Darrelle Revis to Richard Sherman: You must earn cornerback crown

Jarrett Bell | USA TODAY Sports

TAMPA — Darrelle Revis, who is trying to get back on the field in time for the regular-season opener against his former team, the New York Jets, has his game face on as he tries to return from knee surgery and reclaim his status as the league's best cornerback.

How will you know if you're the same player that you were before, he was asked.

"I don't have to prove nothing to nobody," Revis told USA TODAY Sports. "I put my game on film, and people can see the results."

Don't you at least have to prove something to Richard Sherman?

Revis laughs.

While Revis was rehabbing his knee, Sherman, the Seattle Seahawks' all-pro defender, declared (loudly) that he was now the NFL's best cornerback.

The two had a Twitter spat in February, shortly after Sherman took to the streets of New Orleans during Super Bowl week to promote his theory — and diss Revis — for a cable network segment.

Revis has a message for Sherman: Get off Revis Island.

"He needs to quit attaching his career to my career," Revis said. "A lot of people need to have respect for this game. I'm not just talking about him. Respect what people have done to pave the way. Deion (Sanders) paved the way. Rod Woodson paved the way. Darrell Green. Mel Blount. Champ Bailey. Charles Woodson. Yeah, we're the next group, but you don't need to be getting into it with me.

"At the end of the day, this is a fraternity. We're all in this together, competing. But you don't have to shoot nobody else down."

Revis doesn't know Sherman and says that he doesn't dislike him, either. He just doesn't understand Sherman's motives.

"You can't crown yourself as anything in this league," Revis said. "You've got to earn it."

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Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell