Reports: Jets File Tampering Charges Against Patriots
The New York Jets have reportedly filed tampering charges against the Patriots for comments made by owner Robert Kraft.
The Darrelle Revis tampering saga just won’t go away.
According to multiple media reports, the New York Jets have filed tampering charges against the Patriots for comments owner Robert Kraft made on Monday during the NFL owners meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Kraft was asked by reporters on Monday about the Patriots’ negotiations with Revis, who ultimately returned to the New York Jets as a free agent.
“The fan in me wishes he were still us,’’ Kraft said on Monday. “We thought we made a very competitive offer. 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. I think he feels a great commitment there [with New York], so we understand going back. We’re sorry he didn’t stay with us.
“As a fan, in March and April, I hate to lose [players]. But our real focus is what goes on in the fall and winter. I put my faith and respect with Bill [Belichick]. 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. I think he’s proven to be a pretty good manager of our resources.’’
This situation began back in December, when Jets owner Woody Johnson made the following comments about Revis while the season was still going on and Revis was still under contract with the Patriots.
“Darrelle is a great player, and if I thought I could have gotten Darrelle for that, I probably would’ve taken him,’’ Johnson said back then, via NFL.com. “And it was our best judgment to do what we did. Darrelle’s a great player — I’d love for Darrelle to come back.’’
It was reported in January that the Patriots filed tampering charges with the league about Johnson’s comments. Now, it appears the Jets are trying to slap the same allegations on the Patriots.
As the Globe’s Ben Volin notes, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly Kraft said that could constitute tampering. But that now is up to the league to decide in what has become one of the strangest stories in the NFL’s offseason.
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