Darrelle Revis may be the best cornerback in the NFL, but he and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finding out that no one wants to pay $16 million for the best player at that position.
Multiple media outlets are reporting that the Buccaneers are desperately trying to trade Revis, whom they acquired from the New York Jets last season. If Tampa Bay can't find a suitor, it likely will release Revis by 4 p.m. ET, according to league sources.
ESPN reported that Revis is due a $1.5 million roster bonus, and the fourth-round pick the Buccaneers gave the New York Jets for Revis would become a third-rounder if he is on the Bucs roster after 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay would save $16 million on its salary cap by releasing Revis if a trade partner can't be found. With new coach Lovie Smith at the helm, it's almost a certainty that Revis won't be part of the rebuilding Bucs' plans in 2014.
But one scenario exists where a win-win outcome still is possible. The Boston Globe gave a blueprint of how the New England Patriots could acquire the free agent. It reported that it's feasible he would count only $ 8 million toward the Patriots' 2014 salary cap if they were to restructure a deal to give him a $10 million signing bonus that they could spread out over five years.
The downside of the deal would be that Revis would count $18 million toward the Patriots' 2015 salary cap, but New England would have a year to try to restructure that, and, besides, the clock is ticking on the Tom Brady era.
Brady will be 37 when the 2014 season starts, 38 by the time 2015 rolls around, so the Patriots' window of opportunity is closing. Adding Revis figures to get them closer to a Super Bowl next season.
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