Brett Veach’s persistence apparently paid off in the end as the Kansas City Chiefs ended up snagging Darrelle Revis for their secondary.
At season’s end, we’ll know more about whether or not Brett Veach has a clear vision for what a veteran player can add to a team or not. His persistence in getting Darrelle Revis to wear a red and gold uniform will either turn out to be fool’s gold or a key addition down the stretch.
No matter how things turn out, it can’t hurt at this point for the Kansas City Chiefs to make such a move. Andy Reid’s team has lost five of their last six games and need to stop the bleeding before the postseason is a hope instead of a reality. They’re in the driver’s seat in the AFC West but not by much and a win over the Jets would go a long way toward righting a ship that was once the NFL’s mightiest.
Revis is, of course, a future Hall of Famer and a cornerback who was once the single best pass defender in the NFL. He’s also in the twilight of his career and has yet to play all season. While it’s easy to assume no one wanted Revis, the reality is that at least one team has been calling on him for a long time, trying to generate interest all year long.
"“During my whole process of training and not being in the National Football League I took a step back and just really focused on my philanthropy work and my non-profit and continued to stay training. Through that whole process, Kansas City has always made the phone calls to try to get me on board to play for them.”"
Revis had a down year last year for the Jets but he is at least saying the right things about his return to the NFL, saying he was playing over his typical weight and dealing with a lingering wrist injury in the process. Now he’s healthy and back to his normal weight. So far, Chiefs coaches are thrilled with what they see.
Bob Sutton, Revis’s former defensive coordinator with the Jets for his first six seasons in the NFL, says he is confident in the cornerback’s ability to be a positive asset for the Chiefs. He did, however, acknowledge that age catches up with everyone so their preparation must change.
"There’s no question that everybody as you get up there you’re going to have that gradual decline and I don’t care what position you are – you’ve got to rely on your other things that allow you to be successful. Your knowledge, your technique, your preparation and all that’s got to be ramped up and do a good job. But we obviously have to wait and see, but I think he’ll be okay out there."
Revis, who is 32, had 53 total tackles and 1 interception last season for the Jets.