MILES APART
It has become apparent this season that Arlington High’s Miles Robinson is in a class of his own.
That point was slammed home, literally, by Robinson, who threw down another dunk en route to a 35-point performance that included 11 rebounds.
He scored more than half of his team’s points Tuesday night in the Spy Ponders’ 64-50 MIAA Quarterfinal victory over Malden Catholic. This game was his last at the Red Gym, and he finished his career strongly, scoring 16 of Arlington’s final 17 points.
After the game, Arlington coach John Bowler told reporters, “He is the greatest player to ever play at Arlington High School.”
The Spy Ponders will square off against the Tewksbury Redmen on Thursday in the North Division semifinals, marking the third straight year that the teams have met in the playoffs.
ELLIS CLAIMS STATE TITLE
Arlington’s Andrew Ellis did not allow any surprises at last weekend’s MIAA Wrestling All State Tournament.
The senior cruised through his four opponents to claim the state title for the 126-pound weight class. Ellis pinned his first opponent, then won his next three matches 14-3, 6-2 and 6-3, respectively.
Winning has become second nature for Ellis, who became the winningest wrestler in Spy Ponders history this season, amassing over 115 wins in his four years on the mat.
He will compete as the first seed from Massachusetts in the New England Regional Tournament at North Andover High School on March 6th-7th.
WHERE WILL DARRELLE REVIS LAND?
Darrelle Revis proved to belong among the NFL’s elite corners this season, one that ended in a fourth Super Bowl title for the New England Patriots.
Now, he wants to be paid accordingly.
New England acquired the talented corner for a bargain of $12 million this season, but will have to choose one of three options. First, Revis is on the books for $20 million next season. The Patriots don’t want to pay that much for a corner, but it is a lock to keep Revis Island in Foxborough. Second, the Pats could let him go if they are unable to strike a deal, freeing up a large chunk of salary. Given the importance of Revis to the team’s defense, this is what New England does not want to happen. He will be a valuable asset to any team he joins, and there is a possibility that he could end up on another team in the AFC East. The Patriots are currently exploring the third option, which is re-signing him to a new contract.
So, how much money will it take to make the corner stay?
The baseline is estimated to be above $16 million. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave him that amount two seasons ago, and Revis feels that he is worth at least that much. Revis will likely be looking for a little bit more though, probably around $18 million, which would make him the highest-paid corner in the league.
There is no telling if New England will be willing to pay him that much going forward, but somebody will. If he doesn’t play in New England, what team will he suit up for next season? Here’s my list, in order, of teams other than New England that Revis would most likely end up with in the offseason.
- Buffalo Bills
Revis joining Buffalo would mean a reunion between him and head coach Rex Ryan. He played four years under Ryan on a defensively-minded Jets team that went to back-to-back AFC title games in 2009 and 2010. Buffalo’s defense ranked in the top 5 overall last season, and adding Revis to the team would make the “D” that much scarier. The Bills have brought in LeSean McCoy and Matt Cassell on offense over the last 24 hours, indicating that this team is trying to contend for a Super Bowl title next season.
- New York Jets
Another reunion situation here with another AFC East rival. Revis played the first six years of his career in New York, and owner Woody Johnson would welcome him back to don the green and white once again. The corner was unwanted by John Idzik, the Jets’ former GM, but Idzik has since been ousted. The Jets, unlike the Bills, need help at the cornerback position and would likely be the most willing to pay Revis top dollar.
- Pittsburgh Steelers
I don’t think that Revis will leave the AFC East, given his ties to three of the division’s four teams, but the Steelers are the one team south of New York that he could end up with. He grew up just outside of Pittsburgh and played his college ball at Pitt. Like the Jets, the Steelers need help at the cornerback position. Pittsburgh doesn’t have the money New York has, but paying for him is still viable. Acquiring Revis would help the Steelers take the next step towards returning to the top of the AFC.
