FOXBORO -- Bill Belichick has to be feeling pretty good about his team's decision not to pay Darrelle Revis two offseasons ago.
The Patriots wanted the All-Pro corner back after he helped them win their fourth Super Bowl, but not at the $20 million option they could have taken, and not for the five-year $70 million deal Revis eventually signed with the Jets. Now he's performing as one of the worst starting corners in the league.
Though the decision made by the Patriots proved to be a precient one, Belichick would not admit on Wednesday that Revis was a player who could be a matchup worth picking on when the Patriots and Jets meet this weekend.
"Just go back to our game [last season]," Belichick said. "Had a big interception against us down there. Would never underestimate that player. He’s good. He’s a good competitor. I would never underestimate him."
Revis is allowing 67.3 percent of passes sent his way to be completed this season (49th in the league among corners who've played at least 60 percent of their team's defensive snaps), and quarterbacks have a rating of 101.6 when targeting him (43rd). He's allowing 13.3 yards per reception (38th), and he's recorded two pass deflections and no interceptions.
Belichick may have said that his team won't underestimate Revis, but how the Patriots attack him at MetLife Stadium on Sunday will be the most telling indicator of how they feel about his level play.