Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis was not only the victim in Sunday morning’s altercation which resulted in two men being knocked unconscious, according to his attorney, but Pittsburgh police also never contacted him or returned phone calls to get his side of the story.
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“There are two sides to the quarter,” Blaine Jones said Thursday night in a press conference. “And it seems only the tail side was spoken to.”
Early Sunday morning in Pittsburgh, Revis was involved in an altercation that left him injured, said Jones.
According to Jones, Revis was in town to review one of his real estate investments when a heavily intoxicated man approached him on Pittsburgh’s South Side. The man shoulder-checked Revis, at which time Revis asked him to calm down.
The man refused, so Revis told him who he was and that he played in the NFL. When things remained hostile, Revis turned and walked away, according to Jones. At this time, several people in the man’s group pursued Revis.
“Darrelle Revis was not the aggressor in this situation,” Jones said. “Darrelle Revis did not initiate any of the physical contact in this situation. Darrelle Revis was in fear of his safety.”
Darrelle Revis involved in fight
Jones said he made “several” calls to the Pittsburgh Police Department, per Revis’ request, hoping to tell his side of the story. None of those calls was returned.
Court records show the following pending charges against Revis: two counts of felony aggravated assault, one count of felony robbery, one count of felony conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, and one count of misdemeanor making terroristic threats, according to Pittsburgh television station WTAE.
Nobody else has been charged in connection with the incident.
Jones said if police issue a warrant, Revis will turn himself in. Pittsburgh police said in a statement Thursday night they have cellphone video, taken by an alleged victim, showing part of the situation. Jones asked police to release the video to the public.
“I have a lot of respect for law enforcement — the men and women of law enforcement,” Jones said. “It’s our fear that whatever video they have is only showing the last [portion of the altercation].”
In a statement released Thursday night, Pittsburgh police painted a far different picture of the incident:
“The male began recording the interaction on his cellphone and continued following Revis. At some point, Revis snatched the cellphone away and attempted to delete the video. Another 21-year-old male … attempted to help the 22-year-old retrieve the cellphone. Revis then tossed the phone onto the roadway. A verbal argument followed. A male came to assist Revis. Both the 22-year-old and the 21-year-old state they were punched, then remember waking up to talk to police. Witnesses state the two were unconscious for about 10 minutes. The officers viewed the cellphone video and confirmed that the person was Revis.”
Jones didn’t deny Revis took the phone, but said he grabbed it for his own safety.
“Darrelle didn’t know if it was a weapon or a phone,” Jones said. “He turned around, saw an object, not sure if he was going to get robbed or assaulted or what, so he grabbed it or swiped at it. I’m not sure.”
Revis, 31, starred at the University of Pittsburgh before the Jets drafted him in 2007. They might cut him this offseason — a move that would create $9.3 million in salary cap space, with $6 million in dead money attached. He is due to count $15.3 million against their cap in 2017, but that number is way too high for him at this stage of his career.
Throughout his career, the cornerback has kept himself away from negative headlines.
“Darrelle has been in the national, not local, but national spotlight since he was a teenager,” Jones said. “At no time was Darrelle Revis arrested or charged with anything. I’m a big believer in credibility. As far as I’m concerned, Darrelle Revis’ credibility is stellar. It’s second to none.”
Staff writer Darryl Slater contributed reporting.
Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
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