If the New York Jets are going to be docked a draft pick for tampering with Darrelle Revis, then they’ll try to drag the New England Patriots down with them.
The Jets have filed tampering charges against the Patriots, a league source told ProFootballTalk. The charges stem from comments Patriots owner Robert Kraft made about Revis on Monday at the NFL Annual Meeting. The Patriots filed tampering charges against New York after Jets owner Woody Johnson made comments about Revis in December.
“Darrelle is a great player, and if I thought I could have gotten Darrelle for that, I probably would’ve taken him,” Johnson said. “And it was our best judgment to do what we did. Darrelle’s a great player — I’d love for Darrelle to come back.”
Johnson’s comments came when Revis still was playing for the Patriots and as he was set to become a free agent.
Here is the NFL’s definition of tampering:
“The term tampering, as used within the National Football League, refers to any interference by a member club with the employer-employee relationship of another club or any attempt by a club to impermissibly induce a person to seek employment with that club or with the NFL.”
Here is how Johnson violated the rule and how the Jets are accusing Kraft of doing the same:
“Public/Private Statements. Any public or private statement of interest, qualified or unqualified, in another club’s player to that player’s agent or representative, or to a member of the news media, is a violation of this Anti-Tampering Policy. (Example of a prohibited comment: ‘He’s an excellent player, and we’d very much like to have him if he were available, but another club holds his rights.’) All clubs should be aware that improper disclosure of confidential trade discussions with another club may be a violation of this section on prohibited public statements.”
Here are all of Kraft’s comments regarding Revis on Tuesday, via the Boston Herald. See if you can find anything:
Where do things stand with tampering charge vs. Jets?
“You’ll have to ask the league office. That’s something they are responsible for.”
What led up to the decision not to exercise the option on Revis? I know there was an agreement on that prior to the contract with him…
“There was an agreement prior to the contract? You know something I don’t know.”
That’s what I was told…
“I don’t know who your source is, but that’s news to me.”
The decision he’s now a Jet; how close did you come to making an offer he might accept?
“We thought we made a very competitive offer. I speak as a fan of the New England Patriots, we wanted to keep him. We wanted him in our system, and we have certain disciplines. We had hoped it worked out. It didn’t. We just don’t think about short-term decisions. For example, next year we have three very good young defensive players coming up and we have to factor that. We just don’t look at this year; we look out at the next few years. We’ve done OK doing that. As a fan, in March and April, I hate to lose him. But our real focus is what goes on in the fall and winter. I put my faith and respect with Bill. We have a lot of discussions and he’s done pretty good the last 15 years. The fan in me argues all the time with him. But he has a pretty good record.”
How close did you come to what he ended up accepting?
“I think we made a very competitive offer. And I must say this, because I see how our situation (has been) with Vince (Wilfork); that’s the team that drafted him. I don’t know, I think he feels a great commitment there, so we understand going back. We’re sorry he didn’t stay with us.”
How do you feel about facing him twice a year?
“We’ll see what happens. We understand that. He’s a great player. The fan in me wishes he were still us.”
Were you willing to pay the extra millions of dollars to match the Jets offer and bring him back? Did Bill talk you out of it?
“No, I listen to what he says. We discuss things thoroughly, but he has done a pretty good job. Once again, the emotion and fan in me, you want to keep all the good players and we have a salary cap. I know what it’s like when you lose a game in the fall and the winter, so the emotion of the spring has to have some discipline if you want to be good long-term. I think he’s proven to be a pretty good manager of our resources.”
Revis contract, “Bill decides he doesn’t want him…”
“Let me just say this: Bill wanted him. But, I mean… you probably don’t have to work on a budget. When you get a budget, there are certain things you can’t do. We have a budget. In the end, we’ll judge it by what the results are, what happens in wins and losses at the end of the year. Also, it takes two sides. I think each side, in the end, did what was right for them.”
Why did you pursue tampering against Jets?
“You can speak to the league office about that. We’re done with that.”
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
