While the revamped roster format has dominated the discussion in the run-up to Sunday’s Pro Bowl, Darrelle Revis took particular interest in some of the other additions implemented this year.
As a cornerback, Revis smiled broadly when alerted to changes to the NFL all-star game’s pass-coverage rules, allowing press coverage for corners and three-deep and cover-two zones.
"That’s awesome. I didn’t even know that. I have to read the rule pamphlet," Revis said with a laugh. "That’s good, because in the past, playing in this game we had to play off coverage, no zone, it was all man. Hopefully we can get in these receivers’ faces and press them a little bit and put our hands on them as DBs."
Revis hasn’t been shy about mixing it up with receivers in a decorated career, and the changes figure to give the defensive backs at least a little more to work with in a game that tends to favor passing.
Along with the added freedom, simply being back for a Pro Bowl appearance might be considered something of a bonus for Revis coming off a knee injury that cost him most of the 2012 season.
"I missed it last year, but it’s great, I love Hawaii," said Revis, who will play for the team captained by Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders on Sunday. "It’s my fifth time here. I bring my family out every time. My kids, they have fun and just enjoy the vacation. It’s great to just meet everybody you compete against."
The cornerback whose position on the field was famously dubbed "Revis Island" with the New York Jets, played in just two games in 2012 before suffering a torn ACL. It was just about a year ago while watching television during his recovery that he learned he’d be changing teams for the first time in his career.
"That’s when all the trade talk started happening. It was the week of the Super Bowl," Revis recalled. "I was rehabbing on my knee and trying to get back to 100 percent and next thing I know …I was watching ESPN and it says, ‘Revis is getting traded, he’s getting shopped.’ … At that point you’re trying to get information."
Revis eventually landed with Tampa Bay and admitted he wasn’t back to full strength while posting 50 tackles and two interceptions in his first season with the Buccaneers. But he performed well enough to earn his fifth Pro Bowl selection in seven seasons in the league and said he’s on his way to being back to lockdown form next season.
"Actually I didn’t even expect to make it this year, just from all I’ve been through with the ACL, trying to come back and just trying to get comfortable with the game," Revis said. "It is an honor, trust me. This is my fifth one. It just shows a lot of people respect me around the league and fans as well. Hard work pays off. I still have to continue to keep on working and improve."
But don’t consider that a concession that he no longer belongs with the best cornerbacks in the league. While he worked to build strength in his leg following the injury, he retained the overarching confidence that has become a prerequisite to playing corner at the highest level.
"As a cornerback you gotta have a little nastiness to you, a little swagger," Revis said, "and I think the first person to bring that swagger style out was Deion."
