Source: Jets get even, file tampering charges against Patriots
Jets owner Woody Johnson and Patriots owner Robert Kraft are seen in this composite image. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy; Getty Images
Woody Johnson appears to be having a tamper-tantrum of his own.
A source confirmed the Jets have now filed a tampering charge against the Patriots for talking about their new cornerback, Darrelle Revis.
The pillow fight between these bitter rivals began in late December, when Johnson raved about his desire to have Revis back on his roster. The only problem was, the shutdown corner was gearing up for New England's playoff run as a member of Bill Belichick's secondary.
"I mean, Darrelle is a great player," Johnson told reporters on Dec. 29. "And if I thought I could have gotten Darrelle for [the $12 million the Patriots paid him for the 2014 season], I probably would have taken him. It was our best judgment to do what we did. Darrelle's a good player. I'd love Darrelle to come back."
And Pats owner Robert Kraft didn't waste any time filing tampering charges against the Jets.
Now, fast forward to this past Monday when Kraft was asked about New England choosing not to re-sign Revis to a new deal -- and the cornerback's subsequent decision to return to the Jets on a five-year, $70-million deal.
Though he wouldn't comment on the tampering investigation his organization initiated, Kraft spoke glowingly of his former corner.
"As a fan, in March and April, I hate to lose [Revis]," Kraft told reporters Monday at the annual owners meetings in Arizona. "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."
Kraft also said: "We wanted to keep [Revis]. We wanted him in our system. They are the team that drafted him. I think he feels a great commitment there, so we understand his going back and we're sorry he didn't stay with us."
And those comments, which seem as innocuous as Johnson's comments three months ago, have now opened the one-upsmanship between the two organizations.
A portion of the league's anti-tampering policy states: "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." Even so, there's often little enforcement of the rule.
Johnson later backtracked, adding that he called Kraft directly to explain his position. "I misspoke today when I commented on Darrelle Revis," Johnson tweeted hours after making the now-infamous comment. "I would never interfere in the contractual relationship of a player with another team and should not have used those words."
Jets sign Bowen. The Jets now have another Hofstra representative on their roster. On Tuesday they signed Long Island native and former Redskins defensive lineman Stephen Bowen, a former college teammate of Jets guard Willie Colon's. They also signed former Lions offensive tackle Corey Hilliard.
Notes & quotes: Former Giants LB Spencer Paysinger visited the Jets, as did TE Kellen Davis and LB and special-teamer Jason Trusnik, who played for the Jets from 2007-09.
