Who needs the other more?

Does NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis need the New York Jets or do the Jets need Revis?

A month ago the same question was at play when Revis opted not to join the Jets for training camp and he has been fined $16000 a day for his decision. Revis has not budged from his attempt to have his contract redrafted with more money and some guarantees, and the Jets have not yet met him half way.

But last month was the start of the preseason and nobody was writing about this standoff possibly lasting beyond August, certainly not into the season, which could conceivably cripple the Jets attempt to get back to the playoffs.

On August 2 players and coaches on the Jets were not concerned about missing Revis. They understood it was all about business. They would have liked to see him getting into season mode but none of them saw it as an absolute necessity.

DISPROVING THE MYTH ABOUT PRESEASON

The NFL is considering shortening the preseason in 2012 so it’s not like anyone thinks that every player benefits from attending preseason, and especially not established Pro Bowl calibre players. More and more good players are finding excuses to get out of the rigours of training. Coaches do not want their best guys to get unnecessary injuries in camp so some coaches don’t mind either if a star player has a valid reason to be missing.

The Brett Favre’s of the world are disproving the myth that being in camp gets players in better game shape and that tough workout sessions in the August heat somehow create good work ethics. Good players have started to break the stereotype that only work hardened players are successful. Training camp in a long season has become more about rookies and second string guys trying out for the team and will be more so going forward.

Coaches actually embrace that concept though some reputed skippers might not admit it. They actually like to see what depth they have on their team and a camp with no veterans may actually be a good thing.

A player like Revis is not missed in mid-August but his threat of still being away from the Jets in mid-September is more worrisome.

The Jets were the best defensive team in 2009 and that got them to the playoffs, actually within twenty minutes of making the Superbowl.

The play of Revis is one of the main reasons that the Jets are prominent picks to win their division and make the playoffs again. A season that would start without Revis was not in anyone’s imagination.

Its high stakes for both the Jets and Revis, there is something to be lost if Revis is not in the fold by week one of games that count.

The fact is that while the Jets, a contending team are the team that potentially will come out losers in this, losing out on money, wins, or pride, Revis would have held out from any team’s training camp given his circumstances. This guy should have a new contract because of his exceptional year in 2009 that nobody could have imagined when he signed his rookie deal.

The NFL does not guarantee contracts, but it is generally a fair expectation that management of winning organizations especially will try and keep their best players happy and locked in.

CAREFUL NOT TO UPSET PEOPLE

If Revis played in Kansas City or in Oakland he would probably also be sitting out, but there would be less motivation for the other side to get the job done.

In New York, in any atmosphere there are better odds the player will win out with lucrative rewards. With this highly touted Jets team in their new stadium one could imagine quite a few zeroes behind a number on a contract coming Revis’ way by now.

This summer there is even more reason for any good player to get his commitment from his team. With no collective bargaining agreement in place after 2010 and the future rules regarding how the salary cap will work in doubt these players like Revis must take advantage of the chance to sign on to a team for life for the best money before the negotiating landscape is changed.

While they are at it Revis needs to get some sort of signing bonus or guaranteed money.

Revis has been very careful not to upset people. He is very rational.

He came into the league in 2007 and got a six year rookie deal worth $36 million.

That deal is back loaded with incentives that start as soon as he reports to this year’s training camp.

Revis only makes $4 million a year, but since he is about to enter his fourth season he qualifies for a $20 million bonus this summer. He did not take that bonus because he knows that now that he has grown to be the best defensive player in the NFL that he is worth much more.

The best defensive player should be getting best defensive player money. In Revis case that means better than the last best contract for a defensive player which was Albert Haynesworth’s $120 million deal over six years with Washington.

Why not?

He is a shutdown cornerback that gets to face a few of the best quarterbacks and receiver combinations and has already shown he can smother them.

REVIS TAMES ELITE RECEIVERS

Revis has only gotten better. He is now a two time Pro Bowler, first team All-Star and the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Year.

Late in the 2009 season most teams avoided passing to his side of the field, but all told he deflected 31 passes, and made six interceptions last year.

He held elite receivers to miniscule yards and catch totals.

Houston Texans’ Andre Johnson had only four catches and 35 yards. New England Patriot Randy Moss was blanked twice by Revis and his best was four catches for 24 yards. In that game the Patriots were kept out of the end zone completely for the first time in three seasons, and Revis also held New Orleans Saints wide out Marquis Colston to a two catch performance.

Despite the Jets loss in the AFC Championship game even the Indianapolis Colts receivers did not venture into Revis space on the field. Only two catches were made in his vicinity the whole game.

This guy deserves the new contract and the extra money.

However, because of the NFLs lack of direction beyond 2011 (a league problem more than just a Jets issue) it is hard to get these longer and larger deals done. The Jets have as much of a struggle here as the Colts do with Peyton Manning or the Patriots have with Tom Brady. They all need new contracts and only verbal agreement to work something out has been bantered but nothing consummated.

Nobody knows the rules for the future and these players at the top of the list will set the scale for everyone else. Revis is the only one holding out because he is still under a legit rookie deal that he has decided to bail out on. League uncertainty is penalizing the Jets and Revis more than anyone in developing a new contract to compensate his true value.

NO DEBATE: REVIS DESERVES NEW DEAL

There is no debate that he deserves a new deal – and what he does now will affect his worth. He is not already making $10 million a year like Brady and Manning. Once he reports and receives the $20 million bonus he is sort of tied to last out his rookie deal.

If he plays on a small contract he is setting himself up to be compensated on future results of his play which could be less stellar than 2009. If Revis plays for so little there are lots of reasons the Jets as a team could do worse defensively and inflict hurt on Revis eventually setting up that career deal.

If he doesn’t play, and now it may be into games that count Revis will have lessened his direct impact on the Jets this season.

What if they can still play sound defensively and they win without him? His value will go down. What incentive will New York have to give him what he wants?

If the Jets struggle badly and stumble to a 0-3 record without him then what incentive do they have to bring Revis back at all in 2010?

Revis holds all the cards in training camp but I am not so sure he holds them anywhere beyond week two of the season for a myriad of reasons that can show the Jets actually need him less than they originally thought.

The risk to the Jets is obvious.

The Jets are supposed to contend and take that next step.

The Jets addressed their main weakness by getting parts to help the offense: Braylon Edwards, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Santonio Holmes all arrived to give the quarterback some deep play pass options.

The Jets know the offense needed to step it up, and have locked in new contracts with key members of the offensive line (Nick Mangold & D’Brickashaw Ferguson) even before settling the question with Revis.

With the types of offenses the Jets will face against teams in their own division the Jets surely know that having Revis on the field is important to make that offensive investment all worthwhile. Clearly with the division rivals heavy on the pass play only the team that is solid without the ball, the Jets with Revis should have a big advantage.