The New York Jets defense is going through some changes and linebacker Calvin Pace is not used to things just yet. As the team gets in work during OTAs there is one player noticeably gone from the field. The Jets made a marquee move in the offseason to send All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for more draft picks. Pace has not yet accepted that Revis is not with the team any more.
"I was disappointed. I consider Revis a friend since the day I got here, and I watched him grow into what I feel is the best corner in the NFL. To not have that, it was kind of disheartening. But that's the way of our business: You see them go and you wish them well. I just hope he doesn't have a good game against us Week 1," Pace said.
Revis was not the only bit of roster turnover the Jets saw during the offseason. Veteran Bart Scott was also sent packing. However, Pace said that trading away the team's best player hurt more. He felt that something was up the second rumors began to swirl that Revis could possibly be on the outs with the Jets.
"The truth is...when stuff is leaked or rumored, most times it's going to happen. I'm not going to sit here and put pressure on rookie Sheldon Richardson or anybody else...The just is out on how our side of the deal worked out," Pace said.
One rookie that will feel the pressure is Dee Milliner. The Jets drafted the former Alabama cornerback to be the heir to Revis Island. The team is expecting big things out of the Nick Saban product. He was a key contributor to Alabama's run at three National Championships in the past four years. Many are believing that if he can live up to his potential, he could easily get named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Revis trade will likely be a defining moment in John Idzik tenure with the Jets, good or bad. If things work out and New York survives without the cornerback than Idzik will get praise for his decision of the trade. However, if it does not work out, he and owner Woody Johnson will get the brunt of the backlash. It was Johnson that refused to pay Revis in the first place and ultimately sent him packing.