It's ironic that "Revis Island" has become a registered trademark right when its namesake is the one getting stranded more than opposing receivers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are paying cornerback Darrelle Revis $14.5 million in 2013 as part of a six-year, $96 million deal, and thanks to their defensive scheme, are getting nowhere close to the return on their investment.
Revis has already expressed unhappiness about coach Greg Schiano's style and hasn't been crazy about playing more zone than the man-up coverage that made him an elite shutdown corner with the New York Jets. That was on display in the 0-5 Buccaneers' Sunday loss to Philadelphia.
Looking at just the stat sheet, it would appear that Eagles' wide receiver DeSean Jackson (6 catches for 64 yards) backed up his pregame trash talk in his marquee matchup with Revis. On tape it's clear that Jackson won the battle because the Buccaneers continue to make poor use of Revis' talents.
Revis, from left cornerback, was playing off coverage, giving the speedy Jackson a sizeable cushion. On Jackson's first touchdown, a 12-yard strike from Nick Foles in the second quarter, Revis was expecting safety help in the middle of the end zone. On Jackson's second TD, a 36-yard deep shot from Foles in the fourth quarter, there was breakdown in coverage over the top. Revis has been targeted 22 times through five games, allowing 12 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. His burned defender rate of 54.5 is the highest in any of his non-rookie seasons.
The Eagles, like many teams, were careful to not throw too much in Revis' direction. They instead picked on rookie cornerback Johnthan Banks, and got a bigger day from No. 2 wideout Riley Cooper. Banks has been burned 13 times on his 27 targets, for more than double the yards (226), twice as many TDs, and half as many passes defended (2) than Revis.
With the high-priced additions of Revis and safety Dashon Goldson and the drafting of Banks, the Buccaneers have improved from the league's worst pass defense in 2012 to No. 16 so far in 2013. But given their record and how much they paid to get Revis following knee surgery, not taking advantage of his shadowing skills has left them more in the dark.
PACKERS AREN’T DONE
The Green Bay Packers might be without two of their top three wide receivers for a while after James Jones (sprained right knee) and Randall Cobb (fractured right fibula) were injured in Sunday's road win at Baltimore.
So how will Aaron Rodgers and their offense cope with less firepower? Simple. Keep running the ball at a high level.
The Packers' prolific passing game is ranked No. 2 in the NFL behind only Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos, but a big reason why Rodgers has them at 3-2 is because of the help he's gotten on the ground. After finishing No. 24, No. 27 and No. 20 in the NFL in rushing the past three seasons—while averaging fewer than 4 yards per carry—Green Bay has skyrocketed to No. 5 (140.8 yards per game) at 5.2 yards per carry.
Although James Starks and Johnathan Franklin have also pitched in with 100-yard rushing games that were non-existent last season, rookie Eddie Lacy is whom the Packers will continue to ride going forward. Lacy has looked strong and explosive in his four starts, and has rumbled for 270 yards despite missing nearly two full games because of the concussion he suffered in Week 3 against Washington. He just had a season- and career-high 120 yards against a tough Baltimore run defense.
The Packers' offensive line strength also is their big powerful middle, anchored by left guard Josh Sitton and center Evan Dietrich-Smith. Their blocking scheme has meshed well with the relentless between-the-tackles pounding Lacy can put on a defense.
Not surprisingly, as Green Bay's running game has gained momentum, it's created less pressure and more play-action opportunities for Rodgers. It also has kept the Clay Matthews-less defense from staying on the field too long. In those previous seasons, the Packers would have been fretting their wide receiver adversity. Thanks to Lacy and a successful major upgrade to give Rodgers balance, they can survive (and keep thriving) in 2013.
MANNING WEIGHED IN ON LUCK
Whatever hard feelings existed between Peyton Manning and Jim Irsay over how Manning’s 14-year Colts career ended have long since evaporated. They may not have actually existed in a real sense, if Manning’s advice to the owner about the 2012 draft—where Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck was available— is any indication.
"He said, 'You've got to take Andrew,'" Irsay told USA Today Manning told him that winter. "'You have to. You're crazy if you don't.'"
The Colts did indeed use the first overall pick that April on Luck. Manning returns to Indianapolis Sunday with the team he chose later that summer, the Denver Broncos. Luck is the opposing quarterback, with a 16-8 career regular-season and postseason record after Monday night’s loss in San Diego.
"I think it's perfect," Irsay told the paper. "What's happened is what Peyton and I hoped would happen. The desire was for him to get well and get to a team that has a chance to win another Super Bowl before his career ended. And our desire was to be able to transition to Andrew. To be so good so soon is stunning."
“So soon” is accurate: The Colts went 2-14 while Manning recovered in 2011 from multiple neck surgeries. The team overhauled everything, from players to head coach to front office, once Irsay chose to part ways with Manning and relieve themselves of his $28 million bonus for 2012.
"Circumstances created this decision," Irsay told USA Today. "You have to understand there's no way this occurs if he's in Indy. It's just impossible, where our salary cap was. Having him stay at the type of number that he expected and deserved to earn and all those things."
JETS SIGN JOSH CRIBBS
Josh Cribbs is getting another chance to resuscitate a stellar career interrupted by injury. According to numerous reports, the New York Jets have agreed to terms with Cribbs, a three-time Pro Bowl kick returner in his eight years with the Cleveland Browns. The signing was first reported by ESPN.com, then confirmed on Twitter by Cribbs’ public relations manager.
Cribbs, 30, was released by the Browns in the offseason, signed with the Oakland Raiders and was cut late in training camp. He underwent surgery after last season to repair torn knee cartilage and was passed over by several teams, including the Jets.
At his best, Cribbs was the best kick returner in the NFL. In 2009, he returned three kickoffs and one punt for a touchdown, and he has 11 career kick returns for TDs (fifth-most in NFL history). His eight on kickoffs are tied for the most ever (with Leon Washington). He also has played multiple positions on offense.
It wasn’t known immediately how the Jets planned to use Cribbs, who was listed as a wide receiver on offense with the Browns but who also lined up in the backfield and was occasionally used in the Wildcat formation. The Jets have not been special in the return game so far this season. Former kickoff returner Joe McKnight was cut in training camp, and wideout Clyde Gates has handled those duties this season, with Jeremy Kerley returning punts.
KELLY HIP TO SCHIANO
Chip Kelly acknowledged the obvious after Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay. Not that he was sure who would start at quarterback next week, but that he was wise to Greg Schiano’s kneel-down antics.
With 34 seconds left and the Eagles ahead of the Buccaneers by the eventual final score of 31-20, Nick Foles lined up in the spread, even though every other player on both teams lined up as if Foles was going to take a knee to run out the clock. Indeed, Foles took the snap and knelt down, and the game ended.
Most onlookers suspected why, and Kelly confirmed it Monday.
“Well, obviously, Tampa Bay is known for trying to attack and disrupt the snap, so it's just something we worked on and talked about, tried to take him out of that element where they are not going to disrupt the center-quarterback exchange,’’ the Eagles head coach told reporters at practice. “You know, we knew what they did and it's kind of something that Coach Schiano has done for the two years he's been there.’’
Schiano did it twice in his first season as an NFL coach last season; the first time, against the Giants, it started an on-field scuffle. He did it again two weeks ago at the end of a Bucs’ loss to Arizona. Schiano defended it afterward, saying, “Last time I checked, that’s what we’re getting paid to do, go win. We’ll play 60 minutes. It’s an organized play. People know it’s coming.’’
The Eagles, the Bucs’ first opponent since then, knew it was coming.
“We had discussed it during the week and it was just something – you want to not cause a pile-up and try to get out of the game,’’ Kelly said. “And if they were going to try that tactic, if we were back in the gun, maybe they wouldn't do it.’’
GIRLFRIEND ARRAIGNED
The girlfriend of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to a perjury charge connected to the murder case against him.
Shayanna Jenkins was arraigned Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court and released on personal recognizance.
A prosecutor says she lied to a grand jury, including about where she disposed of a box Hernandez asked her to "get rid of." The prosecutor says she repeatedly told grand jurors she couldn't remember where she threw away the box.
Jenkins' lawyer says she answered every question asked of her before the grand jury.
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semi-pro football player from Boston.
Jenkins and Hernandez lived together in North Attleborough, Mass., near where Lloyd's body was found.
Contributors: Vinnie Iyer, David Steele, The Associated Press