New England Patriots star cornerback Darrelle Revis was not at practice Tuesday. One day later, the reason for his absence surfaced.
According to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, head coach Bill Belichick sent Revis home Tuesday after he arrived late to the team's practice:
Revis, playing his first season in New England following seven years with the Jets and Buccaneers, was absent from Tuesday's practice, but not for health reasons. According to three league sources, Revis arrived late to the Patriots facility that morning, and Belichick sent him home for the day instead of allowing him to participate in practice and meetings.
Belichick wasn't demonstrative in sending Revis home, but his "message was definitely sent," Volin wrote. It's also uncertain how late Revis arrived to practice, though he "accepted responsibility for his actions and understands that the team's rules apply to all players."
According to Michael Giardi of Comcast SportsNet New England, Revis said Wednesday that what happened is just between him and Belichick:
Revis on why he missed practice yesterday "Between me and coach. Talk to him about it." According to @BenVolin, Revis was late and sent home
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) October 22, 2014
Belichick is no stranger to disciplining players. In January, former Pats linebacker Brandon Spikes showed up late to a bye-week practice before the team played Denver in the AFC Championship Game. Belichick then placed him on season-ending injured reserve "partly because he was late for practice," according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Spikes told Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald earlier this month that he believes Belichick put him on IR as a way of suspending him without actually having to call it that.
"Absolutely, absolutely, but you know what I'm saying, I ain't going to go—what's done is done," Spikes said. "We can't change it. It is what it is. Everything happens for a reason. Whatever, man, I'm here with the Bills now."
While that doesn't seem likely to happen with Revis, it's clear Belichick isn't afraid to drop the hammer on his players if they don't follow team rules. The good news, as Kevin Patra of NFL.com wrote, is the star cornerback shouldn't be prohibited in Week 8 against Chicago:
"We don't expect Revis to be restrained in Sunday's matchup with the Chicago Bears," Patra wrote, "but the veteran corner now knows that there is no gray area in Belichickian law."
Revis has been instrumental in making New England's defense No. 1 against the pass this season. The Patriots need him to be at the top of his game from here on out if they want to compete for a Super Bowl.
This appears to be just a bump in the road in an otherwise fruitful marriage. With star linebacker Jerod Mayo already out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, the second level of New England's defense can't afford anymore headaches.
Revis is the leader of Belichick's secondary and a difference-making talent when he's at the top of his game. The Patriots defense is going to go as far as he's able to take it. He just has to make sure to arrive at the facility on time.
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