When a division rivalry still existed between the New England Patriots and New York Jets, things always got a little heated.
Invariably a war of words would be waged through the media in the week leading up to their meetings.
Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, considered one of the best defenders in the league three years ago, went as far as to call New England coach Bill Belichick a “jerk” during a television interview in 2012.
Luckily for Revis, Belichick does not hold grudges, at least for elite players.
The Patriots signed Revis in March and, for the first time in his career, the move had nothing to do with money.
Two teams had offered more money but Revis, who has been the cornerstone to every secondary he has played for, wanted a Super Bowl ring and believed making common cause with Belichick would be his best shot.
After making first team All-Pro just two years after a major knee injury in his final season with the Jets, Revis is back in the play-offs after being out of them the past three seasons. He is only two steps from his first Super Bowl.
The Patriots (12-4), who earned the AFC’s top seed, will host the Baltimore Ravens (11-6) in a divisional-round game tomorrow.
It will be Revis’s first play-off game since consecutive runs to the AFC Championship with the Jets in 2010 and 2011.
The seven-year veteran is just where he expected to be when he signed with the Patriots – he is playing in January.
“That was one of the decisions to come and play with a prestigious organisation,” Revis told the Boston Herald. “They win year in and year out. They’re on top every year. I’m happy to be a part of this organisation.”
Revis is back to his pre-injury form, which means Belichick can have him cover the opposition’s best receiver, in this case Baltimore’s Steve Smith, a physical veteran who has given the Ravens offence an attitude adjustment.
In his 14th season, Smith, 35, led the Ravens with 79 catches for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns. Last week, he caught five passes for 101 yards in their wild-card victory in Pittsburgh.
“He’s still an electrifying receiver,” Revis said. “He still makes big plays.”
The Patriots want Revis to return next season. He said he is not thinking past tomorrow’s game, but as long as quarterback Tom Brady is around, the Patriots should always be Super Bowl contenders.
Revis may be close to having done enough to be headed to the Hall of Fame but the one thing missing from his CV is a Super Bowl ring, which probably would secure him a place in Canton, Ohio.
Belichick and Brady may be able to help him there. All he has to do is play some defence and keep the name-calling to himself.
PLAY-OFFS PREVIEW
Tomorrow’s other play-off games
NFC Divisional round
• Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks, 5.15am (UAE)
The Seahawks (12-4) will be playing the Panthers (8-8-1) for the fourth time in three seasons. Seattle have won the past three but each was decided by five points or fewer. Led by an elusive Russell Wilson at quarterback, the Seahawks have not lost since November and enjoyed a bye week. Carolina set a play-offs record for fewest yards allowed (78), against Arizona.
• Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts, 10.05pm
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo has thrown 20 touchdowns on the road this season with just two interceptions and recorded a 121.8 passer rating. The key man (13-4), though, will be running back DeMarco Murray, pictured, the NFL’s leading rusher and the Packers (12-4) have been a bit soft against the run. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had an extra week to rest a calf muscle injury. He has been dominant at home this season, throwing 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Monday’s game
AFC Divisional round
• Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos, 1.40am
Colts receiver Ty Hilton continued his explosive season with 103 receiving yards on six catches against the Bengals last week. He has scored seven touchdowns in 13 games for Indianapolis (12-5), so expect quarterback Andrew Luck to get him going early. The Broncos (12-4) can throw the ball, too. Quarterback Peyton Manning has a solid weapon in Demaryius Thomas, who averages more than 100 yards in six play-off games.
Stat of the week
With a career passer rating of 96.0, Philip Rivers is the highest-rated quarterback in NFL history not to have advanced to a Super Bowl. Rivers, whose San Diego Chargers just missed a play-off berth this year, is ranked fourth on that passer rating list behind Super Bowl winners Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Steve Young.
agray@thenational.ae
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