Darrelle Revis returning to Jets

— -- Two years after an ugly divorce, the New York Jets and Darrelle Revis are together again with a deal that will include guaranteed money in excess of $40 million, league sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter, and will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

The Jets pulled off one of the biggest moves of the still-young offseason, stealing the All-Pro corner away from the New England Patriots on Tuesday night, his agents announced.

The blockbuster deal came five hours after Revis became a free agent. The Patriots declined to exercise a $20 million option for 2015, but they had retained exclusive negotiating rights until 4 p.m. ET.

It was a stunning blow to the Patriots, who lost their most accomplished defensive player -- a vital cog in their Super Bowl championship.

Many figured Revis had found a permanent home in New England and wouldn't want to change teams for the third straight season, but he was lured back to New York by Woody Johnson's money.

It's a bold move for the Jets, who are looking for credibility and four straight non-playoff seasons and a regime change.

Revis played for the Jets from 2007 to 2012, making three All-Pro teams and establishing himself as the best corner in the league. His final season in New York ended abruptly, as he tore his ACL in the first month.

He also made headlines off the field, mainly due to contract issues. He staged two holdouts, including a bitter dispute in 2010 that lasted until the first week of the regular season. He ended up signing what was termed a "Band-Aid" contract, a bridge to a long-term deal -- but that never happened.

After the 2012, the relationship between the two sides turned nasty, prompting new GM John Idzik -- with the blessing of Johnson -- to trade Revis to the  Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first- and fourth-round picks. The Jets used to first rounder to select defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, one of their best players.

Revis signed a six-year, $96 million contract with the Bucs -- none of it guaranteed -- but he lasted only a year. He wasn't happy in Greg Schiano's zone-based defense, and he was released after one season, quickly signing with the Patriots.

At the time, Revis wanted to return to the Jets, according to sources, but his representatives didn't hear back from Idzik. That upset then-coach Rex Ryan, who lobbied hard for a Revis reunion.

Ryan and Idzik are gone. When the season ended, Johnson made it clear he was interested in Revis 2.0, telling reporters: "Darrelle is a great player. I'd love for Darrelle to come back."

The Patriots filed a tampering charge with the league; it's still pending.

Johnson's new regime, GM Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles, made Revis a priority. There was a need (no healthy, starting-caliber corners on the roster) and more than enough cap space (roughly $40 million at the start of free agency).