Antrel Rolle: 'Washington made me put my foot in my mouth'

Giants safety Antrel Rolle won’t be making any more predictions about how many times the Giants would beat opponents if they faced off 100 times.

He passed on such a question today in regards to the Jets, who the Giants face Saturday with both teams desperately fighting for a playoff berth.

“I really think I’m done answering that question,” Rolle said with a laugh Monday during his regular weekly spot on WFAN radio. “Washington made me put my foot in my mouth on that question, and I think I still have it in there.”

Rolle said after the Redskins beat the Giants in Week 1 that Big Blue would beat them 95 times out of 100. Then last week, he changed that to 99 out of 100.

Of course, Washington won both games, sweeping the Giants for the first time since 1999. And Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman said today that Rolle’s comments motivated them and made them feel “disrespected.”

“Definitely. I mean, how can you take that comment any other way?” Grossman said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I mean, 99 out of 100 times they are going to beat us? And we beat them two in a row this year? I’m not going to the casino with him anytime soon.”

Rolle said the Giants did not take Washington lightly, especially after the season-opening loss. But he said he would not take back his “99” comment if he had the opportunity.

“The Redskins were the better team than the Giants for the 2011 season,” Rolle said. “That’s not going to take away anything what I feel about the organization. But actions definitely speak louder than words. And they were a better team for 2011 and that’s what it is.”

But despite that, he said the Giants remain a confident bunch with the Jets and Cowboys remaining on the schedule. He reminded listeners: They play best when the odds are against them.

“There’s going to be fight come tomorrow at practice. There’s going to be fight come Saturday at the game,” Rolle said. “We know what we have on the line. And unfortunately we made this extremely hard on ourselves. But as the record shows, we play a lot better when our backs are truly up against the wall. Right now it’s either win or go home.”

He added that the game on Christmas Eve could determine which New York team does — or doesn’t — head to the playoffs.

“It’s a huge game. The loser’s finished. And we’re definitely trying not to be in that category,” Rolle said. “So we’ll have to pump ourselves up and do whatever it takes and make sure we’re on the same page, try to make sure we have everyone on board, that’s coaches and players included. We got to make a run for this thing.”

Rolle also isn’t pleased with the New York media, saying reporters took his comments after the loss to the Redskins and made it sound as if he was calling out Justin Tuck (or possibly Ahmad Bradshaw) for missing practices during the week but still playing on gameday.

“First of all, my comments weren’t directed to anyone in particular,” he said. “And I know the media — as always — was trying to pinpoint one of our guys, which is Justin Tuck. So further off I’m going to go by saying this: When I said what I said, I didn’t pinpoint neither guy or name call anyone. I wasn’t speaking about anyone in particular.”

Rolle had said after the loss that his teammates need to hold each other “accountable” and that the Giants need to “push through” injuries to participate in practice so they’re “in sync” with the team on Sunday.

“If you’re injured, so be it,” he said Sunday. “You’re injured. But nicks and bruises? Every one needs to be on the field man.”

Only Tuck (toe injury) and Bradshaw (stress fracture in his foot) missed practices during the week, but played Sunday.

But Rolle insists his rant wasn’t directed at any individual in particular.


(northjersey.com)