Giants' rookie Phillips grabs No. 21 in homage to Taylor

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)