AFC East Notes: Revis, Pats, Bills

Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis has fired agents Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. The Schwartz and Feinsod duo had many clashes with the Jets regarding Revis during their tenure representing him – including one that featured ex-head coach Rex Ryan shouting at the two during an episode of “Hard Knocks” amid the cornerback’s 2010 holdout – as Costello notes. Revis ultimately agreed to a four-year, $32MM deal to end his holdout that summer, and the seven-time Pro Bowler has collected a total of $101MM during his career with the help of his two ex-agents. Revis, 30, has four years remaining on the five-year, $70MM pact he inked with the Jets in 2015. That contract is second in overall value among cornerbacks, though it was first until Josh Norman‘s recent $75MM deal with Washington, and paces all corners in guarantees ($39MM).

More from the AFC East:

• With Tom Brady currently scheduled to miss the first four games of the season because of a suspension, the division is “up for grabs,” Jets wide receiver Eric Decker told NFL Network (via Christopher Price of WEEI). Decker’s Jets knocked off the Brady-led Patriots in one of two matchups last season, though New England took the division title at 12-4. The Jets finished a solid 10-6, but with Ryan Fitzpatrick still unsigned, their own quarterback situation isn’t sorted out.
• There are questions regarding how competent the Bills’ medical and scouting staffs are in the wake of first-round pick Shaq Lawson‘s need for right shoulder surgery, according to The Buffalo News’ Vic Carucci. Lawson’s shoulder issues were known coming into the draft, but that didn’t stop the Bills from taking the outside linebacker 19th overall or allowing him to partake in their three-day rookie minicamp, when Lawson aggravated his shoulder. The Bills were so desperate to land a potential impact defender in the first round that they may have overlooked Lawson’s health concerns, implies Carucci, who adds that the Bills’ other Lawson – Manny Lawson – doesn’t have the pass-rushing ability to adequately replace the rookie during what should be a several-game absence.
• In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Manish Mehta of the Daily News whether the drafting of Christian Hackenberg makes re-signing Fitzpatrick even more important. While having Fitzpatrick as a mentor for the Penn State product would be nice, Mehta writes that his guidance is pretty low on the priority list for reasons the Jets should re-sign the veteran. When asked to predict the Jets’ record sans Fitzpatrick, Mehta said he envisions a 9-7 season with no playoffs.
• With Shaq Lawson down, the Bills are hosting free agent linebacker Jamari Lattimore on a visit, the team announced (via Twitter). Lattimore is more of an insider ‘backer, however, than a replacement for Lawson. The 27-year-old spent the first four seasons of his career in Green Bay before joining the Jets in 2015. He appeared in 15 games for Gang Green and totaled 13 tackles. Lattimore has 64 appearances and nine starts on his NFL résumé.
• As previously reported, Lattimore isn’t the only player visiting the Bills on Thursday. Free agent receiver Andre Roberts is also meeting with the team.

Zach Links contributed to this post.