying the $2 million bonus. They can’t do it sooner because of complex rules involving the salary-cap hit. If they cut him, they owe him the $6 million guarantee — unless he violates the contract. Keep reading.
The contract: There’s language in Revis’ contract that could protect the Jets in a situation like this. According to MMQB.com and NJ.com, the contract states that the guarantee is voided if he’s fined or suspended for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy or “if the player engages in personal conduct reasonably judged by Club to adversely affect or reflect on Club.” The last part is vague; there’s no language in the contract that mentions specific criminal charges. Revis is charged with four first-degree felonies, including assault and robbery.
The league: The NFL is “looking into” the Revis situation, according to a league spokesman. Commissioner Roger Goodell has the power to mete out discipline whenever he pleases, but in most cases, the league waits until the case is adjudicated before deciding whether to impose a fine or a suspension. In other words, it can move along at a glacial pace. There’s virtually no chance the league will rule by March 10, when the Jets have to make a decision on Revis.
The Jets: So what recourse do they have? One person familiar with the situation said the Jets, if they’re determined to chase the $6 million, could suspend him for conduct detrimental to the team before the March 10 bonus deadline. That would be a bold move that undoubtedly would prompt the NFL Players Association to get involved. What makes this tricky is they can’t recoup the money once they cut him and write him a $6 million check. That’s why they have to figure out something quickly. If they’re really fired up, they could cut him March 10 and refuse to pay the $6 million, putting the onus on Revis to challenge it.
The likely outcome: The Jets could take a chance, pay the $2 million bonus on March 10 and continue to fight for the $6 million, waiting for the league to impose discipline. But that’s not a gimme. Plus, do they want to engage in a protracted battle with one of the best players in franchise history? That would be awkward and messy. What would they do? Ban him from offseason workouts? They’d be on the hook for the entire 2017 salary if he showed up and sustained a season-ending injury.
No doubt, the Jets are exploring their options. In the end, the feeling here is they’ll cut Revis on March 10, write him a $6 million check and tell everyone it was a football decision.
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