Giants rookie Phillips to get first NFL start against Eagles

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)