The problem with the Revis contract is that he is payed a lot more during those 3 years than other corners. He has an average cap hit of a bit over $16M for those years. The next corners in line gets $14M, like Sherman. And that's pretty evenly distributed $14M per year, so possibly a real 4 year contract for Sherman. I don't think it's a good contract for Revis simply because of his age, and because how much more he gets compared to other top corners. Your basically betting on him performing above all other corners, as well as not getting affected by age as he hits 30, and so continues to perform above the other corners atleast through age 32.
"even with expected decline in his play he is well worth it" is a statement made by overzealous fans that have little understanding or no knowledge of how building a competitive team works when under a salary cap. If a GM was to think the way you think -- assuming his job is to build a SB winner -- he should be fired immediately.
Outside of that roll the dice, big immediate investment but little future investment signing for a single shot at the SB (basically trading cap value for the here and now shot at the SB), devoting big portion of the cap to a single player better be for a player who also provides a equal cap dollar to production percentage. For Revis money his production should be so big he is capable of glossing over multiple unproductive spots on the team.
Ultimately, for a major unchangeable cap hit that is going to see less production per cap dollar for a team that isn't 'one step away from the SB'? You just moved the goal post even further away to get to that 'one step away'.
So from a Patriots' fan perspective and since you very likely aren't threatening the Patriots for the division title this year, I wholeheartedly concur with your 'no regrets' sentiment. I know I certainly have no regrets that you are less likely to end up challenging the Patriots for the division title for the 2016 and 2017 seasons (and possibly 2018 ramifications too).
Good points. I don't agree but they certainly make sense.
The way I see it, the Jets will never compete for the division so long as TB is playing well or until we find a better than average QB. There's simply no way to match the consistency of the Pats. When we started 4-1, that was the big thing I was looking/hoping for. Could we maintain consistent winning that may allow for hanging with the Pats? ... lol, um... nope. Really a crap situation for the rest of the afc east. Can't think of any other division in all of sports that has a situation like this. For the better part of two decades, it's been all but assured the Pats win the division (no home playoff games, always fighting for wildcard).
In this rare situation, I think you have to adjust normal thinking a bit. Basically understand/accept you're not gonna win the division. Again, w/o at least a very good QB, in today's NFL, you're not gonna win more games than a team like the Pats who average what, like 13/14 wins every year?
So next best thing is to try and build a team that can win enough to get in the playoffs and also stands a puncher's shot of beating the Pats (or any top team) if firing on all cylinders.
That's where 24 comes in. We had/have the Dline (see miami's 12yds rushing, or Pats passing 90% of the time vs Jets). We were absolutely freakin horrible in the secondary in 2014. There was no viable option at QB in the draft or FA. So build up the secondary.
Odds are, we won't need the money for a QB for a while. If we hit on a QB in the draft, that's cheap for a while. I can dream of Brees coming here next season (while also staying good in his old age), and if that happens I'd happily give up Wilkerson to offset his cost. But realistically, I don't see a better way to have spent the money in an attempt to field a winning team than how we did. (Plus it also got Revis out of NE.)
IF (huge if) the Jets can get back to early season form and get a wildcard, given the D we have, we may not be favored in playoff matchups, but it wouldn't be insane beating any team in the NFL. Especially the Pats who we always play well anyway.
Gotta work with what's available. Top notch franchise QBs?.. they're a bit scarce at the moment.
