S Kenny Phillips suffered a mild concussion when he became the 1 millionth player ever to have his feet go out from under him on the worst turf in the NFL. Phillips slammed his head into the turf when he fell. Coughlin thinks he'll be ready for practice.


(nj.com)

The Giants hit big on their rookies in 2007 during the Super Bowl season. They now are starting to reap the benefits of their ’08 crop. Although this class hasn’t had nearly the impact that the prior season’s did in Year One, rookie DBs Kenny Phillips and Terrell Thomas have been the standouts of what appears to be a class with depth and promise. Phillips has stepped into a larger role and had a big play in the Week 12 win over the Cardinals, knocking loose a potential TD from WR Larry Fitzgerald. Thomas, who has moved into the nickel-back role, came up with an interception that was the result of good coaching and a tip from LB Antonio Pierce, who alerted Thomas to jump into a spot based on the formation and a play the Cardinals had run previously in the game. The Giants’ other rookies — most notably WR Mario Manningham and LBs Bryan Kehl and Jonathan Goff — are victims of the Giants’ great depth, but the team likes what it has seen from each.

(profootballweekly.com)

On the sideline during Giants games, if rookie safety Kenny Phillips ever needs advice, veteran Sammy Knight is ready with 12 years' worth. Some of it is tips on reading keys and recognizing plays. Some is making sure Phillips' head is in the right place.

"There's only one ball out there," Knight likes to tell Phillips. "As long as you see the ball, you can go get it."

Sunday night against the Eagles, Phillips will be seeing the ball a lot more than usual. The first-round pick will start in place of James Butler, who has been ruled out after injuring his knee last week against the Cowboys. After being used mainly in sub packages through the Giants' first eight games, Phillips will make his first NFL start -- against a division rival on Sunday Night Football, no less.

"A coming-out party," Phillips said. "I appreciate it."

Not that Phillips is throwing a party himself. Instead, he has been extraordinarily calm. He has already seen a lot of playing time this season, so he sees this as an opportunity to be in on more snaps, not a milestone. In the locker room after practice Friday, he said he hadn't even told his family yet.

"I guess (it's a big deal), but I mean, I don't look at that way," he said. "Honestly, I don't. I'm just going out there to play."

Phillips will play free safety, while Michael Johnson will slide over to Butler's spot on the strong side and will also be responsible for making the calls in the secondary. In sub packages, Knight will be used as the extra safety, like he was after Butler got hurt in the Dallas game. Cornerback R.W. McQuarters has also practiced at safety this week.

This will be the second straight game in Philadelphia that Butler has missed. Last December, he was sidelined with a hamstring injury. This week, he thought he might have a chance to play but experienced pain and swelling when he practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

"I feel very bad about it," Butler said. "It's a big game in the division. But at the same time, I think the team will do better without me because I'm not as healthy as I should be."

Butler expects to be back next week. In the meantime, the Giants will turn to Phillips, who made a name for himself in the preseason with his NFC-East worthy hits. He snared his first interception two weeks ago against Pittsburgh and so far has proved to be what the Giants expected when they drafted him: A rangy, physical player with a lot of upside.

"You teach him where to be at," Johnson said, "and he's going to make the plays naturally."

(nj.com)

The New York Giants' Kenny Phillips is not afraid to aim high. He chose uniform number 21 with the hope of emulating the on-field accomplishments of late Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor.

"I respected the way he played," Phillips says, "and I respected him as a person." Taylor was shot to death last November during a break-in at his Miami-Dade home.

Phillips is wearing Taylor's number well. The 31st overall pick has been a steady contributor for the defending Super Bowl champions, who are riding high at 7-1 after a 35-14 pounding of the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. And his first career interception was a big one, helping the Giants to a 21-14 victory in Pittsburgh in Week 8.

THE PLAYER

• Hometown: Miami

• Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 197

• College highlights: Made 33 starts in three seasons at Miami. His 203 tackles included 133 solo shots and 15 stops for losses. He also made one fumble recovery and forced three fumbles to go with seven interceptions and 13 passes defensed. Fourth Hurricanes safety drafted in the opening round this decade, following Ed Reed, Taylor and Brandon Meriweather.

• Scouting report: Looks to have everything necessary to develop into top-level safety. Covers a great deal of ground. Relishes opportunity to level ballcarriers with huge hits. Coaches had to constantly remind him during training camp to refrain from taking shots at teammates. Willing to do whatever is needed to stuff the run.

• Quotable: "He makes his share of mistakes, but we never complain about guys who play fast and make mistakes and Kenny does that. He plays fast and he's been making some big plays and hopefully he continues to do that." —Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo

THE PERSON

• I knew I was in the NFL: "The first game of the season (against Washington), when we ran out of the tunnel and hearing the crowd screaming and seeing the guys all excited. I said to myself, 'This is what I've been waiting for.' "

• Biggest adjustment: "Learning the scheme defensively. There is a lot of detail I need to get down."

• Best advice: "A lot of guys in the secondary have been telling me, 'It's a long season. Get your massages. Eat right. Take care of your body.' "

• First purchase after signing: "I bought my mother (Taranda Wilson) a black Mercedes Benz for her birthday. She was shocked."

• Role model: "Ed Reed is one of the guys I really admire. I watched him at Miami and with me going to Miami, I keep in touch with him. I can call him up and ask him about anything and he'll have the perfect answer."

• Favorite off-field activity: "Bowling. I'm not really good, but I'm working on it. My high score is 140- or 150-something."

• Can Giants repeat? "I definitely think so. Even though the guys have one ring, I can tell they are still hungry for another one. I'm going to do my best to help them get it."

• NFL dream: "Ten interceptions, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl."

Remember that controversial hit that Kenny Phillips laid on Mewelde Moore last Sunday after the Steelers running back dropped a pass down the sidelines? Well, for those of you who believe the call was unjust, here’s a little more evidence to support your argument:

Phillips was not fined.

That’s not exactly an admission by the league that the call was an error, but I’m pretty sure if the league thought it was really unneccessary roughness, the Giants’ rookie safety would’ve been slapped with at least a $5,000 fine - especially since he hit Moore in the head and, in my view, appeared to launch himself after the drop. But a league spokesman confirmed that Phillips’ paycheck will remain intact, despite the 15-yard penalty he incurred.

(nydailynews.com)

Kenny Phillips is essentially an outsider, but the perceptive rookie has a pretty good idea of how important this week is to people on both sides of the locker room door.

He’s learning to hate the Dallas Cowboys, too.

“I wasn’t very aware, but when I got here I found out very quickly,” Phillips said. “I guess I was just drafted into it.”

He’s noticed a different level of intensity.

“They hate ’em,” Phillips said of his teammates. “Nobody likes Dallas. You can tell the way guys are practicing, the way guys are carrying themselves this week. You can tell there’s something special about Dallas these guys just don’t like.”

(giants.lohudsblogs.com)

Kenny Phillips, FS, Giants - While currently a second-team player, Phillips is getting extensive action in the Giants base defense.  He has responded well and played the run well against the Seahawks. He can be slow to react, like on Julius Jones’ 13-yard reception in the second quarter, but once he commits to the ball carrier, he takes few false steps.

(newerascouting.com)

Loved the play by S Kenny Phillips in the second quarter on an outside run by Julius Jones. He looked like he had a first, but Phillips came out of nowhere - finally, there's that closing speed we saw all summer - and knocked him out just short of the first down marker.


(nydailynews.com)

Here’s our first set of text messages to and from Giants safety Kenny Phillips.  He was a first-round pick in the 2008 draft, and he is being counted upon to help fill the void created by the departure of Gibril Wilson.

Q:  How did that first game, in prime time, feel?
A:  It felt pretty good to be playing in my first NFL game especially since we were the only game on that night so that meant everyone was watching.

Q:  Have the guys been showing off their rings?
A:  LOL not at all.  To be honest with you a lot of the guys don’t even wear them.

Q:  Did you feel extra pressure because you’re on the defending NFL champions?
A:  No I wouldn’t say that.  When you are a first round pick there’s an automatic pressure to play well ASAP but so far I haven’t felt any and that’s thanks to the guys and coaches around me because they are making sure I know what I’m doing before I step out on that field and I feel as long as you know what your doing there’s no such thing as pressure.

Q:  Has the team recovered from Osi Umenyiora being done for the year?
A:  I think so.  Even though having him this season would have probably made winning a lot easier, we couldn’t focus on who we didn’t have.

Q:  Did Strahan seem like he wanted to suit up on Thursday night?
A:  I didn’t get a chance to see him.

Q:  Did you worry in the second half that you guys were letting the Redskins hang around too long?
A:  No the offense played very well and even though they didn’t put up a lot of points they controlled the game clock which helped us out a lot.

Q:  The Rams [New York’s next opponent] looked rough.  Are you already being warned not to take them too lightly?
A:  It was the first game of the season so no team looked perfect.  I do expect them to bounce back and play us very hard especially at home.

Q:  Is the pro game a lot faster than what you were used to in college?
A:  No sir.  I think the game only becomes fast when you are not sure what you are doing.  When you know your assisngments football is still football, no matter what level.

Q:  There’s a lot of talk about you becoming a starter soon.  Are you anxious to break into the starting lineup?
A:  Yes.  The goal in camp was to compete for the starting job and I’m going to continue to do so until that happens but right now both safeties are playing well so I’ll play my role until I earn another one.

(profootballtalk.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — No introduction was necessary for Kenny Phillips to feel a kinship with the late Sean Taylor.

Both played safety at the University of Miami, and the younger Phillips monitored Taylor's career with the Washington Redskins so closely that he felt an unbreakable bond had formed between them.

"He was my big brother even though I never had a chance to meet him," Phillips says. "That's the way it is at Miami."

When Taylor was shot to death in November during a break-in at his Miami-area home, it only deepened those emotions. The New York Giants rookie chose uniform No. 21 to honor the fallen member of the Hurricanes family.

The Super Bowl champions' first-round draft choice provided numerous highlights during training camp and fared well in preseason games, where he displayed tremendous range and the willingness to be a ferocious hitter.

He showed enough that Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, a former Philadelphia Eagles assistant, compared him to Brian Dawkins, the Eagles' six-time Pro Bowl safety.

"People feared Brian, and that's way down the road for Kenny," Spagnuolo says. "He's still trying to learn the defense and limit the mistakes. In college, he was a very active and a very physical guy, and when we drafted him, we anticipated he would be the same."

Phillips is so eager to hit moving targets that coaches were repeatedly reminding him to pull up rather than drill teammates during practice.

"Sometimes when I see the ball and am running full speed, I have to tell myself, 'No, don't do it,' " he says. "You keep finding yourself having to move out of the way. … It's a weird feeling."

Phillips' desire to play full-tilt speaks to how seamlessly he is transitioning to the pro game. "Football is football," says the 6-2, 210-pound player. "Guys are big and fast, but I'm big and fast, too. Football is the same at every level."

Phillips credits former Miami players such as Ed Reed, a four-time Pro Bowl pick with the Baltimore Ravens, and his current teammates with helping him fill a position of need for the Giants.

"The veterans help me out a whole lot," the first-year player says. "They don't expect a lot out of me. They're just breaking me in slowly, not making me do too much singing or dancing. And if I need help with the playbook, they are right there to help."

Phillips is the fourth Hurricanes safety to be drafted in the first round this decade, following Reed, Taylor and Brandon Meriweather. When he was chosen with the last pick of the first round, it allowed his alma mater to extend its streak to 14 years with at least one first-round selection.

New York general manager Jerry Reese saw Phillips as the ideal choice.

"I didn't think he would make it that long," Reese says. "We got nice value, and we got a need position, as well."

While the Hurricanes kept him fairly close to the line of scrimmage, the Giants are allowing him to play much deeper so they can capitalize on his exceptional closing speed once the ball is in the air.

"I barely got a chance to run like that in college," he says. "I was always in the box, always playing 6 to 7 yards from the line of scrimmage. And people are always asking me, 'Why don't you have any interceptions?' That's really why. Now … I get to run around and make plays."

Phillips, unlike many rookies, is not tentative. He does not overthink. He reads and reacts.

"He makes his share of mistakes, but we never complain about guys who play fast and make mistakes," Spagnuolo says. "He plays fast and he's been making some big plays, and hopefully he continues to do that."

For Phillips, it is all part of honoring Taylor's memory.

(usatoday.com)

Rookie S Kenny Phillips, who had a spectacular start to the summer only to see his playing time oddly reduced as the preseason went along, apparently will not start Thursday night. Michael Johnson will be the starting free safety, though Phillips said he’s playing with the first nickel defense, meaning he’ll be on the field a lot in passing situations. “Michael had a pretty good preseason,” Phillips said. “It’s not right to move him, even though I was playing well.” I still think Phillips will start soon, and I’m betting he’ll end up with the majority of playing time Thursday night, too.

(nydailynews.com)

Giants rookie safety Kenny Phillips, the team's first-round pick, had people talking about him in glowing terms this preseason, but apparently did not do quite enough, as he is listed second on the team's depth chart at free safety behind Michael Johnson, according to the New York Daily News.

Our View: If Phillips played as well as everyone claimed he did, then it should only be a matter time before he gains the starting job from Johnson. Phillips was a solid IDP sleeper, and still may be, but he'll have to get on the field in order live up to his promise.

(rototimes.com)

S Kenny Phillips didn't quite get a gasser for two bad plays, but they need to be mentioned. One of them was his "Welcome to the NFL" moment when he saw Favre looking to the left and started drifting that way. Favre snapped his head back and fired a TD to WR Jerricho Cotchery that was negated by an illegal shift penalty. Cotchery had gotten behind CB Kevin Dockery, who needed safety help on that one. Phillips had already taken steps in the other direction when he got his first taste of how good Favre is. Later, Phillips laid a big hit on WR Marcus Henry after Dockery had deflected the ball away. If Phillips was looking for the ball instead of contact, he might have had an INT. You don't want to rip a player for being aggressive, but Phillips needs to look for the ball next time.

(nj.com)

If the Newark Star-Ledger's Mike Garafolo knows what he's talking about, then you should expect big things from rookie Kenny Phillips this year. Garafolo says: "The kid is awesome. How he dropped to No. 31 in the draft I'll never know."


(nooffseason.com)

Before we get to the practice report, here's some of what safeties coach Dave Merritt had to say about his prized pupil:

"Whenever I'm looking at him I see a special player. I truly believe that he's going to have an impact on the Giants team as well as the community."

"Kenny, athletically, without a doubt, is one of the best ones that I have seen. The kid has unbelievable range. He can get from the middle of the field to the sideline just like that. And then for him to show up ... with the tackling ability, you just put that kid on turf he's that much quicker and faster."

There's more.

"Plaxico said something funny the other night to me. He said 'Coach Merritt, I'm going to be honest with you: I hate seeing guys like Kenny back there in the post because they're so fast and so rangy.' That intimidating factor, that there alone coming from a guy like Plaxico, means a lot. Overall, I look for great things out of him."

Merritt would not say that Phillips will be a starter in the opener on Sept. 4, but he said if he isn't it will be shortly thereafter. It's not very common to hear coaches talk about a rookie in these terms. Kenny Phillips is not a very common player.

(newsday.com)

The Star Ledger reports New York Giants first-round draft pick FS Kenny Phillips is now rotating in with the first team, trading reps with FS Michael Johnson. Phillips played an awesome game against the Lions on Thursday while Johnson gave up the only touchdown.



(ffmastermind.com)

ALBANY, N.Y. — When starting strong safety Gibril Wilson signed with the Oakland Raiders in the offseason, it left a gaping hole in the middle of the New York Giants' defensive backfield.

So when draft day approached, the decision was an easy one as the Giants chose Kenny Phillips, a safety out of the University of Miami. Phillips, the first safety taken in the 2008 draft, left the Hurricanes after his junior year.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin took a liking to the young safety right off the bat.

"He's been good right away," Coughlin said. "In the spring we noticed his range, and he is a physical guy. We have to make sure everyone understands the way we practice, but he's been very aggressive."

Despite high expectations, Phillips is just willing to wait and see what happens and play whatever role the Giants have for him, whether that's as the starter or something else.

"That's the goal, to be the starter," Phillips said in an interview after Wednesday morning's practice. "I'll just fit my role (on) special (teams), nickel and dime (packages), whatever it may be. I'm definitely playing for the starting job."

To that end, he's well on his way. But he still is the new guy, and even as a first-round pick, he's had to start from scratch.

"I'm still trying to learn the system and the guys are helping me out," Phillips said. "When you're the top dog, you definitely want to go out thereand do your best ... try to make as few mistakes as possible and earn the respect of the veterans."

Phillips has already earned some respect by being physical. His aggressive play put him at the top of the lists of many team's draft boards back in April, but Phillips said one of the toughest things to learn is that the NFL is more mental than physical.

"It's a lot different. Probably the biggest thing challenging me right now," Phillips said. "I'm being consistent all the time, but it's hard ... I'm used to finishing plays. Since we're not hitting, it's just trying to get in position. It's kinda weird, the ball in the air, but you can't really go get it because you just might hurt them."

One veteran, cornerback R.W. McQuarters, said he believes Phillips has the demeanor necessary to be a leader in the NFL.

"He's real quiet, you don't get cockiness at all, and he has a good head on his shoulders - he doesn't walk around like he owns the world," McQuarters said. "He doesn't walk around like he's the best thing out there, but he has a lot of confidence in himself and his ability."

Phillips has the resume to be a starter in the NFL. In 34 games with the Hurricanes, he started 33 times, making 203 tackles with seven interceptions, including three in one game against Duke.

But there's a lot of competition for playing time. Three players - Sam Madison, McQuarters and Sammy Knight - all have at least 11 years of NFL experience. Kenny Butler and Michael Johnson, among others, were key cogs in the Giants' championship run and Craig Dahl, an undrafted free agent who just re-signed with the club Wednesday after having surgery on his ACL, and Geoff Pope look to make an impact.

Phillips takes it all in stride.

"Sammy Knight, Michael Johnson are in front of me (on the depth chart). They're great guys to learn from and compete with," Phillips said. "They go hard every play, they get in position to make plays. It's gonna be tough for the coaches to make a decision."

Including all the practices in camp, he'll have at least four chances in preseason games against the Lions, Browns, Jets and Patriots until the season opener against the Redskins on Thursday, Sept. 4.

"I have to have something to stand out in the preseason games from those guys," Phillips said.

McQuarters, the former Chicago Bear and Detroit Lion, said he is pleased with Phillips' play during the first week of camp.

"He's done a great job. He's breaking on the ball well, making lots of checks," McQuarters said. "He has a huge (upside) as far as growth is concerned in learning the game."

McQuarters said he doesn't think Phillips will have far to go to make an impact on the Giants.

"Once he gets more comfortable with the defense and gets comfortable with the older players and some of the younger guys even, he'll be that much better," McQuarters said.

One player Phillips is already comfortable with is former Dolphin Madison, who is from the Miami area originally.

"He's been one of the greatest things about coming here," Phillips said. "He's been around for a long time, we're in the same area down in Miami, we connected as soon as we got here. He talks to me on and off the field. We have good camaraderie on and off the field."

Phillips said he knows it'll be tough to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but he wants to help the team return.

"I want to compete," Phillips said. "People want to beat us. They know we're Super Bowl champs, so the level of play goes up."

(benningtobanner.com)

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Kenny Phillips sized up Sinorice Moss and got ready to whack him. Then he remembered: He's not supposed to.

All this in a matter of about a second, during which Phillips decided to throw his hands up and show the coaches he wasn't trying to hit anybody -- an act he later found out was also a safety hazard for the oncoming wide receivers. The coaches didn't want anyone getting poked in the eye inadvertently either.

Good thing for the Giants' offensive players these rules are in place during training camp because they might be missing teeth or have worse marks on their body than the cut on Brandon London's arm after he was hit by Phillips on Monday.

Bad thing for Phillips these rules are in place because the rookie safety keeps getting in trouble.

"I hate when that stuff happens because Coach (Tom) Coughlin calls me over every few minutes. Every time I do something, I know he's coming (and saying), 'Try not to do ...'" Phillips, the team's first-round pick, said Tuesday. " 'All right, coach. I'm sorry.' And I'm really trying not to do it, but it's part of the game."

It is now for Phillips, who spent the better part of three years "in the box" for the Miami Hurricanes in college. The "box" is the area almost immediately in front of the offensive line that includes the defensive line, the linebackers and any run-stopping safeties. Phillips was often asked to play six or seven yards off the ball and help out down low.

Now, though, he's roaming freely through the Giants' defensive backfield as a second-team safety in Cover-2 and Cover-3 formations. And that's been a dangerous problem for the Giants' receivers through the first couple of days of training camp. Phillips has been making contact with them -- in non-contact drills -- and establishing himself as a potential big hitter.

Phillips has been putting himself in perfect position to dislodge the ball from the receiver's hands (or perhaps the receiver's head from his shoulders) on many plays.

And the scary part is he's doing it solely on speed, not smarts.

"Right now, I don't know where the ball's going to be just because I'm just trying to learn my position," Phillips said. "I don't really have time to watch what the offense is doing and scheme them. It's basically just reacting to the ball right now."

When asked if it excites him to think what will happen once he improves his awareness, Phillips said, "It does and that's why I feel like I'll be successful once the preseason starts, even if I'm not a starter. When I get in, I feel I'll be able to make plays and help the team."

Phillips' closing speed has been somewhat of a surprise so far for the Giants' coaching staff. They knew he could run well (he ran a 4.54 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine), but they weren't quite sure how fast he could be on the field until he made a terrific play in minicamp when he came from one side of the field to intercept a pass on the other side. The diving play was one the coaches were still gushing over when they arrived here last week.

The 6-2, 208-pound Phillips is now using his speed to put himself in perfect position for a big hit.

"He has both (long-striding speed and quick patter speed)," safeties coach Dave Merritt said. "And the thing is that his size ... he has the height, he has the long arms, the long wingspan. This kid has a bunch of potential and that's what it is right now."

Phillips clearly has the potential to develop a reputation as a big hitter, which could be his way into the starting lineup in place of either James Butler or Michael Johnson, who have been working with the first team to this point.

"That's why he's here," Coughlin said.

Said Phillips, "When I go out there in the preseason, I'm definitely going to try to do what I've been doing in practice -- getting in position to take someone's head off. I'm not trying to hurt them intentionally, but I'm just doing my job.

"If that reputation comes, then cool. I'll take it."

But he'd better be careful because that reputation also comes with potential fines for an illegal hit.

"I'm going to try not to get any of those," Phillips said. "But if it happens, I'll pay for it."

Perhaps not as much as the player who feels the hit.

(nj.com)

ALBANY, N.Y. - Kenny Phillips really doesn't want to hurt his teammates. And he's trying not to even hit them. But at times he just can't help himself.

"It's kind of hard. I feel like I'm not doing my job if I can't finish the play," the Giants' rookie safety said today at lunch. "But I guess they see I'm capable of getting there, so that's enough."

Phillips came up and slammed into RB Reuben Droughns yesterday morning, knocking Droughns to the ground. He later walloped WR Brandon London on a leaping catch near the sideline. Last night, he would have clocked WR Sinorice Moss on one play and finally showed some restraint by putting his throwing his hands up to show the coaching staff he was there and would have made the play in a real game.

"I hate when that stuff happens because Coach Coughlin calls me over every few minutes. Every time I do something, I know he's coming (and saying), 'Try not to do...'" Phillips said. "'All right, coach. I'm sorry.' And I'm really trying not to do it, but it's part of the game."

It's part of Phillips' game now. But in college, he was more of an in-the-box guy. So he's still learning how to be the roaming safety who will get a chance to make a play on the ball or the receiver. That's scary to think he's simply relying on pure speed right now and has been in position to whack a couple of guys already.

If he gets a chance to finish these plays in games, he might start developing a nice reputation for himself.

"That's what I'm hoping for," he said. "When I go out there in the preseason, I'm definitely going to try to do what I've been doing in practice - getting in position to take someone's head off. I'm not trying to hurt them intentionally, but I'm just doing my job. If that reputation comes, then cool. I'll take it."

But he'd better be careful because that reputation also comes with a target for the folks in the league office, who will be looking to see if any of those hits are illegal.

"I'm going to try not to get any of those," Phillips said of potential fines. "But if it happens, I'll pay for it."

Not as much as the hittee will.

(nj.com)

Did I say no hitting? Rookie S Kenny Phillips must have missed the memo. He leveled RB Reuben Droughns on one run up the middle. He also gave WR Brandon London a little-too-hard shove on a sideline route, though London managed to hold on to the ball.


(nydailynews.com)

ALBANY, N.Y. - Back in minicamp, rookie S Kenny Phillips made an awesome diving play to either break up a pass or intercept it. The final ruling on that play is still somewhat in doubt.

Whatever the result, that play still has the Giants' defensive coaches gushing.

"I haven't seen a play like that and I've been around the NFL. Not for a long time but over 13, 14 years," safeties coach Dave Merritt said this afternoon as training camp opened. "For this kid to be playing half-field (coverage) on the right, get his feet turned, run and track the ball in the air, jump over everybody's head like Superman ... and whether he caught it or not, I don't know, but I started running after him, giving him a high five. Unbelievable play."

So unbelievable that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo mentioned it again today - unprovoked - when asked if he was looking forward to the competition at the safety position in general.

"Yeah, especially after we say Kenny make that play in the spring," Spagnuolo said. "That was a tremendous play. ... In that setting, where we have no pads on ... again, real football is coming up here shortly, especially on the defensive side of the ball ... but it was impressive."

Was that one play enough for the coaches to suddenly formulate a different opinion of Phillips?

"It's enough for you to say, 'That's why we drafted him. That's what we looking for,'" Merritt said of the 31st overall pick and former Miami Hurricane. "Because on the Miami film, it was hard to find plays like that on Kenny because he was down (in the box) a lot. But you knew he had the range because you look at his 40 time, you look at his shuttle time and all that, so you know the kid has the ability to go play the deep middle. For the kid to play a half and go get it ... I mean, you look at some plays when he was playing the middle post and he was getting from the middle to the sideline. It was very nice to see that."

When asked, based on that play and others, if the 6-2, 208-pound Phillips has long-striding speed or quick-patter speed, Merritt said, "He has both. And the thing is, his size, he has the height, has the long-arm wingspan, so this kid has a bunch of potential."

Yeah, but come on, let's answer the real question: Did he catch that ball in June? Or did it hit the ground.

"You know what," Merritt said with a laugh when told Spagnuolo ruled it an interception, "he caught it."

(nj.com)

The Giants could not make it work with Jeremy Shockey, but they will have all seven of their draft picks signed and ready to report to Albany tomorrow for the start of training camp.

The club yesterday agreed with first-round pick Kenny Phillips to a five-year deal that could be worth more than $11 million, assuring the rookie will be in camp and ready to compete for the starting free safety spot vacated when Gibril Wilson signed with the Raiders.

(sportsnet.ca)

ProFootballTalk.com reports that the Giants have agreed to terms with first-round pick Kenny Phillips.
Phillips, the last pick of the first round, will enter camp with every opportunity to claim the starting free safety job in New York. He should end up winning the job, but his IDP upside will be limited during his rookie season.

(rotoworld.com)

The New York Post reports the Giants are expected to sign first-round draft pick FS Kenny Phillips prior to Thursday's reporting day for training camp in Albany.




(ffmastermind.com)

The rookie safety has been very impressive so far in camp.  He has shown that he is picking up the playbook very quickly and made a few beautiful plays in coverage.  By all accounts, Phillips played great while defending the deep ball, has shown great closing speed, and he could be ready to start at free safety from day one.

(mvn.com)

S Kenny Phillips has had by all accounts a great camp. Phillips has been particularly impressive in his coverage of the deep ball, and had a couple of acrobatic interceptions this camp - coordinator Steve Spagnuolo joked "They might want to move him to receiver". Reporters have been raving about Phillips' closing speed. I think it's safe to say Phillips has his mind set on winning a starting safety spot prior to the start of the regular season.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo confirmed today that your challenge of S Kenny Phillips' INT from yesterday was successful. "He caught it, yeah he caught it. It was a legitimate catch and then roll and then get up," Spags said. "When you put that thing in and watch it on tape, it's amazing how far he came from when the ball was in the air. That was a legitimate play. That was a great catch. They might want to move him to receiver."

(blog.nj.com)

Kenny Phillips (who did a nice job breaking up a downfield pass play along with Kevin Dockery) worked mostly with the twos at both free and strong safety.  

Phillips is expected to hear from the Giants regarding an initial offer on his contract. He also deflected a pass on a long ball from Eli Manning intended for Amani Toomer.

Phillips said it's different sitting back and not getting starter's reps in practices, but it's a good learning experience for him as he watches the veterans and how they react to different plays. He also said he and his agent are expecting to hear from the Giants shortly with an initial offer regarding his contract.

Yes, according to his position coach, Dave Merritt, who’s had a few days to work with the first-round draft pick at safety.

“This kid, in the classroom, has shown unbelievable recall for the defense,” Merritt said. “We put in things back early in the (rookie) minicamp and he’s able to recall it here it is a week or two later. I’m very excited about that.

"As far as his God-given ability mentally, this kid is very good."

Phillips still has some work to do on covering routes and finding proper angles, but Merritt said Phillips’ approach is perfect so far.

He’s also showing some signs of a top-notch ballhawk. Merritt said there was one play in the rookie minicamp in which Phillips was able to get from the middle of the field to the outside edge of the numbers. Phillips didn’t show much of that ability in college; he was mostly an in-the-box safety at Miami.

“Kenny going back and playing the middle post, I would have no problem with that,” Merritt said. “As far as a box safety, he’s got the size of a linebacker. He’s not as heavy as some of the linebackers, but the kid has a nice bone structure to him. I think he’s gonna be able to play both. I know he is. He’s gonna have to.”

Merritt said that right now James Butler is the starting strong safety and Michael Johnson is the starter at free safety. New additions Sammy Knight and Kenny Phillips will be learning both positions.

“Once the season comes along we’ll start to weed it out and put the guys in their position,” he said, “but right now we’d like for these guys to learn it all, both positions.”

(weblogs.newsday.com)

The comparisons are inevitable. They grew up in the same area, went to the same college, played the same position. Yet Kenny Phillips, the Giants' first-round draft pick from the University of Miami, never met the late Sean Taylor.

That hasn't stopped him from paying tribute to the former Redskins safety who was shot and killed in a botched burglary last year.

Phillips made three phone calls to the Giants between the time he was drafted in late April and Friday's start of rookie minicamp, hoping to be issued the No. 21 jersey that Taylor wore in his final seasons with the Redskins. When he showed up for the camp, he learned that his persistence paid off. Phillips was issued the number that most recently belonged to Tiki Barber, the recently retired all-time leading rusher in franchise history. Phillips wore No. 1 in college.

"Even in high school, I had pictures of him in my locker," Phillips said of Taylor. "I watch film on him and he was just an exceptional athlete. The plays he made were crazy. I just wanted to pay my respects by having his number and trying to live up to that."
The Giants hope he can. He stood out in Friday's practice, playing both free and strong safety. There's a chance Phillips could get an opening day start -- against Taylor's old team -- and Friday, the coaching staff started trying to figure out where he could fit in their schemes.

"The first thing you are trying to do is bring the guys in and take a look at them, put them on the field and just assess where you think they will fit in," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "I like the way he moves and I like the way, so far, he has grasped what we are doing."

Phillips is the latest in a line of Miami safeties who have hit the NFL, including Ed Reed, Taylor and Brandon Meriweather.

"Of course you want to live up to that tradition," he said. "I don't want to say there is any pressure because in the end, like I said, I can only be myself."

Even if he is wearing one of their numbers while doing it. (newsday.com)

Kenny Phillips is sure he can handle what is required of him as a first-round draft pick of the Giants.

He knows he must purchase doughnuts for the veterans during the season.

"I can do doughnuts," Phillips said.

He knows he will be asked (more like told) to sing the Miami fight song or some other ditty on the first day of training camp.

"I think if I sound pretty good, they might not ask me to do it anymore," Phillips reasoned.

He grimaced when informed he will be expected to take the defensive backs out to an expensive dinner. Then he brightened a bit when reminded that dinner will come only after he signs his first NFL contract.

Of all the rookies at Giants Stadium for the two-day mini-camp, none looked the part quite like Phillips. He stood out in a crowd at a statuesque 6-foot-2, he has an athletic grace about him and, even if there was no name or uniform number on his back Phillips easily would be recognizable as the top pick among this collection of rookies and first-year players.

In his second practice session in this camp, Phillips showed how it's done at free safety as a high pass from Willie Copeland glanced off the fingertips of tight end Jawad Nesheiwat. The ball was headed downward, inches away from hitting the turf, when Phillips used his long strides to smoothly cradle his arms under the descending ball for an interception.

"I like the way he moves," Tom Coughlin said.

Those moves could land Phillips in the starting job vacated by the free-agent defection of Gibril Wilson to the Raiders. There's not exactly a logjam out in front for Phillips to crash through. Veteran Sammy Knight was signed this offseason, but he's far more suited to the strong side. Returning starter James Butler and second-year man Michael Johnson return with more experience than Phillips, but far less pedigree. Butler wasn't drafted out of Georgia Tech, and Johnson last year was a seventh-round pick out of Arizona.

(nypost.com)

Before Kenny Phillips' final season at Miami, Ed Reed and Brandon Meriweather provided him with a message of encouragement.

"We paved the way for you," they said. "All you have to do is be you and you're going to be all right."

It was a message that resonated on several levels. For one, Phillips had to be his own player. He wasn't Reed or Meriweather and he didn't have to emulate them. But because he wore the same college uniform as those two and played the same position, he would indeed be all right come draft time.

When the Giants selected him with the 31st overall pick last month, Phillips became the fourth Hurricanes safety to be drafted in the first round since Reed was picked 24th overall by the Ravens in 2002. He joined Meriweather (also 24th overall by the Patriots last year) and the late Sean Taylor (the fifth pick by the Redskins in 2004).

The four Miami safeties are tied for the most first-round picks from a program at a position in the last seven drafts, joining Ohio State wide receivers and Miami cornerbacks. But a total of 56 receivers and corners have been drafted in the first round since 2002, making the Hurricanes' 33 percent share of the 12 first-round safeties seem even more impressive.

Only Auburn offensive guards (two of six) have posted such a percentage.

"The biggest reason we're successful is because they come back and help us," Phillips, who never met Taylor but has chosen No. 21 -- Taylor's number with the Redskins -- as a tribute to him, said the other day at Giants rookie minicamp. "Ed came back and helped Brandon and me. Brandon helped me when I was there. It's like we try to keep it going. It was like a brotherhood. You always have a big brother with the Miami safety tradition."

They also have a father -- coach Randy Shannon, who was the Hurricanes defensive coordinator from 2001-06 before taking over the head job last season. Shannon feels it's no coincidence Miami has had so many first-round safeties. In fact, he cites several reasons why the program is an NFL safety factory.

"One thing we've always done here since I played here with Bennie Blades is we try to find safeties that can make plays and do things in high school not just playing safety," Shannon said by phone. "We always try to find guys that had ball skills and that can be excited about the game and have some special qualities about them that you say, 'He's a guy.' And that's what we found in Kenny."

In addition to his prowess as a safety at Miami's Carol City High School, Phillips was a star returner. Reed did it all at Destrehan (La.) High: Quarterback, tailback, safety and returner. Taylor was a running back and safety at Gulliver Prep in Pinecrest, Fla. And Meriweather was a defensive back and option quarterback for Apopka (Fla.) High. Click here to continue reading...

S Kenny Phillips recorded his first INT as a Giant when he picked off a pass from QB Andre' Woodson that bounced off the hands of TE Jawad Nesheiwat. Phillips has gotten work in at both safety spots, but has stated that he does feel more comfortable at the free safety position. Phillips is expected to compete for a starting job right away in August.

Phillips wore No. 21 in honor of recently slain Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, another Miami product.

(blog.nj.com)

In what is probably a tribute to the late Sean Taylor, Giants rookie safety Kenny Phillips has chosen jersey No. 21. Phillips, who arrived at Miami as Taylor departed, wore No. 1 with the Hurricanes, so that might have also played into his decision.

Phillips will become the first Giant to wear No. 21 since Tiki Barber retired. The number was left vacant all last season.

(blog.nj.com)

What he brings: We thought the Giants would address the safety position here, but we thought they would take Arkansas State's Tyrell Johnson. However, the fact that Johnson played at such a small school may have given the edge to Phillips in the eyes of the Giants' personnel department. At this point, Phillips is a better athlete than football player; he gets caught out of position too often and takes too many false steps. He has a great deal of upside based on his 4.48 40-yard dash, which is impressive for a 212-pounder. He also changes directions very well, plays with great intensity and is big enough to line up in the box once he proves his ability to shed blocks.

How he fits: Phillips was the safest pick and makes the most sense because of the loss of Gibril Wilson in the offseason. Sammy Knight is best used as a box safety and SS James Butler's contract is up next year. The Giants have the most explosive pass-rushing unit in the NFL and Phillips will stabilize the back end. This addresses a major need on their team.

(scout's inc.)

On a day the Giants drafted a Miami player in the first round, they held on to one they already had.

Minutes after the Giants selected Hurricanes safety Kenny Phillips with the 31st overall pick yesterday, the team fielded offers from several teams for tight end Jeremy Shockey. Though a trade was speculated to be likely early in the day, the Giants' asking price simply didn't come down enough to finalize a deal.

The Saints, who offered their second-round pick and either a sixth-rounder this year or a fifth-round selection in next year's draft, declined the Giants' proposal of a first-round pick next year, according to someone who was informed of the discussions late last night.

The person, who requested anonymity because of the private nature of trade talks, then said another team entered the fray: The Buccaneers, who offered a package similar to New Orleans' proposal. (The Seahawks also showed interest in Shockey.) But Tampa Bay was unwilling to give up its first-round pick in 2009, meaning Shockey, who is recovering from a broken fibula, will remain a Giant.

For now.

"There's been a lot of talk; very little activity," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said minutes after the Saints selected Indiana cornerback Tracy Porter at No. 40 -- the second-round pick they offered the Giants. "There is so much that goes on with regard to the draft, in terms of picks and players. You learn over the years the discussions come and go. Whether there's any seriousness to them, that's probably for someone else to say."

It remains to be seen where this situation goes from here. Shockey has threatened to hold out this upcoming season, though a few members of the organization have simply chalked that threat up to Shockey's ever-volatile emotions.

"Jeremy Shockey, while playing in our program, has worked very hard," Coughlin said. "He's done a good job in mentoring a lot of these young guys who had to come through and play for us this year. He has outstanding ability and there's no change in that status as of now."

There's also no change in Miami's status as a perennial producer of first-round picks, especially safeties. Phillips became the fourth Hurricane safety drafted in the first round in the past seven years, joining Ed Reed, Brandon Meriweather and the late Sean Taylor. Phillips also (barely) kept the school's streak of consecutive years with a first-round pick going at 14.

His selection is a pick that addresses the most glaring need on the Super Bowl champs' roster. It was also a pick that surprised few, as Phillips was slated to be selected by the Giants by many prognosticators.

Perhaps the person that was most stunned was Phillips.

"I saw a lot of mock drafts and stuff said I was going to go to the Giants," Phillips said. "But I really don't (pay attention) to all that and I really haven't talked to them a lot. So I was definitely surprised."

For the second straight year, the Giants' first-round pick wasn't one of the players they brought in for a predraft visit. In fact, Phillips said he hadn't talked to the team's decision-makers since the scouting combine in late February.

But the Giants were comfortable with their read on Phillips -- a former cornerback who can cover, hit, run and has shown good awareness on the field. In three seasons with Miami, the 21-year-old Phillips had seven interceptions, 13 pass break-ups and 203 tackles.

"We like his size, we like his speed," general manager Jerry Reese said. "He's multidimensional. We like those kinds of players. The guy's played corner before, so we feel he can go down and (cover) the third receiver if he has to. He's smart and he's a good person. We like all that stuff about him."

The Giants' lack of depth at safety provides Phillips with an excellent shot at a starting job.

Gibril Wilson, the Giants' fifth-round pick in 2004, signed with the Raiders as a free agent last month. In his place, the team signed 32-year-old Sammy Knight, a heady veteran whose speed has never been his strength. James Butler and Michael Johnson are the other two safeties vying for a starting job.

"We got nice value and we got a need position as well," Reese said. "That's what we like to do in the draft."

(nj.com)

Kenny Phillips tries to stay away from watching the NFL Network these days. There is no desire to watch ESPN or read anything on the Internet concerning this weekend's NFL Draft.

As Phillips says, he refuses to "read into" what any so-called draft expert opines about his lack of productivity last season for the Miami Hurricanes.

"I don't hear what they got to say," said Phillips, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound free safety. "I just listen to the coaches. If they have something to say, I listen."

Phillips, who elected to skip his senior season, is still not a lock to be selected in the first round. He will, however, continue the long line of UM safeties to play in the NFL when his name is called, joining the likes of Sean Taylor, Brandon Meriweather and Ed Reed.

"I have him as my top safety on the board," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. "But I still have him going in the second round."

Phillips was projected as a Top 10 pick before last season, but his stock somewhat dropped after what many analysts called an average year. He had 82 tackles, but just two interceptions for a UM team that finished 5-7.

Still, Phillips believes he possesses first-round talent, just like those UM safeties who preceded him.

"I think so," Phillips said. "I can't say where in the first round. I think I did a pretty good job [at the NFL Combine] and I can pretty much go in the first round."

Most draft analysts say Phillips lacks the playmaking ability of Reed or Taylor. Although he's a solid tackler, they seem unable to forget about his final season. He entered with such high expectations after being a candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award.

"Kenny Phillips is not in the first round right now because he's still a borderline player," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "But there's a safety by the name of Tyrell Johnson from Arkansas State who has really moved up. ... You look at him escalating up and Phillips not coming off a great year."

Interested teams questioned Phillips on the so-called decline in production. As a freshman, he appeared on the way to being a high first-round pick. He stepped in for injured Anthony Reddick, starting the final 11 games. He ranked third on the team with 88 tackles and his lone interception preserved a victory against Clemson.

Phillips, a Carol City native, made third-team All-American the following season before watching his statistics drop slightly in 2007. He said he answered the inquiries from NFL personnel by saying he improved in areas not shown by stats.

"I told them I matured more as a player," Phillips said. "I took on a lot more responsibilities as far as communicating and helping the coaches out because we had a lot of new coaches coming in. I was still making plays."

There is still a chance Phillips cracks the first round. The website NFLDraftCountdown.com has the New York Giants taking him with the 31st pick, the last of the first round (New England doesn't have a first-round pick). The Dallas Cowboys also have shown interest at the No. 22 pick.

Phillips, who continues to say he made the right decision to leave early, is ready for all the speculation to end.

"It's a long process," Phillips said. "It's a lot as far as a team. There's a lot of money involved. They make sure if you're married, who your girlfriend is, your second-grade teacher. They're definitely trying to figure some things about you. It's definitely a long process, but we work so hard so when it's all over, it feels good to be done with it."

(sun-sentinel.com)

April 22, 2008 -- One well-connected player agent recently spoke with three teams heading into this weekend's NFL Draft. All three compiled a mock draft to get a better feel for who might go where and all three had the Giants with the 31st overall pick taking Miami safety Kenny Phillips.

Intrigued, the agent fished around a little more, as these teams might have merely been going with the rote formula that the Giants lost a safety (Gibril Wilson) in free agency and, despite signing veteran Sammy Knight, need to add another one.

The scent remained strong. "I heard Kenny Phillips is the guy they're targeting," the agent said.

Could be. It is rare when a team can sit back until the very last pick of the first round and land the top player at his position, but that would be the case if the Giants nab Phillips. In virtually every publication or ranking, Phillips is listed as the top-rated safety available in the draft and that he is coming out of college after his junior year makes him more attractive.

Adding Phillips certainly makes sense, as he could learn the ropes for a season and contribute in sub-packages and special teams as a rookie and in 2009 step in full-time for Knight. Or, he could come to his first training camp and battle his way past Knight or James Butler for a starting job.

There is much to like about Phillips, starting with his size (6-foot-2, 212), pedigree and his air-tight resume. What hurts him is that the once-renowned Miami program sagged around him and that he is not considered in the same class as former Hurricanes safeties like Ed Reed, Sean Taylor and Brandon Meriweather. Those three all won All-American honors, as did Phillips. Late in the first round or early in the second is the anticipated spot for Phillips to hear his name called and that's exactly where the Giants sit.

If the Giants want to wait until the second round to land a safety, they could have their pick of Tyrell Johnson of Arkansas State or DaJuan Morgan of North Carolina State. The Giants brought Johnson in for a visit and he is an excellent small-school prospect whose stock soared after he wowed scouts at the Combine, finishing first among all safeties in the bench press (225 pounds 27 times) and broad jump, and ran a more-than-respectable 4.44. He's an in-the-box safety who often did not face top competition but did excel when he played against Texas and Tennessee.

Or, the Giants might feel secure that Knight, a 12-year veteran who turns 33 in September, can handle the job.

"I think I have a lot left," Knight said. "I haven't missed any games, I haven't had any major injuries, I led my team in tackles last year, second in interceptions, I've been really productive. It's not a matter of me being on my last leg or being banged up."

(newyorkpost.com)

For 13 straight years, at least one University of Miami player has been drafted in the first round. If the streak holds up, it increasingly looks like defensive end Calais Campbell -- and not safety Kenny Phillips -- will keep the run intact. The Hurricanes' worst record in 30 years (5-7) saw both players' stock drop. But Campbell could be off the board in the middle of the first round if there is the usual run on defensive linemen.

Phillips' fall to the second round is something of an enigma. A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in the country, Phillips has a legendary work ethic that includes tireless film study. He ran a sub-4.5 40-yard dash at the combine and comes from the same program that produced standout NFL safeties Bennie Blades, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor and Brandon Meriweather.

Why, then, is Phillips falling? He's hurt by the tapes from last season, when he didn't make plays expected of him. North Carolina State's DaJuan Morgan seems to have overtaken Phillips despite having just one year of production, always risky in NFL evaluations. Arkansas State's Tyrell Johnson also is moving up the board after a series of great workouts.

Phillips and Johnson project as strong safeties, while Morgan is a free safety. Those distinctions have been muddled, though, as teams make the positions interchangeable to handle pass-happy offenses.

SPOTLIGHT: KENNY PHILLIPS
6-2 | 208 | FS | MIAMI

Q. Miami has had a first-round pick for 13 straight years. Can you or Calais Campbell keep it going?

A. We really don't worry about it too much. We're going to do our best, and whatever happens, happens.

Q. How has Miami pulled off that streak?

A. The program that's there. The guys work really hard. We have great coaches and perform well. Coaches see we can play on that level and take us in the first round.

Q. Are you concerned that the disappointing season the Hurricanes had last year will affect how teams look at you?

A. It might. I think about it a little bit. But the way I played speaks for itself. Even though we didn't have a good season, I feel I performed well.

Q. You are known to study a lot of film. How much time do you spend doing that?

A. It's hard to say, I spend so much time in the film room. I got that trick from Ed Reed. When I first got there, me and him talked a whole lot, and he told me to stay in the film room. I spend probably three, four hours a day [watching film].

Q. You also have played a bit of cornerback. Do you feel a premium is being placed on cover safeties in the NFL?

A. I think so. You have a lot of guys, I don't want to say can't cover, but they can't cover. [Laughs.] They are asking a lot out of safeties. They want you to support the run and also be able to cover a tight end and a slot receiver, so they definitely put a premium on it.

Q. How much pride would you take in being that player who keeps the Miami streak alive?

A. It would be real good. I don't want to be the one who messes up the tradition. Nobody wants to be the one who messes it up.

Q. What do you see in the future for Miami?

A. I think we're going to bounce back. Probably not this year because we have a lot of young guys, but definitely next year. We've got a lot of great recruits who are going to help us. It's going to take maybe a year, but we'll be right back on top.

(suntimes.com)

Spotlight on ... Kenny Phillips, Miami

Phillips was born to be a star. He started as a freshman in high school, and he made 13 tackles--and a game-ending interception in the third overtime--in his second college game at Miami. He's the next great safety from _ e U, ready to follow in the footsteps of Ed Reed, Sean Taylor and Brandon Meriweather.

1. Aside from potential first-rounders Kenny Phillips and DaJuan Morgan, are there any safeties ready to make an impact?
There are more teams with needs at the position than players ready to step in right away. There are strong athletes, but all have issues. Cal's Thomas DeCoud is fast but misses too many tackles. Tennessee's Jonathan Hefney is explosive but short (5-8) for a safety. Alabama's Simeon Castille is a good athlete but was a corner in college. And so on .

2. Are 'pro boxer' and 'return man' the ideal qualifications for an NFL safety?
You know about Notre Dame's professional pugilist, Tom Zbikowski. He's tough and has good speed, but he's a straight-line runner and a liability in pass coverage. Let's hope the TV cameras don't visit his house on the draft's first day.

3. Who is Tyrell Johnson, and why should I care?
Small school, big impact. Johnson was a tackling and turnover machine in Arkansas State's games against BCS foes Texas and Tennessee. Plus, he ran a 4.40 40 and put up 27 reps in the bench press at the Combine, the most by any safety.

Top six safeties
1. Kenny Phillips, Miami, 6-2 1/4, 212, 4.49 (40 time). Grade: 8.0 2. DaJuan Morgan, N.C. State, 6-0 1/4, 203, 4.57. Grade: 8.0 3. Thomas DeCoud, Cal, 6-1 1/2, 204, 4.52. Grade: 6.9 4. Josh Barrett, Arizona State, 6-1 1/2, 224, 4.35. Grade: 6.5 5. Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee, 5-8, 190, 4.53. Grade: 6.0 6. Simeon Castille, Alabama, 6-0 1/4, 193, 4.58. Grade: 5.9

(sportingnews.com)

The University of Miami has had at least one first-round pick in each of the last 13 NFL drafts. But that streak is in danger of coming to an end this year.

Two Hurricanes -- safety Kenny Phillips and defensive end Calais Campbell -- have a chance of going in the first round, but neither is better than a 50-50 bet. (ESPN's Mel Kiper said today that he thinks Campbell is more likely than Phillips to go in Round 1.) A few other Hurricanes -- including linebacker Tavares Gooden, wide receiver Darnell Jenkins, cornerback Glenn Sharpe and quarterback Kyle Wright -- could be drafted, but not on the first day.

I've heard some people suggest that the absence of a first-round pick is a major sign of the decline in the talent level at Miami. There's some truth to that, but don't shed any tears for the Miami program. There's so much great talent that comes out of South Florida -- and Miami coach Randy Shannon seems like such a good recruiter -- that even if there are no first-round picks in Miami this year, I see it as more a blip than a trend.

(aolsports.com)

Beyond Calais Campbell, Kenny Phillips and Tavares Gooden, draftnik and NFL team consultant Frank Coyle says cornerback Glenn Sharpe and receiver Darnell Jenkins are the other Canes with the best chance of being drafted, though it's no sure thing for those two. . . . Draftnik/former Browns scout Russ Lande said of Gooden, ''I'll be shocked if he gets out of the third round and he might go in the second.'' Baltimore is among several teams that like him.

(miamiherald.com)

Two out of three, Kenny Phillips says, isn't bad.

He set some goals when he went to the University of Miami (Fla.), he took his shot at achieving them and now he's focused on the NFL.

"I wanted to lead my team in interceptions one year. I did that one year. I wanted to be an Alll-American. I did that one year," Phillips says. "I wanted to win a national championship but that didn't happen. Sometimes it's like that."

Phillips, entering the NFL draft as a junior, probably timed his exit properly, even if he and the Hurricanes failed to win a title. The 6-2, 212-pound free safety is the best available player at his position almost by default.

"It's not a good year for safeties," says Eric DeCosta, director of college scouting for the Baltimore Ravens. "In fact, it's a bad year if you're really trying to upgrade at that position."

Phillips could be the exception, the only safety likely to go in the first round. Just ask him if he can handle the move to the NFL. Confidence must count somewhere in this equation.

"I can do everything," he says. "I can cover pretty good. I'm physical. I'm a sure tackler. I can play special teams. I'm pretty much the complete package."

He follows a line of other Miami safeties who were top picks. Brandon Meriweather was the New England Patriots' No. 1 choice a year ago and Sean Taylor went fifth overall to the Washington Redskins in 2004.

Ed Reed, a No. 1 pick by the Ravens in 2002, is a four-time Pro Bowl choice and the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.

Meriweather hasn't yet become a starter but played in all 16 games for the Pats. Taylor, a gathering force with one Pro Bowl behind him, was killed during a burglary at his home last November. He was again named to the Pro Bowl and declared the starter to honor his memory.

Phillips says he never got to know Taylor but admires the way he played the game. Meriweather has been a consistent source of advice and tutoring, as have the many other Miami players in the NFL, who return to train and maintain their association with a storied, if now somewhat battered, program.

"It's a big advantage. They pretty much prepare us for what we should expect when we get into the league," Phillips says. "They help us so much that when we get into the league, we're very successful."

Meriweather was of immediate assistance when Phillips arrived at Miami, showing him the basics. Reed added the dimension of studying game tape endlessly.

"Him and Brandon have taught me how to watch film," says Phillips, estimating he spends three to four hours a day at it.
It's no small thing to have professional tutors available in person and by phone. Phillips says he talks to Meriweather every week and the idea of institutional memory is something scouts at least look at.

"Guys like Kenny get to be around Ed Reed and Brandon Meriweather and that camaraderie keeps building," DeCosta says.

Last season's 5-7 record ended Miami's streak of nine consecutive bowl appearances and marked the Hurricanes' first losing record since 1997. But the Hurricanes have produced No. 1 draft picks for 13 consecutive years and Phillips and defensive end Calais Campbell are the best hopes for continuing that enviable run.

"I don't want to be the one who messes up the tradition," Phillips says. "Nobody wants to be the one who messes up it."

So he has one more goal as a Hurricane. Three out of four wouldn't be bad.

(usatoday.com)

The following is from ProFootballTalk.com on Kenny Phillips talking to the Steelers:

A league source tells us that Miami defensive back Kenny Phillips conducted a private workout in South Florida on Thursday for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Phillips is widely regarded as the top safety available in this year’s draft, and he is expected to go at the bottom of round one, or at the top of round two.

The Steelers already have a first-rounder in the secondary in Troy Polamalu. The addition of Phillips with the No. 23 overall pick, if it happens, might be a sign that coach Mike Tomlin is laying the foundation for a change from the 3-4 to the Tampa 2 defense, since solid safety play is critically important to the success of the attack that helped get Tomlin the job he now has.

(steelersgab.com)

The Dallas Morning News is "hearing" that the Cowboys like Miami of Florida S Kenny Phillips.
Drafting Phillips would give Dallas options, particularly with SS Roy Williams, who almost certainly won't play in the nickel package this year. The Cowboys could even consider cutting him if Phillips shows well in early camps. Phillips also would give them leverage in contract talks with Ken Hamlin.

(rotoworld.com)

On Friday morning, the Dolphins will hold their local pro day. The mass workout session gives players from South Florida colleges and high schools an extra chance to make an impression and helps the Dolphins mine regional talent.

The Miami Hurricanes will be well-represented Friday. Among them will be three highly rated prospects: outside linebacker Tavares Gooden, defensive end Calais Campbell and safety Kenny Phillips. Also expected are receiver Lance Leggett and guards Andrew Bain and Derrick Morse.

(palmbeachpost.com)

One of Kenny Phillips' few regrets is never meeting the former University of Miami safety with whom he was so frequently compared.

Even so, the late Sean Taylor influenced Phillips more than the former will ever know.

Taylor's killing last November — combined with the still-unsolved 2006 shooting death of Hurricanes defensive end Bryan Pata — helped sway Phillips to turn pro after his junior UM season.

"I don't want to say that kind of had something to do with my decision, but I thought about it," Phillips recently said. "I've been dreaming my whole life to get a chance to play in the NFL and here it is. I didn't want to lose that opportunity because you never know what's going to happen."

Phillips is only 21, but he already knows how fleeting life can be.

The Miami high school Phillips attended (Carol City) is fed with students from Opa-Locka, a city with one of the nation's highest rates of violent crime. There is danger even 18 miles away at UM, which is located in a far more upscale area of South Florida.

In July 2006, two other UM defensive backs were forced to defend themselves following a robbery attempt at their South Miami home. Brandon Meriweather, who now plays for New England, fired his legally registered gun three times at a group of assailants after Willie Cooper was shot in the buttocks. Click here to continue reading...

Overview
By becoming the ninth safety to earn All-American honors, Kenny Phillips carries on the school's tradition of producing elite defensive backs.

Burgess Owens was the first Miami safety to garner All-American recognition (1972) and it was nine years before the next one was selected in Fred Marion (1981). Bennie Blades was the school's first-time All-American safety (1986-87) and Ed Reed matched that total in 2000-01. Sean Taylor (2003) and Brandon Meriweather (2005) soon followed with their postseason honors.

The coaching staff called Phillips a player with the build of Sean Taylor and the knowledge and quickness of Ed Reed. With that combination, along with physical play that could rival that of any Hurricane linebacker, NFL scouts took notice.

Being regarded as the best safety in the game is nothing new with Phillips. While attending Carol High School he was rated the best safety in the prep ranks, earning USA Today Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior free safety. The Parade All-American and Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team selection was also a member of the USA Today All-USA High School Football team and rated the nation's best safety prospect and 12th-best player regardless of position by Rivals.com.

Phillips was ranked as the best safety and the 10th-best overall prospect by Scout.com and the top prospect in Dade County by the Miami Herald. He ranked as the best prospect in the state by the Orlando Sentinel, the second-best overall prospect in the country by the Tampa Tribune, and the 10th-best overall player by Tom Lemming. He was also a member of the Florida Times-Union Super 75 squad and played in the prestigious Army All-American Bowl.

He intercepted 16 passes during his career and, as a senior, he finished with 84 tackles, six interceptions, three fumble recoveries, four defensive touchdowns and three punt returns for touchdowns. As a junior, he delivered 54 tackles and seven interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns, including a 100-yarder. As a sophomore, he made three interceptions and also competed in basketball and track. Click here to continue reading...

UM players -- including Kenny Phillips, Calais Campbell, Tavares Gooden and Kyle Wright -- will work out for the Dolphins on April 11. Though some believe Phillips will be available when Miami picks 32nd, he said Miami wasn't among 24 teams that met with him at the NFL combine. With more pressing needs (offensive line, etc.), it's doubtful that the Dolphins will take a safety that high. . . .

(miamiherald.com)

Kenny Phillips of Miami, the only safety expected to go in the first round, did not help himself with a 16 test score.

(chicagotribune.com)

When NFL teams assemble a defense, they generally adhere to a long-standing philosophy: build from the ball out. Get the linemen first. Linebackers and cornerbacks figure as high priorities. Then what?
Safeties. Can't forget them.

But safeties last? That's almost an affront to the University of Miami (Fla.), which tends to turn out safeties first.

"Da U" has produced a number of safeties who were first-round picks, including perennial Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Ed Reed, late Washington Redskin Sean Taylor and the New England Patriots' Brandon Meriweather.

Kenny Phillips would like to expand that number.

Sure, the tradition of great safeties is, well, great. But how does it help Phillips, widely viewed as the only likely first-round pick in a weak 2008 class at that position?

It has already been beneficial in several ways. Meriweather, says Phillips, befriended him from the start at Miami and helped him learn how to learn.

"When I first came in, he was the one that taught me the plays. He really took me under his wing and taught me everything I know. I talk to him every week," Phillips says. Click here to continue reading...

The New York Daily News hears that the Giants have shown "a lot of early interest" in Miami (FL) S Kenny Phillips. The Giants have the No. 31 overall pick in April. That's right around where Phillips projects to go. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo likes his safeties to be hitters, and Phillips played both safety spots during his college career.

(rotoworld.com)

NFL Draft Bible.Com' On College Football has Kenny Phillips drafted in the first round to the Arizona Cardinals with the 16th pick.