“There’s a difference between a Pro Bowler and a Hall-of-Famer. Aqib Talib is a Pro Bowl-type player. I don’t think anybody will argue how good he played in his year and a half here. Certainly showed the characteristics of a guy who can be a five-time Pro Bowler if you sign him to a five-year deal. [Revis] is a Hall-of-Famer. This is what Randy Moss was in 2007.

"The way it was explained to me at least is, when you look at it, the reason why you keep that financial flexibility is when a rare opportunity like this comes along … there are only so many of these types of players on the entire planet. When you have that opportunity you try and go and get them. You maintain financial flexibility so in these types of cases you have that flexibility to go and strike, and this is a rare, rare, player.”