Rolle Expects to Make Major Impact

Q: Have you talked to Kenny Phillips in this process?
Rolle: “I’ve been talking to Kenny Phillips for the last month or so. Getting a feel for things, just having a conversation – not even about football all the time. Just about life in general. Making sure he’s staying on top of himself. I didn’t know what the future held for me. Kenny is a great guy on and off the field. We’re going to have a brotherhood relationship, no doubt about it.”

Q: His rehab is going well?
Rolle: “Absolutely. He’s rehabbing down in Miami, rehabbing here. He’s never going to leave my side now, because I’m desperately going to need him. And we’re going to need each other. I’m going to make sure he’s doing whatever it takes to get back on the field and be my partner, side by side.”

Q: What number do you want to switch to?
Rolle: “I don’t have an idea yet. We have a couple of ideas in mind, trying to see if we can make that happen. You will know as soon as I know.”

Q: What was the award you presented to Kenny?
Rolle: “I was already in college and I was receiving an award myself. I’m not sure what the award was, but I remember they had me present him an award when he was a senior at Carol City High School.”

Q: At any point during your visit did anyone mention the game you had against the Giants last season?
Rolle: Yeah. I think that played a big part in the reason why I’m here. When you’re in the NFL at this level, you’re not just playing for yourself and your pride and your fans. It’s a job interview. You’re putting film out there. You’re building a resume. You never know what effect you’re going to have on certain teams. This was a team that we knew coming in was an outstanding team. I came in head first. I wasn’t going to be denied. I came in with a chip on my shoulder and I was just going to do whatever it took to make sure that the Arizona Cardinals came back with a win and we did that.

Q: Did Coach Coughlin or anyone else bring that up during your visit?
Rolle: Yeah. I think pretty much all the coaches brought it up. It’s obviously something that stood out in their minds. Something that I’m pretty sure they watched over and over again before making such a huge decision to bring me in as a New York Giant. So it was definitely brought up. We discussed things, went through and watched some of the film and we went over coverages and pretty much broke down some of the scenarios that took place during that game.

Q: Can you take us through that last play, the interception and is that typical play for you that you can make?
Rolle: I think I can make every kind of play, to be honest with you. Not to sound cocky and arrogant but that’s just the way I am. I never go into a game denying myself of any opportunities. If it presents itself, I think I can definitely make the play. That last play of the game, I was hurt, I had torn my plantar fascia at that point and I was very limited as to what I could do. It was pretty much just suppose to be a typical cover two coverage but I pretty much tweaked it on my own. I just got my corner and my nickel together and myself and explained to them what was going to take place on that play and I explained to them exactly how I wanted it to be played. We definitely tweaked the cover two, we didn’t play it the way it was initially supposed to be played and I think it worked out for the best. Sometimes you have to take a gamble, you have to take a chance. That comes from a lot of film study and watching film and understanding the concepts of your opponents and it was something that I was pretty sure was going to take place and I guessed right.

Q: In your game last year against the Giants, you threw a pass out of the wildcat, is that something you will try to convince the coaches to let you do here?
Rolle: Absolutely, like I said, I think that’s going to come from showing them exactly what I can do. Once I’m here with this organization, they will get a pretty good feel of what kind of athlete I am. I can throw the ball a millions miles, I think everyone knows that at this point. Whether they are going to use me for that, I don’t know yet. I hope so because I think it brings another dimension to football. It creates a mismatch. It’s also something that can excite the fans and it can be a momentum changer.

Q: In that game against the Giants, you also put a pretty heavy hit on Kevin Boss and it was pretty costly for you too, do you think its going to strange running into him now that you guys are on the same team?
Rolle: No. It’s not going to be strange at all. We’re all men amongst this league and at any given time, it could be your brother out there but you have to come out there and you have to compete. You never try to hurt anyone under any means. It definitely wasn’t intentional but I was coming to make a statement. I was definitely coming to make contact. When I’m on the field, I hold no pity for the next man but at the same time, I never try to go out and hurt any opponent because his career is just as valued as mine. I never go out there with any intentions like that, I’m not that kind of player at all. But when I’m coming, I’m definitely a headhunter and I want to make sure my presence is felt. That is pretty much all that took place on that play. I was definitely trying to make a play. I was trying to put my team in a better situation than their team and that all it boils down to.

Q: This Giants defense kind of lacked leadership and swagger, do you think you can bring that to this team?
Rolle: No question about that. I think that just comes natural. I think that’s just a part of who I am. I don’t want anyone to name me a leader. I don’t want anyone to pinpoint what I’m going to bring to a team. I think it’s just something that has to come naturally. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t then it doesn’t but knowing myself and knowing what kind of competitor I am and what kind of player I am. I think I will definitely be a great fit for this organization and with this team. I’m going to make sure that regardless of what I am within the team and not trying to be beyond the team. I’m a team guy, 120%. I’ll go out there and put everything on the line for my team. I want to make sure they know and I’m going to make sure that I show that when they get Antrel Rolle they are getting 150% each and every down, never take a play off.

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(nyg.scout.com)