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Jets' Revis fights boredom as elite cornerback

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Darrelle Revis often stands on the football field waiting -- and sometimes wishing -- for a pass to come his way.

That's the life of an elite NFL cornerback. The action always seems to be on the other side of the field.

"Boredom," the New York Jets' Pro Bowl cornerback said Tuesday. "That's one of the biggest challenges for us as cornerbacks. Some of the elite-type guys, we don't get the ball thrown to our side a lot."

Revis isn't trying to be cocky or arrogant. Truth is, he's already recognized as one of the best cornerbacks in the game after just two seasons, right up there with Denver's Champ Bailey, Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha and Philadelphia's Asante Samuel.

"He's legit, man," Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery said of his teammate. "He has it all. He has that natural ability where everything comes easy to him. Hands-down, he's elite. You can go around and plug guys off teams and match him up against them, and he's pretty much going to come out on top."

Revis has been outstanding in training camp, with two interceptions so far. On Monday, Kellen Clemens was trying to punctuate an impressive drive when his pass was slightly tipped at the 5-yard-line and Revis stepped up and picked it off.

"I'm going to tell Clemens this: The only advice I am going to give him is that if 24 (Revis) is on the right, throw it to the left," coach Rex Ryan said with a chuckle.

That's the plan many opposing coaches already follow. With rookie Dwight Lowery starting before aging veteran Ty Law took over late season, Revis could count on one hand the number of times he was thrown at in any given game.

"I can see where that would make a lot of sense," Ryan said. "Sometimes you throw one out there, and he can boomerang on you real quick."

Revis, the 14th overall pick out of Pittsburgh in 2007, was labeled a "shutdown corner" by general manager Mike Tannenbaum and then-coach Eric Mangini. He has quickly lived up to the hype.

"I think you get respect from your teammates and coaches by just doing your job the best you can," Revis said. "If they're sitting there and telling the quarterbacks not to throw it, and if a coach is telling you not to throw it over there, I think you need to listen."

Revis had three interceptions as a rookie, and then five last season, including a 32-yard touchdown return against Arizona. He also had a sack, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, and was selected for his first Pro Bowl.

Revis has gone head-to-head against some of the NFL's best wide receivers, and this season won't be any different.

"I think it's great," he said with a big grin. "I love it."

He'll take on Houston's Andre Johnson in Week 1 and then will see New England's Randy Moss and Buffalo's Terrell Owens twice. Throw in New Orleans' Marques Colston, Atlanta's Roddy White, Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne and Cincinnati's Chad Ochocinco, and Revis shouldn't have too many bouts with boredom this season.

"I hope I see balls no matter what," Revis said. "I hate when quarterbacks don't throw the ball to my side because I want to compete."

Although the game has seen its share of chatty defensive backs -- Law, Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson and DeAngelo Hall -- Revis is the quiet type, and can walk through the streets of Cortland or even New York City somewhat anonymously. He'll leave the trash-talking to guys such as Bart Scott and Kris Jenkins.

"I'm just a confident person," he said. "I'm not flashy with things that I do. I'm just a laid-back guy. When I go out on the field, I just let my confidence play and let my game play, and it all speaks for itself."

Revis said he keeps a list of goals entering every season and keeps them within view at home so he can keep tabs on how he's doing.

"I've got team goals and individual goals, and the team goals are we want to win the division, go to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl," he said. "Individual goals are making the Pro Bowl every year and being considered the best corner in the league. That's what I strive for every year."

NOTES: Rookie QB Mark Sanchez took snaps with the first-team offense in the afternoon practice for the first time since Sunday. ... The Jets practiced on grass for the first time in camp -- after having helicopters hover over the field to help dry it out Monday -- and focused on goal-line and short-yardage situations. ... FB Tony Richardson suffered a hip pointer on a goal-line play and is expected to miss a few days. ... Rookie RB Shonn Greene is nursing an injured right ankle, and sat out both practices. ... S Keith Fitzhugh has a bruised left rotator cuff and could miss a week.