Add another chapter to the Jets-Patriots rivalry.
Jets All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis tore into Patriots coach Bill Belichick Thursday at the team’s offseason training camp, calling him “disrespectful” and “ignorant.” Revis called Belichick a “jerk” in March during an appearance on ESPN. He didn’t back off that remark Thursday.
“When you say certain comments about the Jets, some stuff is disrespectful,” Revis said. “It’s OK to have a rivalry. It’s OK to compete. But when it gets personal, you’re getting disrespectful. I didn’t start this battle. The smart remarks sometimes he says are ignorant. It’s ignorant to this organization.”
Revis said he does have respect for Belichick as a coach, saying “winning is winning.” But he took issue with some of the things Belichick has said. One quote in particular fired Revis up. The Post reported in November that Belichick mocked the Jets following the Patriots’ 37-16 victory saying: “Thirty-seven points on the best defense in the league, s— my d—,” as he left the MetLife Stadium field.
“That’s just ignorant,” Revis said. “Why go there? You won fair and square. We shook your hand after the game. We’ll see you in New England or wherever in the playoffs. That’s OK, but when you start saying stuff like that it gets too personal. You don’t have to say that. Did anybody else say anything like that? No, not from our side.”
It was pointed out to Revis that Antonio Cromarite, the Jets’ other starting cornerback, called Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a derogatory name two years ago in a published report. Revis said Cromarite is right about Brady.
“Sometimes he [is] on the field,” Revis said. “That’s him saying his personal opinion about him. If that’s how he acts, that’s how he acts. He wants throw a touchdown and then point at our sideline, that’s disrespect, man. That’s not sportsmanship.Do people say words to each other on the field? Oh yeah, but that’s in between the lines. When that’s getting out of hand, come on. Sportsmanship.”
The Jets and Patriots play Oct. 21 in Foxborough. The Revis-Belichick war of words is sure to be a hot topic. Revis said he meant it when he called Belichick a “jerk” during a game of word association on ESPN.
“They told me to sum it up in one word. I gave my honest opinion,” Revis said. “That’s just how I felt and that’s how I feel. I feel people let him slide when he says his smart remarks and certain things. He says comments about us like he never coached here because he did.”
Revis also touched on his contract status. He has two years left on a four-year, $46 million deal he signed in 2010 after a contentious holdout. There has been speculation he may hold out again this year with the idea his current contract was a “Band-Aid” intended to be renegotiated.
Revis did his best to quell the talk about his contract, even saying he is happy with the deal. But he would not commit to being in training camp come July.
“I can’t sit here and answer that question,” he said. “Right now, I’m here. I’m getting prepared for the 2012-2013 season. Right now, I’m not even thinking about contract situations. Everybody knows the situation. They know the deal. Moving forward, whatever happens happens.”
Jets right tackle Wayne Hunter said he and wide receiver Santonio Holmes have a “clean slate” after the two got into an on-field argument in the final game of last season in Miami, an incident that led to Holmes getting benched.
Hunter said the two cleared the air when the team began its offseason program last month. Holmes declined to comment on his talk with Hunter.
The oft-criticized Hunter also said the coaches have assured him he is their starter at right tackle.
“I’m the starting right tackle and that hasn’t changed, whether people like it or not,” he said.