Sources close to Darrelle Revis told The Post last night that Revis wants to stay a Jet.
Wants owner Woody Johnson — more than Arthur Blank of the Falcons, more than Jed York of the 49ers, more than anyone — to show him the money.
“He wants to remain a Jet,” the source said. “He has never asked to be traded.”
Revis has not given up on the idea that Johnson will appease his lame-duck head coach, Rex Ryan, and find a way to keep him in green and white rather than trade him. In Revis’ mind, apparently, the grass isn’t necessarily greener elsewhere, and neither is the money.
Nor has Revis given up on the idea the Jets can be playoff contenders once he returns healthy from his torn ACL in his left knee, even if most everyone else on the outside, including me, sees the Jets, with holes all over the roster, in rebuilding mode.
Revis’ glass somehow remains half-full. He remembers the glory days when a young Mark Sanchez took the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games and hasn’t given up on that idea either, that if Sanchez is surrounded by better weapons, anything is possible in this NFL. Gulp.
Revis spoke out of turn when blurted out on Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson’s web show that it would be “awesome” to play for the 49ers. But the source insists the faux pas by no means signaled Revis attempting an escape from New York.
But why would Revis want to stay a Jet? Someone is sure to pay him somewhere close to his $16 million asking price that someone is convinced they will not be backing up the Brinks truck for damaged goods.
In no particular order, according to the source:
* He loves playing for Ryan, and knows the last thing Ryan wants as a lame duck coach is to lose his best player.
* He loves the New York/New Jersey area and still hopes against hope that Johnson regards him not unlike how owner Fred Wilpon regarded David Wright when he recently made him a Met For Life.
* He loves the Jets fan base — with or without Fireman Ed.
If Revis is traded, it will be clear that Ryan’s power within the organization has been severely diminished, because the owner knows how much the coach treasures his best player. If Ryan, who adamantly has denied the speculation over trade talks, is indeed out of the loop and in the dark on any Revis trade talks, and he is truly Dead Coach Walking.
In the meantime, there remain big obstacles to a Revis trade:
* His health.
* What the Jets could fetch — they should not settle for anything less than a first- and a third-round pick — and when they could fetch it. The 49ers and Falcons, contrary to a published report, are either lukewarm to the idea of trading for Revis or posturing.
* Finding a contending team that views Revis as the missing piece to the Super Bowl puzzle, that is willing to bring him into a locker room filled with loyal players wondering where their money is.
So for now, Revis is pressing the rewind button on any desire to play for the 49ers, or for anyone else.
Revis to Woody: Let’s make a deal.