The Post’s Steve Serby sat down with Jets’ Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis, who clearly cannot wait to show trash-talking Giants receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz why he is the best in the business.
Do you still consider yourself the best cornerback in the league?
Yeah. Yeah, I do. The stats show (it). I still do what I’m asked to do every week, and that’s what I do.
Would you welcome Eli Manning throwing at you?
The reality is, he’s going to take his chances and try to throw at me. They got their game plan, too. They’re not going to sit there and just throw the ball every single pass play they get. He’s going to take his chances, and when he does, I need to be ready to try to make a play.
CHAT WITH JETS BEAT REPORTER BRIAN COSTELLO, TODAY, 2:30
You sometimes would get bored when quarterbacks would avoid you?
This year is no different from any particular year I’ve been in this league. Balls have been thrown to me in the past. If you look at my stats in the past against T.O. (Terrell Owens), them guys had catches — three catches for 40 yards, maybe four or 50. … They were catching the balls as well. It’s the same stuff going on.
Do you trash-talk on the field?
No.
Even if somebody else starts it?
Now if somebody starts it, then I will, but I’m not … it’s too much energy (chuckle). It’s too much energy to be trash-talking … I just try to play the game the best way I can. I try to let my game speak for itself. I don’t try to get into a jawing match. … I mean, I have, in the past, with a number of guys (chuckle) . . . with Chad (Ochocinco), with T.O. and all of those guys.
Randy Moss?
Yeah, but you know, I just try to play the game and compete, that’s all I try to do.
What did you think when coach Rex Ryan called the Giants the Jets’ little brother?
(Chuckle) Rex is going to trash-talk, so that’s how he feels. He’s been trash-talking this week, and it’s cool. That’s Rex.
Does it make you guys want to back him up?
Trash-talking is a part of this game.
Most coaches don’t do it though.
I guess you can say that, but even if a coach does do it, it’s a part of this game. Rex walks the walk, he talks the talk. That’s what he does.
How does Eli differ from Peyton?
I really don’t know. I don’t sit at home and look at these guys in the offseason and try to see who’s the better brother, I don’t do that. They’re brothers. They’ve both had success in this league, and that’s that. I really don’t care who says who’s the better one or not, that doesn’t concern me.
Do you still get amazed that people try to call you out a little bit?
It don’t matter what I say. It don’t matter what other receivers say. If it’s on paper, it’s on paper. You got to go out there and play on Sundays, or which this game is Saturday, and you got to prove it.
They seemed to indicate that they thought that teams weren’t afraid of you as much this year.
I mean, I’m not a monster, so why would anybody be scared (laugh)?
Are you past the point in your career where anything a player could say could get under your skin?
Basically (chuckle). At this point, it really doesn’t matter. People could say what they say on paper or in the news. The crazy thing is a lot of people don’t trash-talk on the field when it comes gametime, so it really don’t matter. These guys can say whatever they want to say, and you just laugh at it. You laugh, and then say, “OK, that’s it, we’ll see. We’ll see come playtime.”
How would you characterize your season this year?
I’m only one player on this team, so the only thing I can do is do my job the best way I can. The stats show of receivers I’ve watched this year, and their numbers show. So there’s really no point for me to sit here and get in a jawing match with their receivers.
Are you surprised that Victor Cruz has made a name for himself?
Look, whatever he says, it’s in one ear and out the other. The only time I remember this guy is in the preseason game. … (I) don’t know the guy very well. Do I respect him as a player? Yeah. You respect everybody you play against, but like I said, you got to line up and play and see what holds up then.
Is his quickness similar to Wes Welker’s?
No. No.
Nobody’s in that league?
No (chuckle).
Does Hakeem Nicks’ game remind you of anybody in the league?
No, he doesn’t remind me of anyone.
What makes him unique?
He gets open.
What does it mean to play for a New York team?
Got drafted here in ’07. … I got family up here but really never knew nothing about New York that much. You’ve got to be appreciative of an organization like this coming to draft you. … I want to retire here.
What is your favorite Christmas memory?
I think it was when I was about 3, because I still have pictures of it now from Christmas, when I first got my basketball hoop. (It was) a little Fisher-Price basketball hoop from Toys R Us. The day that I got it, on Christmas, I broke it (laugh), because that’s all I was doing, playing on it all day. And then I just remember my mom just saying like, “Oh we’re going to have to get you another one!”
Did you want to be a basketball player as a kid?
Oh yeah! Oh definitely. I wish I had a growth spurt to be 6-8 (laugh) or 6-9, but that ain’t the case really (laugh). I didn’t get it.
You were all-state point guard in high school. Who did you model your game after?
I don’t know. I could dunk, but I couldn’t fly like (Michael) Jordan. I used to watch college basketball games. I used to look at Mateen Cleaves and all those guys. … Mike Bibby, when he was in Arizona, I used to look up to those guys, and try to mimic them.
Bibby’s with the Knicks now.
I know he is. I’m going to have to come catch a couple games. Hopefully, try to get his autograph.
What’s your Christmas wish this year?
My Christmas wish this year is if we win these next two games and get in the playoffs.
Can this team still make a Super Bowl run?
Yeah. Right now we need to focus on these next two games and take care of business. But once we get in the playoffs, anything happens.