Antrel Rolle talks about Giants in the past tense: 'We'll always be family'

As he prepares to hit free agency next week, Antrel Rolle said he has not had any conversations with the Giants about a return for the 2015 season, a possible sign that he won't be back.

"This is all business at this point,'' the Giants defensive captain and starting safety said on ESPN Radio in New York yesterday. "The Giants are going to handle it in a professional business manner and I plan on doing the same thing.''

Rolle, 32, has said he'd like to play for the Giants for the rest of his career, but he seems to be coming to grips with the reality that he probably won't.

"Whether I'm with the Giants or not with the Giants, I'm always going to be a Giant at heart,'' he said. "I don't know what's in store. I'm just waiting, as are the other hundreds of free agents out there, and we'll see what takes place . . . I don't care what takes place, the Giants will always have a special place in my heart. We'll always be family.''

Rolle played all five years of his contract with the Giants after he was released by the Cardinals in 2010, a rarity in the NFL. He was a big part of their Super Bowl championship in 2011. "The Giants' organization has been phenomenal to me,'' Rolle said, "and I think I've been phenomenal to them.''

He wouldn't put a percentage on his return to the Giants, nor would he commit to giving them a "hometown discount.''

"That's irrelevant at this point,'' he said, "because there have been no numbers talked about.''

The Giants have exclusive rights to negotiate with Rolle until the window for teams to speak with prospective free agents opens tomorrow. Rolle said he has not heard from any other teams -- he wouldn't be able to legally, anyway -- and dispelled reports that he is heading elsewhere or that any negotiations have taken place.

Rolle said he won't rule out any possible landing spots.

""When you are a free agent, you think about any team," he said. "There is no team that is going to be out of the loop. This is strictly a business move . . . If there are going to be 32 teams out there interested, I'm going to look at all 32 teams."

"Right now, it's just waiting time,'' he said. "I've been through this process before, so I know how it goes. You don't get overwhelmed with the process. You just let it take its course . . . I haven't spoken to any teams yet. When March 10 comes, I'm going to be a free agent.''

And, it seems more and more likely, a former Giant.

Rolle also had his thoughts about other Giants matters. He is, after all, still the captain for at least a few more days.

Asked about the team's potential interest in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, he said: "That would be a hell of a move if the Giants could pull that off."

Asked about the Eagles' trade of LeSean McCoy, he said he still was surprised. "If I was to return to the Giants, absolutely, that would definitely make my job a whole lot easier," he said. "I've always said he's the hardest guy to tackle."

And asked about the team's lackluster defense last season, which cost coordinator Perry Fewell his job, Rolle said that "things were just out of whack."

When he first arrived with the Giants, it did not seem as if Rolle would be able to coexist with Tom Coughlin and the rest of the traditionally buttoned-down team. He spoke his mind, and that led to some disagreements with the coach and the front office.

Rolle even said that after his first season with the Giants, he was "99 percent" sure he would not play out his contract.

Soon, though, he adapted to the Giants' culture.

"It was going to be [Coughlin's] way or the highway," Rolle said, "and I didn't want the highway, so I changed."

This time, he may not have a choice. The highway beckons. And change once again is imminent.


(newsday.com)