A disappointing season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has led to a coaching change, and with it a switch in the defensive philosophy. Because of that alteration, there are those who think that Darrelle Revis and his massive contract might be traded, but head coach Lovie Smith ensures everyone that there’s no such option.

Whether he’s telling the truth or not, his reasoning sounds solid. The whole rumor about Revis being trade began when Smith was hired. Smith prefers playing a cover 2 base defense against the pass, which means that Revis, who excels as a man to man corner, might not fit that new system all that well. When you have a player eating up $16 million of cap space and he might not fit the new system, you try and trade him, right?

Revis signed a six year, $96 million contract after arriving from the New York Jets via a trade that cost the Bucs two draft picks. He had a good season individually, but the 4-12 season under Greg Schiano was labeled as a failure by pretty much everyone. So suddenly moving him after only one year, when he still has some value to others, doesn’t sound so far fetched, right?

It’s not going to happen. The Glazers like their stars, and Revis provides the franchise one of their only true stars at the moment, even if he is more than slightly overpaid. But there is also a footballing issue, which should be the most important thing.

According to Smith there are misconceptions about the Cover 2. Yes, the Bucs are going to play with the Tampa 2 defense when they think teams are going to pass, but not all the time, and it’s only the basis. There will be enough man on man schemes and he also sees his team as primarily a man coverage defense, contrary to beliefs.

Revis didn’t like life under Schiano; a lot of players didn’t. Unless something quite shocking happens in the next month or so, he’s going to play under a new head coach on the same team, regardless of the defensive philosophy.

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