ISLAND GETAWAY: The Jets are interested in trading cornerback Darrelle Revis, but a potential deal with the Buccaneers may run out of steam because Tampa Bay is tiring of the way Gang Green is handling the negotiations. (Neil Miller)
ISLAND GETAWAY: The Jets are interested in trading cornerback Darrelle Revis, but a potential deal with the Buccaneers may run out of steam because Tampa Bay is tiring of the way Gang Green is handling the negotiations. (Neil Miller)
The standoff between the Jets and the Buccaneers over Darrelle Revis could be coming to a head soon.
The Buccaneers are losing patience with the Jets, according to league sources, over the teams’ inability to strike a deal for the All-Pro cornerback. The Buccaneers have told people around the league they may have to look at other options at cornerback soon if they can’t make a deal for Revis.
“It’s amazing,” a league source said. “The Jets are going to screw this up.”
Initially, the holdup was thought to be the Buccaneers’ unwillingness to give up their first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft (No. 13) overall as part of a package for Revis. But the Tampa Bay Times reported last night the Bucs have not ruled out shipping the pick to the Jets.
Jets owner Woody Johnson admitted on Sunday the team is willing to trade Revis, but said they are not “beating the bushes” looking for a trade and would love to have Revis on the team this year. According to sources, Tampa Bay is the only willing trade partner the Jets have been able to find.
Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik declined to comment on Revis when approached by The Post at the league meetings in Arizona yesterday, citing the league’s tampering rules, but spoke in general terms to the Tampa Bay Times about dealing the first-round pick.
“The thing I’d say is I feel really good about the success we’ve had drafting players,” Dominick said. “At the same point, I’m not going to sit there and be bull-headed and not think, ‘what’s the best thing for the team going forward?’ That’s the only way you can build it right.’’
Tampa Bay has money to spend and is desperate to fix its secondary, which was atrocious last year. The Buccaneers already have signed free agent safety Dashon Goldson and are still well under the salary cap. If they trade for Revis, they will want to sign him to a long-term extension. Revis is looking for $14-16 million per year, but reports have indicated the financial component is not a problem for Tampa Bay.
Jets general manager John Idzik has said little about the situation, but he faces a difficult challenge regarding what to do with Revis. The Jets clearly are in rebuilding mode, and Idzik must get a strong package of picks for Revis, the team’s best player. The problem is, Revis is coming off knee surgery and he is seeking a large contract. Those factors have made the market for Revis shallow.
The Buccaneers also may be looking at the free-agent cornerback market and starting to believe they can get a decent player cheaply. The top of the cornerback class has gone for $5-6 million a season. None of them is in Revis’ class, but if the Buccaneers tire of negotiating with the Jets, they could see it as a better, easier option. The top corners left on the market are Brett Grimes, Nnamdi Asomugha, Antoine Winfield and Mike Jenkins. The Buccaneers also have their own free agent cornerback, E.J. Biggers.
The two sides are in Arizona until tomorrow at the NFL league meetings, so it is possible they can get something hammered out this week, but it appears the Jets might be running out of time with this suitor.
* The Jets reached an agreement with outside linebacker Antwan Barnes yesterday.
The former Charger agreed to a three-year, $4 million deal, according to a source.
Barnes had 11 sacks in 2011 when he saw a lot of time for the Chargers. Last year, he had three in reduced playing time. Barnes played for Jets coach Rex Ryan while with the Ravens in 2007-08.
Barnes, 28, is scheduled to get $1.65 million this year and $1.2 million in 2014 and 2015 with the possibility the last two years could increase to $2 million if he hits certain escalator clauses.
* The Jets re-signed long snapper Tanner Purdum. He received a two-year deal, according to his agent, Rob Roche. … Pro Football Talk reported the Jets have interest in former Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. … Running back Mike Goodson received a $1 million signing bonus and is scheduled to get a $1 million salary in 2013, $1.65 million salary in 2014 and $2.35 million salary in 2015.
Additional reporting by Bart Hubbuch in Phoenix