Jets' Revis: I'm not looking for $20M a year

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Darrelle Revis still wants to get paid, and the Jets' star cornerback prefers to have something done sooner than later.

But as for the chatter about reported demands of $20 million per season in the contract extension he's seeking, even Revis knows it's a pipe dream.

"That's false," he said Thursday after the Jets wrapped up their Organized Team Activities. "I'm not looking for $20 million a year. I've never said that . . .

"I wish I could make $20 million, but that's not going to happen. Let's just bring it back to reality. I never said that, I don't know who said it, but we're working on the number. Whatever we reach and we both agree, then that's what the number will be."

Revis' contract has become a hot-button issue within the last week, ever since he made it known publicly the two sides were negotiating an extension and didn't shoot down the possibility of a holdout. He's due a $1-million base salary in 2010, and the Jets promised they'd have something done by the start of training camp.

Revis said Thursday that the Jets shipped a new contract proposal to his agents Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod last week. He's waiting to hear back from his agents while they are "digesting" things.

"We'll go forward," Revis said, "and when my agents present it to me and let me know how everything's going with the process, then we'll move forward from there.

"If everything's right, the numbers are right, and everything's good, then I'll sign on the dotted line. If it's not and we have to negotiate more, then that's what we have to do."

Revis admitted he'd like to be the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, which means he wants to top the $15.1 million the Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha is pocketing per season. Asomugha signed a three-year, $45.3-million deal last year, with $28.5 million guaranteed.

"I think that is fair," Revis said. "This is nothing behind closed doors. This is not where I'm fighting against the Jets and they're fighting against me. I have talked to coach [Rex] Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum and they believe I should be the highest-paid player at my position. They understand that, and I understand that. I don't think anybody would want to settle for less if they were in my situation right now.

"It's something that's going to get done. This is family to me. The Jets are family to me and I trust them and respect them, and I hope they would do the same."

The $20-million figure that's been out there already has rubbed some people the wrong way and painted the All-Pro as just another greedy athlete angling for a large payday. Revis has been annoyed by the backlash from a few fans, most notably those who are sending him Twitter messages.

"A lot of people on Twitter have been saying stuff," Revis said. "I don't want to be looked at as that person. It does kind of bother you. I don't know who said it, and I wish I could find out who did, but it's just false information.

"You guys know I'm not that type of guy to be saying stuff like that and get insane with those types of comments. That's life and you've got to move on with it. And as long as I know the truth, we'll move forward with that."

There's an underlying issue that could bubble to the surface. Revis' agents also represented former Jets Pete Kendall and Chris Baker, both of whom claimed the Jets promised them extensions. They were jettisoned when their extensions were rebuffed, so Revis was asked if that thought even crossed his mind.

"These are not my words. These are the Jets' words," he said. "They promised that they were going to get it done before training camp. Yes, Pete Kendall and Chris Baker, my agents do represent them, too, as well. It's all about fighting for the player. That's what our agency does, they fight for the player, for the right negotiation numbers and contracts. If that's what the agent has to do, that's what we hire them for and that's what he has to do.

"But like I said, I don't want it to get like that. Hopefully, we work it out before training camp. If it happens, it happens. If it don't, it don't."