Crafting a contract extension for Darrelle Revis and the New England Patriots - Updated 12/23

Crafting a contract extension for Darrelle Revis and the New England Patriots - Updated on 12/23/2014

Miguel Benzan

It was reported/rumored during the first week in August that the

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When I joined this board, I was told there wouldn't be any math.

Holy hole in the Donut! there are a lot of numbers!!!!

I wonder if he will be ok with a 3 year contract. I wouldn't be surprised if Revis Inc. is hoping for something that goes for 5 years.

oldrover said:

When I joined this board, I was told there wouldn't be any math.

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That's why we have Miguel.

There's three kinds of people in this world. Those who are good with math and those who aren't.

luuked said:

I wonder if he will be ok with a 3 year contract. I wouldn't be surprised if Revis Inc. is hoping for something that goes for 5 years.

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It's going to be interesting. He'll be on the wrong side of his 30th birthday in July. The deal structure is everything.

In the end, I think Revis would be ok as long as during a 3 year period he makes $43-$50M

luuked said:

I wonder if he will be ok with a 3 year contract. I wouldn't be surprised if Revis Inc. is hoping for something that goes for 5 years.

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I was kindof wondering the same thing myself

Though I wonder if there's a way to structure it so as to trigger a potential extension heading into 2017... much in the same way that the outrageously high cap figure for 2015 is triggering the question of an extension or free agency (and I have to think Belichick will not want to let Revis walk)

The 2015 year always clearly seemed to be a way to having the Pats agree not to franchise without actually doing so - though technically they still hold his rights. It was effectively a 1 year "show me" contract and obviously he did (not exactly in the way we all may have expected - but he did)

But if he avoids injury the thought that Revis could maintain this level of productivity to 35 is not out of the question.

I guess it comes down to whether he wants to gamble and hit free agency after 2017 himself. But at that point he'd be looking at a limited length contract anyways so perhaps at that point the "threat" of the franchise tag isn't quite as "bad" as it would be now.

The bottom line as Miguel notes - whether it's $12 million a season to $15 million a season the salary cap figures are high, but could all be accomodated. It may come back to what happens in the playoffs and how much Revis wants championships AND money (as he can clearly have both) as long as Brady is playing to form - so one could see him pairing his contract with how long Brady is locked in to be here too

robertweathers said:

It's going to be interesting. He'll be on the wrong side of his 30th birthday in July. The deal structure is everything.

In the end, I think Revis would be ok as long as during a 3 year period he makes $43-$50M

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That's why I think he might want a longer contract with similar average. Unless we play out his second year on the current contract this is most probably going to be his last really big payday.

As you said.. it will be interesting..

I don't think most of the options spelled out would be in Revis' ballpark. I think it will probably take something like 4 years/$60M with $45M guaranteed and an AAV of $15M. I'll be surprised if it's much less. I would be shocked if options with a $12-13M AAV are even considered as a starting point.

JoeSixPat said:

That's why we have Miguel.

There's three kinds of people in this world. Those who are good with math and those who aren't.

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Not to be pedantic, but thats four people.

I'd really love to keep Revis here past this year. Hopefully for several more years. He's the best CB I've ever seen in a Pats uniform and that includes Ty Law (pls don't shoot me, I love Ty). And Revis has been the consummate professional and teammate.

But what incentive does Revis have for extending his deal (aka taking a pay cut*) without first seeing what he can get elsewhere? If he doesn't extend we are contractually obligated to either pay him $20 mil or cut him. Then he'll go into free agency and easily have several teams begging to throw a ton of money at him. We'll just be another suitor for him. I can't imagine anyone is crazy enough to offer $20 mil/year. But I'm confident it'll be substantially higher than the $12 mil we got him for after a down year in Tampa Bay. As much as I've come to like and respect Revis over this past year. He is the guy that held out on the Jets twice when he was already making a ton of money.

We have zero leverage. I can't see him giving us a break without seeing what he can get on the open market. We're gonna have to cut him. Then he'll go to the highest bidder. That may be us, it may not be. But he'll go to the highest bidder. Period.

* A pay cut from the contractually obligated $20 mil due next year, not the current $12 mil

Peachhead said:

I'd really love to keep Revis here past this year. Hopefully for several more years. He's the best CB I've ever seen in a Pats uniform and that includes Ty Law (pls don't shoot me, I love Ty). And Revis has been the consummate professional and teammate.

But what incentive does Revis have for extending his deal (aka taking a pay cut*) without first seeing what he can get elsewhere? If he doesn't extend we are contractually obligated to either pay him $20 mil or cut him. Then he'll go into free agency and easily have several teams begging to throw a ton of money at him. We'll just be another suitor for him. I can't imagine anyone is crazy enough to offer $20 mil/year. But I'm confident it'll be substantially higher than the $12 mil we got him for after a down year in Tampa Bay. As much as I've come to like and respect Revis over this past year. He is the guy that held out on the Jets twice when he was already making a ton of money.

We have zero leverage. I can't see him giving us a break without seeing what he can get on the open market. He'll go to the highest bidder. Period.

* A pay cut from the contractually obligated $20 mil due next year, not the current $12 mil

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Actually you bring up an interesting point, is Revis even allowed to negotiate another deal next year unless we cut him first? My guess would be not.
So basically it looks like the Pats are in the drivers seat for a possible extension.

RxJock1120 said:

Actually you bring up an interesting point, is Revis even allowed to negotiate another deal next year unless we cut him first? My guess would be not.
So basically it looks like the Pats are in the drivers seat for a possible extension.

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I didn't mean anything about him negotiating with other teams before he is cut. We have zero leverage. I'm sure Revis knows if he stands his ground and forces the Pats to cut him. His agent's phone will be ringing off the hook before his car is out of the parking lot at Gillette.

RxJock1120 said:

Actually you bring up an interesting point, is Revis even allowed to negotiate another deal next year unless we cut him first? My guess would be not.
So basically it looks like the Pats are in the drivers seat for a possible extension.

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Well, technically no... and I'm sure his agent, being as pure of heart and honest as most agents are, will refrain from making inquiries with other teams as to what his potential market value would be

But seriously, the issue does come down to what teams are in the market.

What sense does it make for the Jets - without a QB etc. - to spend $15 million on a Revis?

That's why he's no longer there - and I doubt Revis wants to be on a team like the Jets

He'll get his money PLUS he'll want to play on a contender - one that he knows can consistently BE a contender for the duration of this contract

That limits the market considerably.

If $12 million a season is low so be it - maybe it takes $15 million. It's still doable (though a bit of a challenge) for the Patriots to do that.

Belichick has a salary cap value in mind - and my guess is in this case it's higher than it would be for many players. And while I'm not holding my breath expecting Revis to take a discount, let's see how the playoffs go - my guess is that Revis very much LIKES being on a team that, going into week 16 has locked up home field advantage and is likely considered a favorite to make it to, and win, the Super Bowl.

Let's put it this way - would Revis take $13 mil a season to play for the Patriots rather than the Jets for $15 million? My guess is yes. It's "about the money, plus" at this stage of his career.

luuked said:

I wonder if he will be ok with a 3 year contract. I wouldn't be surprised if Revis Inc. is hoping for something that goes for 5 years.

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What possible difference does the 4th and 5th year make. Let me illustrate simply.

Take any of three year options and add two more years. Revis can name the salary amounts. The only difference this would make is that if the patriots want to let him go after three years, they lose a comp pick.

It is the PATRIOTS who would want to add 2 years. This would represent a free option for the patriots to have Revis play Year 4 as the listed price.
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BOTTOM LINE
What matters is the bonus money and guaranteed money. And yes, the total compensation for the full 3-year term should matter, but won't necessarily, for example if there is large (say $20M), year 3 salary. Then the contract is really a 2 year contract.

Add another Pro Bowl log to the contractual fire...

When you take taxes into consideration..whats the real difference between 12 and 14 million? (I really have no idea what taxes are paid on that kind of income!!)

PatsFans.com Article said:

Crafting a contract extension for Darrelle Revis and the New England Patriots - Updated on 12/23/2014

Miguel Benzan

It was reported/rumored during the first week in August that the

Continue reading...

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As I look at the the $15M AAV contract and the comparables, I have a couple of points.

Even this "highest contract ever" seems to have lower guarantees than the contracts offered to others. The stated guarantees are only $26.5M. This seems lower than what other were offered. If Revis is healthy, 2016 is a no brainer. The team will pay the $5.0M of additional monies.

The total compensation for 2 years is $31.5M, an AAV of $15.750M.
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This is technically a three year deal. However, if Revis does show signs of wear after two more years of play, the team can walk away with ZERO additional compensation. The third year is simply an option for the team to pay Revis $13.5M for 2017.
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So, I don't know what other would pay. Do folks think that a $26.5M guarantee with a 2 year AAV of $15.750M enough for Revis?

The Pats have leverage. They could choose to pay Revis 20m. In which case, they will have paid and average of 16m per season for 2 of his best years (12+20/2=16). But I suspect they will want to negotiate an extension and tear up the old contract so he will have a lower cap hit in 2015.

Why not go with a funny money contract to make everyone happy?

7 years 120m
Year 1 13
Year 2 14
Year 3 15
Year 4 16
Year 5 20
Year 6 20
Year 7 22

Average Yearly value 17.1m
Bonus/Guaranteed Money 30m
Highest Paid CB in the history of the game...

JoeSixPat said:

Let's put it this way - would Revis take $13 mil a season to play for the Patriots rather than the Jets for $15 million? My guess is yes. It's "about the money, plus" at this stage of his career.

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Why do we presume that only terrible teams would pay more than the patriots? Would teams trade a couple of 1st's for the privilege of paying Handen, Sherman or Peterson $13M a year of so. Of course they would.

So, now a contending team gets to keep their draft choices and simply pay Revis. Are there no contending teams with enough cap money to pay Revis $15M a year? I suspect that there are. Perhaps, there is a team that thinks that Revis would be the one key that would put them over the top.