To Play Darrelle Revis Or Not?
August 26th, 2013
OK, so Thursday night at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, the Bucs play their final preseason game of the season (yea!). Frankly, if it wasn’t Joe’s job and Joe was at home, Joe would watch Ole Miss at Vanderbilt. Preseason football is dreadful and the fourth game that features almost exclusively beer truck drivers and insurance claims adjusters is sad.
But Bucs commander Greg Schiano could liven up Thursday’s dreary game by playing superstar corner Darrelle Revis.
While future Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis is not Schiano, if Bettis were calling the shots (at about the 5:50 mark), he would want to see Revis take off his training wheels before the real bullets fly in the regular season, Bettis told Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic of the annoying “Mike and Mike Show.”
“I would want Darrelle Revis to get a little game speed. Just that. I don’t need him to tackle anybody. I just want him to stop and start on a dime a little bit in a game situation before Week 1. I want him to react a couple of times.”
It’s an interesting theory floated by Bettis. Just get used to game speed. But Joe wonders if Revis couldn’t be doing the same thing against Vincent Jackson in practice as opposed to some future high school math teacher with the Redskins?
But Joe can’t argue with Bettis’ core theory: If you are going to start Week 1 against the Jets, Revis better be ready for game speed because surely Jets coach Lou Albano will test Revis once or twice.
August 26th, 2013 at 3:46 pm
When you pay a man $16 million a year…and each year after that isn’t guaranteed…..let him decide!!!
August 26th, 2013 at 4:00 pm
I would prefer NOT to see Revis on the field week one unless we are getting killed in the first half, and if that’s the case we’ve got bigger problems than worrying about his ability to play at the high level he’s known for. I would like him to practice hard week one maybe play a quarter that week instead of the last pre-season game and have him ready for the slightly more important game the following week against the Aints.
August 26th, 2013 at 4:01 pm
@ tampabaybucfan
good point.
I still dont think we will see him play though.
August 26th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Lou Albano. Lol god one Joe
August 26th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
LOOK if he’s 100% healthy (and I think he is) on Week1 vs the Jets. He’s going to start. Period.
August 26th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
@ Andrew
I agree…..but, I think he should make the call…he knows his body & how it will respond in reg season without preseason….his holdout year gave him a preview….
August 26th, 2013 at 4:18 pm
As soon as I read Lou Albano, I automatically thought of the Brisco Bros, Thunderbolt Patterson, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, and the Missouri Mueller (Larry Hamilton). lol Man… that was a long time ago…
August 26th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
I’m sorry I’m just going to say put him out there if he is playing week 1. If he isn’t ready now what difference will 10 days make? Like really? Now if I was Revis i wouldn’t want to be out there he has 16million reasons why not
August 26th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Are we the only team in the NFL to draw game 1 and game 4? That’s just ridiculous. Pre-season is bad enough but to get the 2 worst games in the exhibition contest is just sad. I do hope the Glazers do something extra special for the people that have to sit thru the garbage.
August 26th, 2013 at 4:40 pm
I’m with joe, can’t Jackson just run full out at practice?
Whatever happened to Ox Baker? Did you know George “the animal” Steel had a Masters Degree?
Whoops, sorry for off topic.
August 26th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
No need to play Revis , wait till the Jets game ….# Gordon Solie
August 26th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
I think it’s an interesting point. Go the AP preseason tactic. He was in for a couple of series, just to be in the huddle and see game speed w/o any contact.
August 26th, 2013 at 5:21 pm
No reason for Revis to play in the final preseason game. If he’s starting, stopping and changing directions at full speed in practice, he should be fine come week 1.
August 26th, 2013 at 5:38 pm
I say don’t play him Thursday and make him questionable for week one. Jets have oth QBs injured and we shouldn’t need Revis, but making him questionable allows him to be put in if needed.
August 26th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
not…
August 26th, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Relax guys…….we face Mark Sanchez in week 1.
August 26th, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Honestly, Revis could probably start today if asked and still play awesome. They’re just taking the proper pre-cautions like they should be.
August 26th, 2013 at 6:39 pm
You got a problem with insurance claim adjusters?
August 26th, 2013 at 8:54 pm
Do NOT play Revis until it really matters. ACL’s seem to be getting more common on the defensive side of the ball (i.e. Anthony Gaitor) The Jets will be a nice easy intro game for him.
August 27th, 2013 at 6:14 am
I think it’s up to Revis to decide if he plays on Thursday night but if he’s medically cleared to play the J-E-T-S he needs to play.