If Darrelle Revis played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, there wouldn't even be a contract holdout.
Breguet Watch ReplicaUnlike the New York Jets, who want to re-do Revis' contract even though it still has three years remaining, the Steelers renegotiate contracts only in very limited instances.
"The Steelers have always had a policy that they're not going to negotiate anyone's contract until there's one year left on the deal, except for quarterbacks," Steelers director of player personnel Kevin Colbert said.
Good thing for Revis the Jets don't have a similar rule.
Bad thing for the Jets they don't have a similar rule. After all, there might never have been a holdout had there been a similar policy in place.
But as the two sides continue a standoff that has lasted since the Jets reported to training camp Aug. 1, they engage in a practice that has gone on for years in the NFL.
Despite a general decrease in holdouts in recent years, especially after the introduction of the current collective- bargaining agreement in 1993, there nevertheless have been thorny contract negotiations in which the player and his representation have decided that the best plan of attack is to stay away from the team in hopes of forcing a resolution.
Each team handles contracts differently, and no team has all the answers. But the Steelers do seem to have the situation under control more than most. About their only notable holdout in recent years was by wide receiver Hines Ward, who missed the first two weeks of training camp in 2005. The Super Bowl MVP eventually signed a new deal in September, but there were no negotiations during the holdout.
"The policy is that if a player is under contract and he doesn't show up, they won't talk to him about a new deal," Colbert said. "It's been very consistent."
The Jets recently issued restrictions on contracts, but not nearly as severe as the Steelers. General manager Mike Tannenbaum - who is not commenting on Revis' negotiations under an agreement with Revis' agents, Jonathan Feinsod and Neil Schwartz - will rework only deals of players currently in their rookie contracts. Revis falls into that category, as did center football jerseys Nick Mangold and offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, both of whom have re-worked their deals.
There are some NFL executives who believe Tannenbaum should have waited before re-opening Revis' deal.
"Three years left on the contract and you're going to tear it up?" one team executive asked rhetorically. "You're opening up Pandora's box."
Any time a player with three years left on his deal has a good year, he's going to come to you and say, 'Hey, you gave that guy a contract. What about me?' "
But Tannenbaum didn't hesitate to offer Revis a new deal he called the agents to initiate talks just a few days after the Jets lost to the Colts in the AFC Championship Game last January.
Those negotiations have not resulted in a new deal, leading some to wonder whether Revis' holdout will last into the regular season. The Jets' opener is Monday night, Sept. 13, against the Ravens.
The Giants had a somewhat similar position with their top defensive player in 2007. Defensive end Michael Strahan, who was considering retirement in the fourth and final year of his contract, held out until the week before the regular season opened.
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