The divorce that everyone saw coming for months, and some would argue years, was finalized yesterday.
The split between the Jets and cornerback Darrelle Revis became official with the team shipping Revis to the Buccaneers for a first-round pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft and a conditional fourth-round pick next year.
Tampa Bay gave Revis the long-term contract he was seeking from the Jets, signing Revis to a six-year, $96 million deal. Technically, the contract has no guaranteed money, but the Buccaneers are highly unlikely to cut Revis before he is there for two years, essentially a $32 million guarantee.
Ultimately, it was all about the money — for Revis and the Jets.
The two sides were not close on what Revis should be paid. Revis’ agents told the Jets the 27-year-old cornerback was seeking a contract that paid him an average annual value of $16 million, which he received from the Bucs, making him one of the two highest paid defensive players in football along with the Bills’ Mario Williams. The Jets were not willing to go there, particularly for a player coming off a torn ACL.
“It became quite evident to us that there was a substantial difference between Darrelle’s view of his value and ours,” Jets general manager John Idzik said.
It is a monumental trade, with the Jets parting ways with their most talented player. The 2007 first-round pick was a three-time All-Pro and one of the best players in franchise history.
But Revis’ contract demands always seemed to cloud what was an otherwise brilliant Jets career. He held out of training camp twice, in 2007 and ’10, creating acrimony between the team and his camp.
The trade has been rumored for months, but picked up steam in recent days. The Jets granted the Buccaneers permission to meet with Revis yesterday and give him a physical, the final hurdle for the teams to clear in the trade.
Idzik said the team shared Revis’ desire for him to remain a Jet for his entire career, but several factors made that impossible, including a “degree of uncertainty” over Revis’ recovery from his knee injury.
“Once we reached a point with Tampa and they presented an offer that we felt merited serious consideration, we discussed it at length internally, and we really ultimately came to the conclusion that this was the best thing to do for the Jets at this time,” Idzik said.
It was a bold move for Idzik, who has been on the job for three months. He now has the Nos. 9 and 13 picks in Thursday’s first round. The 2014 conditional fourth-round pick becomes a third-rounder if Revis is on Tampa’s roster on the third day of the 2014 league year. With the Jets expecting to be granted several compensatory picks, the team could have a lot of draft picks next year.
The 2013 Jets look dismal at the moment. They have lost 11 starters from last year’s team. But owner Woody Johnson said he believes the team can be successful.
“We’re committed to putting a team on the field that is a winning team and doing it in a deliberate and sound way,” Johnson said. “I’m encouraged. I think we have some young players that will be better. We have the opportunity to pick up some very good players in the draft. I’m extremely optimistic.”
The move is not good news for coach Rex Ryan, who has two years left on his contract. If he is coaching for his job this year, he will be doing so with a depleted roster. Ryan said he was fully involved in the process of trading Revis.
“I don’t take back one word I said about Darrelle Revis,” Ryan said. “I believe he is the best cornerback in football without question, but, make no mistake, as I mentioned five years ago when I took the job we will play great defense and the standard we’ve set as the New York Jets will not be diminished. We believe that we will have an outstanding defense this year and in the future as well.”
This was going to be the final year of Revis’ four-year, $46 million “Band-Aid” contract. He was scheduled to be a free agent with the Jets unable to use the franchise tag on him. That led to this contract standoff.
Revis, who will be introduced in Tampa today, sent out a message to Jets fans on Twitter last night.
“The six years I played for the New York Jets were unbelievable,” Revis tweeted. “I put my body on the line everyday & did everything could to help the team win. I experienced a lot & learned a lot. The memories I had in New York I will keep dearly to my heart. I want to thank all the jets fans for making me feel welcome.”
Jets fans will see Revis again — the Jets open the season against the Bucs on Sept. 8 at MetLife Stadium.
brian.costello@nypost.com
A turbulent career
In six seasons with the Jets, Darrelle Revis established himself as the best cornerback in football, intercepting 18 passes, earning four Pro Bowl nods and leading the Jets to two AFC title games. But there were some rough times, too. Here’s a look:
April 28, 2007: The Jets trade their
first-, second- and fifth-round picks to the Panthers to move from No. 25 to No. 14 overall to take Revis.
Aug. 15, 2007: After a 21-day holdout, Revis comes to terms on a five-year, $36 million deal.
Jan. 9, 2010: After blanking him in the season finale, Revis holds Chad Ochocinco to two catches for 28 yards and intercepts a pass as the Jets earn their first playoff win in five seasons with a 24-14 win over the Bengals.
Jan. 11, 2010: Though Rex Ryan spent most of the season touting Revis as the best defensive player in football, he loses the Defensive Player of the Year voting to the Packers’ Charles Woodson.
Jan. 17, 2010: Revis intercepts a Philip Rivers pass (one of three passes thrown his way, he tipped away the other two) that deflected off Vincent Jackson’s cleat, to turn the momentum in a 17-14 win, sending the Jets to the AFC Championship Game.
Sept. 5, 2010: A week before the season opener, Revis ends a protracted holdout — played out publiclon “Hard Knocks” — signing a four-year, $32 million contract.
Sept 19, 2010: Leaves a matchup with Randy Moss and the Patriots with a strained hamstring and misses the next two weeks.
Jan. 23, 2011: A loss in a second straight AFC title game ends the season for the Jets. Revis finishes the season without an interception but is named to a third straight Pro Bowl.
Sept. 11, 2011: On Sunday Night Football in the season opener on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Revis intercepts Tony Romo in the final minutes to set up a game-winning field goal.
Oct. 17, 2011: Revis intercepts a pass for Brandon Marshall and returns it 100 yards — matching a team record — propelling the Jets to victory.
Jan. 1, 2012: The season ends with a 19-17 loss to the Dolphins, capping a three-game losing streak as the Jets missed the playoffs.
Sept. 9, 2012: Revis suffers a mild concussion in the fourth quarter of a Week 1 blowout against the Bills and misses Week 2.
Sept. 23. 2012: Revis tears the ACL in his left knee, ending his season — and ostensibly his career with the Jets.
Jan. 24, 2013: John Idzik is introduced as the new GM less than 24 hours after reports the team, fearful it won’t be able to re-sign Revis, is willing to trade him. Revis writes on his Twitter account: “I’m speechless by far but more importantly I feel more upset for the jet nation for having to go through this!!”
Yesterday: Due to make $6 million in the final year of his contract, the Jets trade Revis to the Buccaneers for the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft and a conditional 2014 pick. Revis signs to a six-year, $96M deal — though none of the money is guaranteed.