Darrelle Revis makes the tackle against Nebraska
Darrelle Revis was not on the field this morning when his teammates participated in the New York Jets' first training camp practice of 2007. The rookie corner, whom the Jets selected No. 14 overall at April's NFL Draft, has not yet reached a contract agreement with the club.
"Anybody that's not here is really missing opportunities to get better and to compete for what I'm sure what they all want, which is playing time," said head coach Eric Mangini. "But we are going to focus on the guys that are here and get them better and collectively get better."
As per organizational policy, the Jets don't discuss contract negotiations with the media.
"With any of the contract situations, those discussions are internal," Mangini said. "Mike [Tannenbaum] and I do speak, intimately – don't tell my wife. But no, really, those contract discussions are internal. We'd just like to keep it that way."
According to NFL.com, 16 first-round picks have reached agreement with their respective teams. Revis became the first Jets draft pick to miss an opening-day training camp practice since James Farrior, selected No. 8 overall out of Virginia in 1997.
The Buffalo Bills signed RB Marshawn Lynch, the No. 12 overall selection from California, earlier in the day and the St. Louis Rams also inked DE Adam Carriker. The former Nebraska Cornhuskers standout went the pick before Revis at 13. Last week the Pittsburgh Steelers, who followed the Jets at 15, signed LB Lawrence Timmons.
"I think each situation is unique. I am disappointed that he [Revis] is not here," Tannenbaum said late Friday in an appearance on WFAN radio. "We worked our tails off, the entire staff. We were well prepared for the negotiation and obviously the lines of communications are still open. But we worked hard to try to get everything done on time. Although there are deals coming in around us, we were prepared to do a deal that was good for us as well as Darrelle. We'll keep the lines of communication open."
Revis, who earned All-Big East first-team honors after his sophomore and junior campaigns, left the University of Pittsburgh following this third collegiate season. He totaled eight interceptions with the Panthers and scored four times on a pair of punt returns and a pair of interceptions. The 5'11", 204-pound defensive back was the first corner selected in the first round by the Green & White since Aaron Glenn in 1994.
"It is important players get here as quickly as possible so they have the best chance to produce on the field — not only short-term but long-term," said Tannenbaum. "As soon as he signs, he'll be out there. Right now our focus is on the players who are out there and there is a lot of competition going on."
