Wide receiver DeSean Jackson said on Tuesday that he's faster than Bucs All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Revis had his chance to respond during Wednesday's conference call with Philadelphia reporters. He wouldn't take the bait.
"I guess that's what fast people say, right?" Revis said. "He's entitled to say that. He's fast. Personally, that doesn't mean anything to me."
Jackson and Revis squared off in 2011 when the cornerback was a member of the New York Jets. Revis shadowed Jackson around the field and held the Pro Bowl receiver to two catches of 28 yards. Revis was traded to Tampa Bay this past offseason after missing most of last season due to a season-ending ACL tear. Revis said that he isn't where he wants to be yet, but the results show he's pretty close.
According to Stats Inc., opposing receivers have caught 12 of 22 pass attempts for 122 yards and one touchdown this season. The one receiver who had success was Arizona's All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald, who caught six passes for 68 yards and faked Revis silly for a touchdown.
Not only do the numbers show that Revis remains one of the best cornerbacks, but the way Tampa Bay utilizes him shows that they trust him on the other team's best receiver in man coverage. Revis Island has moved south to Tampa Bay.
"I'm happy that I'm just back on the field playing. I don't feel like I'm back where I want to be at, but that'll come in due time," Revis said. "I just have to keep improving and getting better."
Revis said that his preference would be to "follow the best receiver" in Jackson, but that remains to be seen whether it will happen this Sunday. The Buccaneers are preparing for both quarterbacks Michael Vick and Nick Foles, with Vick's status up in the air due to his hamstring injury. Revis said that Vick brings the element of the run game along with the pass game. The cornerback did also have high praise for the second-year quarterback who beat the Bucs on a last-second touchdown throw last season.
"I think he's a very good quarterback. He comes in. He makes accurate throws," Revis said of Foles. "Every time his number's been called, he's stepped up to the challenge."
No matter who is in at quarterback, Revis said that the Bucs must stop the run game.
"(LeSean McCoy) is one of the best in the league, if not the best," said Revis, who like McCoy is a former Pitt Panther. "Their running attack is very explosive."
Tampa Bay is 0-4, but they are coming off the bye week optimistic that this could be their week to get in the win column.
"I think the team is very upbeat right now and we're just trying to look forward to getting our first win," Revis said.
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