Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Milliner, Revis poised for mini-showdown

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Darrelle Revis and Dee Milliner won't actually be going head-to-head with one another Sunday when Revis's Tampa Bay Buccaneers face Milliner's New York Jets.

They might as well be.

The Jets traded the All-World but All-Money cornerback Revis to the Bucs this offseason in exchange for a first-round draft pick (No. 13 overall), which was used on defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. The Jets, however, drafted Milliner with their other first-rounder -- No. 9 overall -- to fill the void left by Revis.

Antonio Cromartie is in fact stationed in the team's No. 1 CB role where Revis used to post up. But the drafting of Milliner was a direct result of Revis's departure. So naturally, the pair will be compared when their teams face off in their respective season-openers.

Revis missed nearly all of last season with a knee injury and has been recovering from surgery all offseason and preseason. He's set to make his Buccaneers debut against his former team "as long as there are no setbacks," Bucs coach Greg Schiano said a few days ago.

Meanwhile, Milliner is set to start opposite Cromartie. The Alabama product most recently sustained a sore calf but told Newsday he felt "great" after practicing with his team Monday.

"I'm very excited to get back out there on the field," he said. "I was out there and had no problems with it all day."

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