Moments after his legal issues were cleared up in a Pittsburgh area court Wednesday, former Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis shifted his focus toward the football field and described a player who is lighter and healthier than the struggling veteran the Jets cut a little more than two weeks ago.
"My nutrition is different," Revis told NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala. "I'm actually 10 pounds lighter than I was last year at this time. I'm really hammering out there."
Revis said that drills for both cornerback and safety, a position some have projected him to for the latter phase of his career, are similar and that he's keeping his options open.
"It's similar training, the way you train, the breaks, the checks, the calls. I've been in a lot of secondaries where corners have to make calls as well during the game," he said. "I'm very familiar with a lot of different skills."
The seven-time Pro Bowler does not think his career is over.
"The hunger is definitely there," Revis said. "It's just passion and love for the game. I'm excited for this season to start. ... I can focus on what team I can fit with and the best system."
Where and when his next opportunity happens remains to be seen. Buzz around the former All-Pro has been almost nonexistent thus far in free agency. Revis was released by the Jets back on March 1, though club officials were adamant that Revis' legal issues had nothing to do with the decision. Revis, a native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and a University of Pittsburgh standout said Wednesday that playing for the cornerback-needy Steelers -- his hometown team -- would be a dream come true.
"That would be great," Revis said. "As a child I watched the Steelers play. Went to a few games as a young child. I played there in high school and college, so to play there professionally that would be awesome too. We'll see. Hopefully we'll have a conversation with the Steelers and see if we can come up with something."
This might be the start of a long, complicated road back for Revis. As noted in the past, the offset language in his contract will complicate future deals and a veteran's minimum flier would not make any financial sense for a player once believed to be the top cornerback in football. Should his speed and strength not recover, his ability to play as a dominant cover corner will be in serious jeopardy. Now that the legal situation is out of his hair, however, he can start thinking about how he wants to approach his path back to the playing field.
