Darrelle Revis trade: Patriots suitors? Don't count on it

The rumor mill continues to churn out random teams to connect with Darrelle Revis. Could the Raiders trade for him? The Browns? And now, the Patriots have been linked with them, as well as the Falcons, Eagles and Giants, per Ian Rapoport.

Here's the reality of the situation: no one is trading for that contract, because Darrelle Revis is not willing to take a pay cut. He's not willing to take a pay cut for the Bucs, for the Browns, or for the Patriots. He's not willing to do that, because he cares about one thing, and one thing only: money. He's a businessman, and he wants to maximize his value.

No one will pay him $16 million per year. That contract is dead in the water.

Revis knows he's not going to get $16 million per year in any contract, ever again. He knows that he's going to be released or traded today. So why wouldn't he take a pay cut? Because the best way to maximize your value is to head to the open market, and let multiple suitors compete for your services. Demand drives up price, and demand for Revis is plenty high -- just not at that $16 million per year number.

So what Revis wants to do, is hit the open market. He wants the Browns, and Raiders, and Patriots and every other team who might be interested in his services to compete against each other for his salary. He won't get $16 million per year that way, but he may get to $12 million, or $13 million, or even $14 million if teams are feeling adventurous. And he'll do it without those teams having to give up a draft pick to get him.

Oh, and about the Patriots: they never, ever pay above-market value for any player. They let them walk, no matter how hard analysts scream they really, really need that player. So I'd be shocked if Revis ended up on the one team that's almost guaranteed to pay him less than market value.

Still, the Buc will do everything they can to finagle something (anything) out of any team. They have until 4PM ET today to do so. I wish them luck. I can't see it happening.