New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle never has been shy about speaking his mind. His latest targets are Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and owner/general manager Jerry Jones.

In an interview that aired Tuesday on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access," Rolle said he's "looking forward" to playing against a team that some analysts already are picking to win the NFC East this coming season.

"The Dallas Cowboys are a good team," Rolle said. "Maybe they're missing a couple pieces of the puzzle, but I don't think the pieces they're missing are actually the players."

Ouch. That's a not-so-subtle shot across the bow of the Cowboys' brass. Jones isn't one to hold back, either. It will be interesting to see a retort after last year's admission that he deserved to be fired as general manager.

Jones since has promised a "very uncomfortable" offseason in response to two uninspiring 8-8 campaigns under Garrett's watch. Now that offensive coordinator Bill Callahan is taking over play-calling duties, it will be easier for Jones to jettison Garrett in-season if the Cowboys get off to a slow start.

Rolle's comments directed at NFC East foes weren't all negative. Asked about Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, Rolle replied: "I'm not so eager to see this guy. I'm gonna let him take his time, get his rehab. I want him 100 percent. He's a huge playmaker in this league."

The Giants might believe the Cowboys are something of a laughing stock, but it has become abundantly clear that they have the utmost respect for Griffin.


(nfl.com)

The New York Giants selected Kenny Phillips in the first-round of the 2008 NFL Draft after the departure of Gibril WIlson left the team with a void in the defensive backfield. It took Phillips over half of a season to emerge as a starter, but he eventually made the most of the Giants' investment in him, as his eight interceptions and 263 tackles over five seasons established him as one of the best over-the-top safeties in the NFL. In fact, it was Phillips who knocked down Tom Brady's final Hail Mary to the end zone in Super Bowl XLVII, sealing the Giants second Super Bowl victory in five seasons.

However, Phillips' time as a member of the Giants was marred by a series of serious knee injuries. In 2009, Phillips was diagnosed with patellofemoral arthritis in his left knee, a condition the forced him to receive microfracture knee surgery and miss the final 14 games of the season. Last year, Phillips sprained his MCL against the Philadelphia Eagles and was never able to return to form. After rejecting an offer from the Giants as an unrestricted free-agent this offseason, Phillips signed with the Eagles.

Giants safety Antrel Rolle says that while he's disappointed to see Phillips in another uniform, he respects his former teammates decision to seek a fresh start in a new city.

"It hurts me everyday," Rolle said. "It's a business, and we all understand that it's a business. I just want Kenny to go out and make the best of the opportunity and get a huge pay day. That's all I've ever wanted for him. That's all I've wanted for any of my teammates."

The Giants did make Phillips a "modest" offer to return in 2013, but Phillips elected to sign a one-year, $2 million contract with the Eagles. It was a deal that raised suspicions regarding Phillips desire to return to the Giants, as it's unlikely the team was not offering a contract of a similar wage. Phillips had previously expressed his disdain with how the Giants medical staff handled his knee injury last season, which could have played a role in his decision to leave in the offseason.

With the emergence os Stevie Brown, Will Hill and the acquisition of Ryan Mundy, the Giants will be able to use multiple safety sets once again this season. Additionally, the team drafted Richmond safety Cooper Taylor in the fifth-round, whose combination of size and speed will allow the Giants to develop and slowly integrate him into the defense. Taylor's arrival may not have an impact on the defense in 2013, but given Rolle's $7 million salary cap hit next season, it's possible Rolle follows in the foot steps of Ahmad Bradshaw, Chris Canty and Michael Boley in being kicked to the curb in favor of cheaper talent.

"Whether or not I'm next [to get cut], that's not my call to make," Rolle said. "I'm here to wear a Giants uniform and whenever I put it on, I just try to give 120 percent when I'm on the field. I don't make the decisions."

Without Kenny Phillips on the roster, the Giants will look to Rolle to lead the group of young and inexperienced safeties and transform them into a strength of the defense. However, the better job Rolle does at helping the talent behind him on the depth chart improve, the greater his chances are of being asked to take a significant pay cut before next season, or possibly even released. As general manager Jerry Reese made abundantly clear with his moves this offseason, nearly every player on the roster is expandable, regardless of past contributions to the team.


(giants101.com)

There is a high likelihood the New York Giants will cut Antrel Rolle after the 2013 draft if they can find a replacement in the draft. Now before the backlash comes in about how dumb a move that would be; you have to look at the facts.

Rolle is carrying a 9,250,000 cap number for 2013 to 2014. He will be one of the highest paid safeties in the NFL that will hit 31 years old in December.

The Giants also have players that are younger that will get pay days soon. Hakeem Nicks’ contract is coming up and Victor Cruz is actively in contract extension talks now. Cruz and Nicks are not going to come cheap.

However the number one reason that is the reason it will come after the draft, is because the rookie salary cap makes it cheaper to draft similar in talent safeties for much less.

According to overthecap.com estimates, the 19th overall pick will hit the Giants’ salary cap by 1,517,436 in 2013.

Which would you rather have? A declining player in Rolle for a cap hit of 9,250,000 or a solid first round safety for 1,517,436 in 2013?

If the Giants drafted a second round safety in the 2013 draft, it would cost the Giants 732,855 against the cap in 2013. And the cap hit declines as the round decreases.

The first round, second round and even third round safeties in this year’s draft are some of the most talented crop of safeties to come out in a long-time. And you can read more about this year’s crop on this link here.

Now Antrel Rolle would only save the Giants 5,250,000 in salary cap space if he was released in 2013. However that is enough money to sign all rookies that have an estimated cap hit in 2013 of 5,031,061.

Releasing one player will give the Giants enough money sign eight players. You may believe Rolle is a great player, but by these standards the new CBA has put into place has Rolle extremely overpaid.

The only scenario I see in keeping Rolle on the team is if he restructures his contract to take less money, and I doubt any player would do that. Rolle will never see 9,250,000 dollars a year again, because of the new CBA rules. So it would be better for him to take the dead money and go to another team.

The time of the mega-dollar contracts for above average safeties is over. I believe the Giants will come to realization after they wrap up drafting a solid safety in the draft to replace Rolle with, and use the rest of the cap space to sign Cruz and Nicks down the line.


(yardbarker.com)

New York Giants FS Antrel Rolle is expected to return in 2013 as a starter, but the team might ask him to restructure his current deal. He is due to have a $7 million base salary in 2013.




(kffl.com)

NEW ORLEANS – Six-foot-eight-inch Bryant McKinnie, towering above everyone else in the Superdome, smiled and shared a joke about his old college team.

"We used to say if one of us didn't get to the Super Bowl," the former Miami Hurricane and current Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman said Tuesday, "we'd all take a pay cut and play for the Dolphins."

No need for that plan now. McKinnie and his Ravens teammate Ed Reed, another former 'Cane, will both play in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday. So will Frank Gore, for the San Francisco 49ers. They were all on the same 2001 Miami Hurricanes roster that many consider the best collection of college talent of all time. And they are all stars.

In a league where the average career lasts four years, these three former college teammates continue to dominate more than a decade later.

And they're hardly alone.

That '01 Hurricanes team, which went undefeated and routed Nebraska in the BCS Championship Game, produced NFL players at just about every position. That Miami roster produced 17 first-round draft picks and 38 players were drafted into the NFL. Andre Johnson was on that roster. So was Vince Wilfork. So was D.J. Williams. So was Jonathan Vilma. So was Antrelle Rolle. So were Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis, who were both ahead of Gore on the depth chart. So was Sean Taylor, who was Reed's backup and made the Pro Bowl twice before being tragically killed in a home invasion. And so was 2012 Pro Bowler Chris Myers, who didn't start at Miami but logged significant playing time as a backup because, in his matter-of-fact words, "We were blowing teams out by 40 points." (That team's average margin of victory was actually 32.9 points.)

"Every now and then you get to coach a great one," says Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Greg Schiano, who helped recruit that Miami team and coached Reed before leaving for Rutgers in 2000. "That team was littered with great ones. I don't know that there will ever be a team assembled with all that talent again."

The heft of the credit for the millennium Hurricanes' success goes to Butch Davis, the head coach who assembled all that talent in one place before bolting to the NFL. "Butch Davis was an incredible, incredible evaluator of talent," says then-assistant Curtis Johnson, who is now at Tulane. Davis' legacy is mixed because of a two-pronged NCAA investigation at North Carolina that resulted in his firing, but in 10 years as a college head coach, he recruited dozens of future NFL players and more than 30 first-round draft picks. Most came at Miami.

"We were looking for athletic, speed guys who loved football," explains Schiano. That was a directive from Davis, who got his start coaching multiple sports and always looked for players who could excel at basketball, track, wrestling, whatever. "When you coach a lot of different sports," Davis says, "you start to appreciate a lot of skills and how they work together." He would assemble his staff in a film room, look at high school games, and wait for preps to "jump off the screen."

The recruiting ground in South Florida was fertile, but a lot of the stars on that 2001 roster came from elsewhere. Reed arrived from Louisiana. McKinnie came from New Jersey. Jeremy Shockey grew up in Oklahoma. Davis didn't much care for five-star guys as much as he wanted those three ingredients: athleticism, speed and love of football. For every Andre Johnson, who probably could have played in the NFL as a college freshman, there was an undersized talent nobody else saw. "Roscoe Parrish was a midget," says Curtis Johnson. (For the record, Parrish is 5-9.)

The "loved football" part was perhaps most important. Gore was a great example, as he came to Miami despite having to wait behind Portis and McGahee. Asked at Super Bowl media day Tuesday why he didn't shy away from that, Gore said, "Competition. If you want to be the best, you have to play with the best. I wasn't scared of competition."

Gore carried a football around campus in those days, held high and tight, because he knew his day would come. "He could care less about anything but school and football," says Mike Rumph, one of those 17 first-round picks. "Most guys are chasing girls, thinking about stuff at home. Not him. First day out to practice, most guys have special sleeves or new shoes. He's out there with no gloves. Just a jersey, shorts, and helmet. He was like Mike Tyson."

There were several players on the team with that mentality. "We had tackling going on in walk-throughs," says Curtis Johnson, and that was on purpose. Davis wanted practices to be more difficult than games, even if it meant grueling workouts and ferocious drills.

"The toughest battle was Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday," says Schiano. "That's the thing I remember – the competition." Asked if it was as intense as the NFL, Schiano said: "In some ways even more so. At the U of Miami, we were trying to bring the program back. There was such a hunger there. That's one of the reasons they practiced so hard against each other."

Schiano remembers being disturbed in his office one spring by "a loud noise" and looking out the window to see a rowdy 7-on-7 game that included Michael Irvin, who had retired from football, and Sinorice Moss (Santana's younger brother), who was 15 at the time. Irvin, Ray Lewis and Warren Sapp had long since left campus, yet there was an unspoken expectation that the bar needed to be raised every single year. There's even a book written about the building and sustaining of the Miami program: Cane Mutiny.

"The level of work ethic was established," says Myers. "We wanted to keep that going. You wanted to prove to yourself you could keep doing what was done before."

Former players credit not only the strength coaches, but also the fact that the facilities weren't all that great. Today, major schools have professional-grade equipment. At that time, Miami had something resembling a boxing gym. That only seemed to motivate players more.

"It was the work ethic," Reed said Tuesday. "With the people we had, we tended to get the best guys."

It all culminated with a one-loss season in 2000, an undefeated season in 2001 and another one-loss season in 2002. But the 2001 team was especially dominant. The final score for that entire year, with point totals from all games added up, was Miami 512, Opponents 117.

"I really felt like we could have beaten the Cincinnati Bengals that year," says Rumph, who played five seasons in the NFL and now coaches at American Heritage High in Boca Raton. "It wouldn't be a blowout game!"

The most remarkable aspect of that team is only now coming into view. Nearly 12 years later, Gore is maybe the most dangerous player on the 49ers roster. The same could be said about Johnson in Houston, and Wilfork is a rare stalwart on a constantly rotating Patriots defense.

Yet when forced to pick a player or two from that '01 squad, two names come up: McKinnie and Reed.

Former 'Canes love to talk about the much-hyped matchup that season between "Mt. McKinnie" and defensive end Dwight Freeney, who starred at Syracuse and is building himself a Hall of Fame career with Indianapolis.

"Bryant is the best lazy player I've ever seen in my life," Rumph says. "He don't like to work out, his back is bothering him, that kind of thing. But even on his laziest day, he would not give up a sack. Dwight Freeney came to town, and Bryant literally rolled him down the field."

Miami beat No. 14 Syracuse that November day, 59-0.

While McKinnie is revered for his strength, Reed is awed for his smarts. The signature play from that championship season came when Miami struggled with Boston College into the fourth quarter and defensive lineman Matt Walters intercepted a pass deep in Miami territory. Reed raced up on his 270-pound teammate, ripped the ball out of his hands and ran 80 yards to the end zone. He was such a ball hawk that he forced his own teammate to fumble. "He had ball skills like an elite receiver and footwork like a top DB," Rumph says. "He was a coach on the field."

Davis, the architect of all this, admits he looks back at his Miami days wistfully. "In retrospect, obviously I would have loved to stay for eight, 10, 12, 15 years and maybe still be there," Davis says. "It was ridiculous how much success we had."

And it wasn't just on the field. Chuck Pagano was a secondary coach who left in 2000. Rob Chudzinski was an offensive coordinator. Schiano was defensive coordinator until the 2000 season. All three are now NFL head coaches.

In the college ranks, head coach Larry Coker is now the top guy at Texas San-Antonio. Mario Cristobal became a head coach at Florida International. Randy Shannon was in charge at Miami for a time. Curtis Johnson is now head coach at Tulane. Mark Stoops is head coach at Kentucky.

And Ken Dorsey, the quarterback on that unbeaten team, is now the quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers.

Ironically, Davis has never reached that level of success again as a head coach. He struggled with the Cleveland Browns before leaving for North Carolina, which is now mired in scandal. Davis never won a national title as a head coach, but hopes to get one more shot. He's now an assistant with Schiano's Bucs.

Other lingering aspects of the Miami juggernaut are more subtle. Every time Myers gets ready to take the field for the Texans, he listens to the same song before he runs out into the din of the stadium: "In The Air Tonight," by Phil Collins. That was the song hand-picked by Davis to signal the entrance of the Hurricanes onto the field at the old Orange Bowl. He picked it to set a tempo and tone, but also to time a pregame stretch.

"The drum roll signified time to break down and go to the next phase of pregame," Davis says. "The tempo and mindset was now in place." Myers is not alone in his ritual. "Everybody still listens to that song before games," Myers says. "It brings me back to a little bit of Miami."

There is a little bit of Miami all over the NFL. In fact, there is a lot. And some of it will be on display in New Orleans on Sunday.

In fact, it's hard not to wonder how good those Hurricanes would have been if they could have experienced McKinnie's joke about playing together in the NFL: Gore, Portis and McGahee in the backfield, Johnson at wideout, Shockey at tight end, McKinnie blocking, Wilfork rushing, Williams at linebacker, Reed, Rolle and the late Taylor in the defensive backfield. And all those coaches.

Asked how good that team would have been in the NFL, Tulane's Johnson lets out a howling laugh before giving a one-word answer:

"Dynasty."


(sports.yahoo.com)

For Antrel Rolle, watching the NFL postseason has been a lot like playing in the regular season.

“What surprised me the most was that the teams that I expected to win, haven’t been winning,” Rolle said this week.

When he was playing, Rolle anticipated the Giants would be postseason participants and make a run at a second consecutive championship. But they lost key games down the stretch and their 9-7 record left them on the outside.

So Rolle, the safety who led the Giants with 108 tackles this season, has been reduced to a playoff spectator like the rest of his teammates, one year after they defeated New England in Super Bowl XLVI.

“Honestly speaking, it’s definitely harder to watch,” Rolle said during a visit to the Timex Performance Center this week. “Especially going through experiences like the journey we went on last year and being successful. That journey is definitely harder, but at the same time, I’m a realist and I understand that we’ve had several opportunities to be in that situation and put ourselves in that situation again, but we failed to do so. I’ve just been watching it as a spectator, just a normal individual watching the game.”

The Giants controlled their postseason destiny late in the season, but lost it with consecutive December losses in Atlanta and Baltimore. They routed Philadelphia, 42-7, in the season finale, but were eliminated when Chicago defeated Detroit moments later.

For the Giants it was – and is – a bitter pill, because they believed they could successfully defend their title and they were in a good position to reach the playoffs for most of the season. Rolle is one of many players who have reflected on the disappointing end to the season.

“I’ve definitely thought about it, thought about it a lot,” he said. “Have I come up with an answer? No. I just understand that there were certain times where we were able to get up and fight through whatever we needed to fight through to be successful and at certain times we weren’t able to, for whatever rhyme or reason. You can see it before the game. You can see it during the game. You can see it after the game. For whatever reason, as a team, we weren’t in-sync; we weren’t hungry enough for that particular moment. It showed.”

Rolle, a vocal locker room presence who this season won the George Young Good Guy Award for his cooperation with the media, took it personally when the Giants did not make the playoffs.

“I’m a part of this team. I feel like if one fails, we all fail,” Rolle said. “That’s just the way we look at it and the way I look at it. I think we need to find a common ground within everyone on this team. We need to find a common ground. I don’t think a team should look at one person or two people or three people, for example, to get motivated. I think every man should look at themselves and be able to look at any other player on the roster. It doesn’t matter who it is in order to look for that spark or that extra boost of energy or that focus level.”

Despite being left out, Rolle has closely watched the playoffs. He thought Denver or New England would prevail in the AFC and Atlanta in the NFC. But Super Bowl XLVI will pit San Francisco against Baltimore.

“It’s going to be an awesome Super Bowl,” Rolle said. “It’s going to be great. It’s going to be a great story line with both Harbaugh brothers coaching against each other in the Super Bowl. You have Ray Lewis retiring. You have San Francisco, which hasn’t been there for a number of years and was extremely close to getting there last year. It’s going to be a great battle. Both teams are going to be extremely hungry.

“There have been some exceptional games in the playoffs. I do see some fight and hunger in teams. I see a lot of similarities to the way that we fought last year and the way, for example, the Ravens have fought this year, or San Francisco fought this year. Even Seattle, the way they came back and fought and were able to make it out to the closing seconds with Atlanta. There have been some awesome games.”

Rolle expects to be playing in those high-stakes January games again next year. Although the Giants’ offseason conditioning program doesn’t start until April 15, he is already looking forward to begin preparing for the 2013 season.

“I know the caliber of this team and I understand what we have here on this team,” Rolle said. “This is a very special unit that we have here within the Giants. I’m eager to get back and do it all over again, and make sure we give it a better run.”


(giants.com)

It is clearly evident what motivational impact Ray Lewis has had on the Ravens as they stormed to back-to-back road playoff victories to advance to Super Bowl XLVII. But did Lewis have a role in the development of Antrel Rolle into a leader who helped the Giants win the Super Bowl last season?

It’s hardly a far-fetched notion. Rolle arrived in 2010 and it took him time to acclimate to the way the Giants do business and especially how coach Tom Coughlin runs his team. There were angry and frustrated comments from Rolle and it appeared as if the two were headed toward a real confrontation. Rolle cooled off, though, and he says he might have overheated if not for Lewis’ advice.

Like Lewis, Rolle is a product of the University of Miami although Lewis was gone before Rolle ever played for the Hurricanes. Rolle did not know how to deal with Coughlin and one day he picked up the phone and dialed up Lewis.

“I asked him how should I handle the situation,’’ Rolle said Tuesday on WFAN. “I was like it’s extremely difficult for me, I’m not used to this and so forth and so on. We had an hour-long conversation just about life, he was telling me how I should approach the situation, how I should be able to deal with coach Coughlin but still get some things across. He helped me out a lot, I listened to what he said and it helped me out a lot.

“If you have never been around Ray Lewis, he’s probably the most humble individual and real individual you’re ever gonna be around. That’s just the reality of it.’’

Rolle spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Cardinals in Arizona and it took him time to adjust to Coughlin’s coaching methods. In week 2 in 2010, the Giants lost their first road game, 38-14 in Indianapolis as Peyton Manning bested younger brother Eli. It was Rolle’s first regular-season road trip with the Giants and afterward he blasted Coughlin’s schedule, insisting getting to the stadium more than three hours before kickoff made the Giants “sluggish.’’ Rolle later complained about Coughlin’s “controlled’’ environment’’ and said he felt the atmosphere around the team was “too uptight.’’

“I had an issue with me dealing with some things, more so my own personal issues,’’ Rolle recalled. “Coach Coughiln and myself have never had an exchange of words or anything close to it, never even had a bad eye towards one another. I’m sure he probably wanted to curse me out at times but it never crossed that line.’’

Rolle credits Lewis for helping him replace his frustration with a greater understanding of Coughlin’s methods.

“More than the [Miami] thing, I think it’s someone who has been through it all,’’ Rolle said of why he reached out to Lewis. “No matter what adversity or what Ray had to overcome I think he’s overcome it and I think that’s what it boiled down to.

"It boiled down to me going to someone I can consider a mentor, someone I know is going to give it to me straight as someone who is going to tell me something I need to hear as opposed to something I wanted to hear. And he told me exactly what I needed to hear and from that day on I never, ever had an issue, never had any concerns. I can honestly say it is great. This is the best I’ve ever felt and I am going to continue to stay on this path.’’


(nypost.com)

Antrel Rolle: Rolle has emerged as one of the most important leaders on the team. The safety usually rings the alarm when the Giants need a wake-up call. When the Giants aren't showing enough fire or not enough "dog," the safety will let his teammates and the media know.

Rolle often spits out the hard truth when things are going bad and his criticism is often welcomed by teammates, who usually agree with what he has to say. On a team that often needs somebody to be vocal, hold nothing back and hold teammates accountable, Rolle might be the best to play that particular role.


(espn.com)

Antrel Rolle has been playing football against Frank Gore since they were youngsters near Miami. When they were in high school — Rolle at South Dade, Gore a bit north in Coral Gables — Rolle always heard that Gore, blessed with elusiveness, exceptional balance and uncanny field vision, might be the best running back ever to come out of those neighborhoods, which doubled as a recruiter’s dream.

Clinton Portis saw it for himself, when, while already a University of Miami running back, he went to Gables High School games to watch the youngster he now considers a protégé playing, he said, with no socks under his cleats, no gloves on his hands, shredding heavily favored opponents by running draws and dives out of four-wide receiver sets. Portis returned to the Hurricanes practices to tell his coaches, “This Frank Gore is special.”

Rolle, now a Giants safety, said this week: “You really don’t get a full grasp of what kind of runner he is until you go against him. I will say it to the day I die, going against him, I still feel he was the best running back to come through the University of Miami before his knee injuries.”

That is the legend of Frank Gore, one of the most talented players on, perhaps, Miami’s most talented team, who was never as good as he might have been in college. He had to overcome two significant injuries, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee just after he beat out Willis McGahee in spring practice before Gore’s sophomore season, then the one in his right knee the next season. Those injuries are why the San Francisco 49ers chose clips from Gore’s freshman season when they showed his college highlights before their playoff victory over Green Bay last weekend. That was when, with his knees still unscarred and while splitting time with McGahee and Portis as a true freshman, he averaged 9.1 yards per carry.

“At times, I look back and I say if I wouldn’t have been hurt, I would probably have been a top 5 or 10 player coming out,” Gore said in a telephone interview this week. “It didn’t go my way. I look at it as God wanted me to go a different route. Before I got injured, football was very easy, I didn’t have to work out. I guess he wanted me to work hard and appreciate the game that He blessed me with the talent to do. That’s one thing I focus on.”

Gore is now one of the N.F.L.’s best running backs, compiling his sixth 1,000-yard season in eight years. He is already San Francisco’s leading career rusher.

This season, as the 49ers have transitioned from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick at quarterback and advanced to Sunday’s N.F.C. championship game at Atlanta, Gore has been the same quiet, consistent force he has always been. He is not the fastest runner, nor the one with the Adonis physique, but he still reads blocks better than most, and, to Portis’s astonishment, can shake, with his movement and the angles he takes, defenders approaching from behind that he can’t even see.

Gore arrived at Miami in 2001, a stroke of luck the then-Miami coach Larry Coker acknowledges occurred because he was recruiting Gore’s best friend, Roscoe Parrish, just 10 days before signing day. Gore grew up in one of Miami’s poorest areas. His mother, Liz, was then seriously ill with kidney disease and on dialysis. Gore struggled for years with dyslexia.

But after his first team meeting at Miami, Gore went up to his position coach and told him he wanted to play. He was told he had to learn the 12 pass protections the Hurricanes used. He took the playbook home that night and at 3:30 a.m., less than five hours before practice, he called his coach at home, asking to be quizzed on the pass protections. He had learned them all.

More than 11 years later, the film still shows the special player Rolle and Portis and the others saw.

“They were saying, ‘Dang, you were fast,’ ” said Don Soldinger, the former Hurricanes running backs coach, who Gore called after San Francisco beat Green Bay last Saturday. “He was saying ‘I was the best one.’ He put me on the phone with Randy Moss and said, ‘Tell Randy Moss how good I was.’ ”

Soldinger had to talk Gore out of quitting after the second knee injury. The doctor who performed the operations, John Uribe, explained to Gore that he would be better than ever once he recovered, because his original ligament structure had not been strong enough for his knees.

Portis was already an N.F.L. rookie when Gore injured his knee the first time and remembered that Gore was devastated. He said, in each of their conversations, Gore would ask, “Bro, what do you think?” Portis always told him he could come back. Privately, though, he wondered, just like the coaches and the N.F.L. scouts, if Gore would ever be the same.

“I remember thinking, I hope he didn’t lose what he had, because he was so agile, you couldn’t get a hand on him,” Portis said. “I remember thinking, what do you tell him?”

It was Soldinger, one of the few guiding forces in Gore’s life then, who finally prevailed upon him.

“I was very frustrated,” Gore said. “He talked to me, my mom talked to me, he said keep following my rehab. I was frustrated. I felt like it wasn’t for me. He told me just keep pushing at it. He wanted me to get a chance to reach my childhood dream to have an N.F.L. career.”

That he has had one at all is why Coker uses Gore as an example to encourage his players at Texas-San Antonio when they get hurt. When Gore talked to Soldinger after the victory over Green Bay, Soldinger told him he had to make a big push now, to try to propel his team to a championship. Portis regrets that Gore’s mother, who died in 2007, did not live to enjoy what her son has become. She had encouraged him to leave Miami early to go to the N.F.L. after he played a full season following the knee injuries. Gore was certain by then that if he was healthy he could still be productive.

On Saturday, Portis watched San Francisco’s victory over Green Bay with Edgerrin James, another former Hurricanes running back, in Los Angeles and the two have plans to be in Atlanta on Sunday, three generations of Hurricanes running backs together. James wondered how much longer Gore would play and Portis guessed four or five more years, because he knows how to avoid taking a pounding to keep his body healthy. Portis wonders if Gore will finish with more yards than any of them — James rushed for 12,246 in his career, Portis for 9,923 and Gore, at age 29, has 8,839.

Portis reminisced this week about how eager a freshman Gore was, always sitting next to him on the way to games, always talking about football, always saying, “I can’t wait until my time comes.” On Sunday, Portis talked to Gore on the phone again.

“He was still excited,” Portis said. “ ‘Man, you saw that game? What do you think?’ I said, ‘Bro, you got it.’ ”


(nytimes.com)

Antrel Rolle is sorry.

That's the message the Giants safety had as he punctuated the 2012 season with his final weekly appearance on WFAN Wednesday. Rolle was asked for his parting thoughts on the season that ended Sunday with a 9-7 record but no playoff berth, and he took a repentant posture in answering the question.

"My final message would be . . . to apologize for a letdown," Rolle said. "We try to go out there and give it our all when we can. Unfortunately we came up a little bit short this year. It's something that pretty much caught all of us by surprise."

The mood of the 2012 Giants was so unpredictable that Rolle said he didn't even know whether the team would come out to play hard against the Eagles in the regular-season finale on Sunday. They wound up beating the Eagles, 42-7, after losing back-to-back games by a combined score of 67-14 against the Falcons and Ravens.

"To be honest, I really didn't know what to expect," Rolle said. "I was hoping for that kind of outcome, that kind of heart, that kind of sense of urgency going into our final game of the season. But to be honest with you, was I confident? No, I wasn't too confident because I didn't know what to expect.

"Inconsistent," Rolle added. "That sums up every angle you can look at."

Next year, though, Rolle doesn't plan on needing to apologize.

"Come the 2013 season all I can do is do my part, be as [good of a] player as I can be and try the best I can to make sure the team is on the same page and that, more important, that we're hunting," he said. "That we're going to hunt from the first preseason game all the way to the Super Bowl if God [willing] we make it there. Just try to be a better overall team on a more consistent basis week in and week out and we'll see where everything else takes us from there."

Notes & quotes: Safety Stevie Brown was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his interception against the Eagles. He's the first Giants safety and the team's first defensive back to win the award twice in the same season since cornerback Jason Sehorn in 1997 . . . Wide receiver Victor Cruz, on WFAN, said that negotiations on a long-term contract were "tabled" several weeks ago, but he expects them to resume now that the season is over. "You never know, it's all negotiations, but I feel positive that I'm going to be in New York for a very long time," he said. Cruz also said that he thinks the Redskins are the team to beat in the playoffs this year. In late November he said that he thought the Redskins were "a couple pieces away" from being playoff contenders.


(newsday.com)

The New York Giants were thoroughly embarrassed last Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, as they were shut out, 34-0. Giants free safety Antrel Rolle, for one, is not happy about what happened. And he promises to be “a beast” this week against the Ravens. From Dan Hanzus at NFL.com:

Earlier this month, free safety Antrel Rolle spoke of the New York Giants needing to regain their nasty edge. In Rolle’s words, the Giants needed to get their “dog” back. The inner-canine appeared found after Rolle & Co. ripped the New Orleans Saints in Week 14, but the Giants followed that with an epic stinker against the Atlanta Falcons. It was an alarming effort by the team, but Rolle remains confident — or at least quotable — as the Giants prepared for a potential must-win game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. ”I was absolutely horrified with the way I played,” Rolle said this week to NFL.com’s Kimberly Jones. “I think I played probably one of my worst games ever.” The Giants missed a whopping 18 tackles against the Falcons, with Rolle himself playing a part in the futility. He promised better production against Baltimore. ”I’m going out there to be a beast at all costs,” he said. “It doesn’t matter the situation we’re in, it doesn’t matter what’s being called. I’m playing all out.” If we’re going off recent history, the Giants have the NFL right where they want them. New York lost a similarly disappointing Week 15 game to the Washington Redskins last season before running off six consecutive wins to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Of course, past performance does not guarantee future results.


(tddaily.com)

NEW YORK (WFAN) - After being outscored 67-14 over the last two weeks, the defending Super Bowl champions no longer control their own playoff destiny.
New York fell to Baltimore, 33-14, this past Sunday, and now have lost five of seven after starting the season 6-2.

So what’s wrong with the Giants, a team that always seems to come up big in the clutch?

“I don’t even know what to say at this point, to be honest with you,” safety Antrel Rolle told Evan Roberts and Chris Moore on Wednesday. ”I just think that we’re extremely flat. … We’re not playing with emotion, we’re not playing with pride, we’re not playing with a sense of urgency, we’re not playing with intellect. Everything that you can possibly do wrong as a football team, I think we’ve pretty much done it over the past two weeks.”

The two-time Pro Bowler doesn’t see the intensity that Big Blue showcased last season when it went on a memorable run and defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

“Are we out there playing with passion? No, obviously not,” Rolle said. ”Are we playing motivated? Obviously not. Are we playing smart football? Obviously not. (Atlanta and Baltimore) are good, but are they better than us? Hell no! I’ll tell you that right now. Hell no! I don’t care what the score was.”

Though the veteran didn’t call any of his teammates out, he admitted that each player wearing blue needs to be on the same page and have their head in the right place as the season winds down.

“Every man needs to go and look at himself in the mirror,” Rolle said. ”… It kind of comes down to, ‘Does this guy want to be here? Is this guy going to play? Is he going to lay it all on the line come Sunday?’ That’s the question right now that’s being asked of us. Does this team still want it? Do we believe in ourselves? Are we satisfied having won the Super Bowl last year? I can’t speak for everyone when I say it, but I know that I’m certainly not.”

When reporters and fans looked at the schedule before the season, the Week 17 matchup between the Giants and Eagles stood out as one that could have significant playoff implications. Now with the game just days away, the Eagles are tied for the worst record in the NFC and the Giants’ season is hanging by a thread.

But although the game might be anticlimactic, Rolle promises that he’ll leave it all out on the field in the final regular-season game.

“I’m going to play this game harder than any game I’ve ever played in my career,” Rolle said. ”If this happens to be our last game, you don’t want to go out the way we have the past couple of weeks. You want to go out with at least a piece of a cherry on top. … I’m going to go out there and just give it my all, like I’m a kid again; just go out there and play ball. Just attack the game, don’t let the game attack you.”


(cbslocal.com)

NEW YORK (WFAN) - The Giants put on an embarrassing display this past Sunday, losing 34-0 to the Falcons at the Georgia Dome.

How can the Giants look so dominant one week and so helpless the next? Why did Big Blue look so lifeless in a game which was so important to its playoff hopes?

Safety Antrel Rolle, for one, can’t offer an explanation.

“I just, I really don’t know (what happened),” Rolle told WFAN co-hosts Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts in his weekly spot on Tuesday. “It just seems like whenever there is an up, there’s a down … It just seemed like no matter what phase of the game it was, the (Falcons) were extremely successful and we were very unsuccessful.”

With the Giants now in a three-way tie with the Redskins and Cowboys for first place in the NFC East — and currently sitting in ninth place in the conference — the two-time Pro Bowler knows that his team needs to pick up the slack immediately and get back to its winning ways.

If the Giants don’t, they’ll be heading home prematurely after having a comfortable divisional lead throughout the season.

“We need to fix this right now,” Rolle said. “There is no tomorrow for us at this point. Everything that needs to happen has to take place right now.”

Though Big Blue struggled in every facet of the game in Week 15, the former first-round pick was especially critical of his own play against the NFC South champions. Rolle had just one tackle and no pass deflections as Matt Ryan torched New York’s defense for 270 yards and three touchdowns.

“I was absolutely horrified with the way I played,” Rolle said candidly. “I think I played probably one of my worst games ever. Not just as far as the overall game, but as far as tackling. I think I tackled extremely poorly throughout the course of the game, and I even told my coach on the plane ride home, ‘I’m extremely mad at myself. That’s not the way that Antrel Rolle plays football’ … Was I myself? Absolutely not.”

The 2010 All-Pro acknowledges that although the G-Men have been down this road before and ultimately prevailed, it doesn’t mean that this season will be a replica of last season.

But still, Rolle believes in his team’s character and ability to persevere.

“We’ve made it hard for ourselves and we’ve taken a lot of slack, as well we should,” Rolle said. “Whatever is being said about us right now, do we deserve it? Absolutely. But you know what? We’re never out of the fight. I don’t care what anyone has to say about the Giants, about the players, about whatever the case may be. We’ve still got this thing, and we’re going to go out there and fight. We will give it our all this coming Sunday.”


(cbslocal.com)

Offensive Player of the Week:

Reggie Wayne: proCane Colts WR Reggie Wayne caught six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's Week 14, 27-23 win over the Titans. Wayne was targeted 10 times on the afternoon and caught his touchdown pass from four yards out to get the Colts on the board in the first quarter. Wayne extended his NFL record 61 game streak of having 3 or more receptions.

Honorable Mention: Greg Olsen

Co-Defensive Players of Week:

Sam Shields: proCane Packers DB Sam Shields in his first game back from a high-ankle sprain that kept him out nearly two months regained his old spot by the second quarter. Shields returned with four tackles and an interception in Sunday's win over the Lions. Shields was targeted 5 times and only allowed one completion.

Antrel Rolle: proCane New York Giants DB Antrel Rolle recorded a fumble recovery and forced fumble on successive drives, adding in six tackles in a stout defensive performance. Through Week 14, Rolle ranks first on the team in solo tackles (61) and second on the team in total tackles (79).
Honorable Mention: Vince Wilfork DL New England Patriots finished the game with 4 tackles, 1 pass deflection, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and numerous plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet.

Special Teams Player of the Week:

Travis Benjamin: proCane Browns WR Travis Benjamin proved to provide the momentum the Browns needed to run away with their 30-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Benjamin turned in a record-setting punt return when he ran 93 yards for a touchdown to open the second quarter. It was Benjamin’s first NFL punt return for a TD which also earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Benjamin's touchdown was the first on a punt return for a Cleveland rookie since 1967, and the first for any returner not named Josh Cribbs since 2005. Adding the longest punt return in franchise history to his resume, the Belle Glade, Fla., native now has over 400 all-purpose yards in his first season, including 296 on punt and kick returns.

Antrel Rolle could have another new job come Sunday.

The safety who has become the Giants' nickelback in the slot in recent weeks might be asked to become a dedicated cornerback if Prince Amukamara is unable to play against the Falcons. Amukamara suffered a hamstring strain late in the Saints win and did not practice Wednesday. When asked if Rolle might be a candidate to take over that job in Amukamara's absence, Tom Coughlin smiled.

"Maybe," he said.

Rolle was a first-round pick of the Cardinals as a cornerback, so he has experience. Against the Falcons' wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones, plus tight end Tony Gonzalez, the Giants will need all of the defensive backs they can get. The Giants are thin at safety with Kenny Phillips (knee) and Tyler Sash (hamstring) not practicing Wednesday, but Will Hill and the return of athletic linebacker Jacquian Williams could free Rolle up to play some corner.


(newsday.com)

Now that the Giants have their dog, Antrel Rolle says it's not going back on the leash.

The safety who last week sparked the team to be nastier and backed up those words with strong play against the Saints, was back on the radio Tuesday for his weekly WFAN spot. Rolle said the Giants have no intention of letting up after finding their ferocity.

"We have our foot on the pedal now and we're not going to let it off,'' he said of the Giants' attitude as they prepare to visit the 11-2 Falcons. "The dogs will be out hunting come Sunday.''

Rolle said when he spoke last week, disappointed in the way the Giants fawned over upcoming opponents and calling on the team to be nastier, he was directing those comments toward the whole team, including himself.

"I just said I could be playing more physical, more dominant as a player,'' Rolle said this week. He had a hand in three of the Giants' turnovers.


(newsday.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Antrel Rolle said he wanted to see a "dog mentality" from the Giants on Sunday.

His teammates heard him loud and clear.

The Giants finally got the better of Drew Brees and the Saints, winning 52-27 at MetLife Stadium. And afterward, several defensive players said Rolle's words earlier in the week made a big impact.

“I think we came out with a little more nasty," cornerback Corey Webster said.

"You definitely want to go out there and play hard after someone makes a comment like that," safety Stevie Brown said.

"It added a little extra motivation," linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said. "One of our brothers was, not calling us out, but challenging us to step up."

New Orleans did rack up 487 yards of offense, and connected on several big plays. But the bigger plays were the four turnovers the Giants produced. And safeties were involved in each and every one of them.

Rolle himself recovered a Marques Colston fumble in the first quarter -- a fumble caused by fellow safety Will Hill. Rolle was also involved on the Jed Collins fumble later in that quarter.

Brown picked off Brees on the first play from scrimmage of the second half, a big momentum-changer. And Brown's second interception of the game, early in the fourth quarter, followed by a 70-yard return, set the Giants up for a field goal that essentially put the game out of reach.

Brown now has seven interceptions on the season -- second most in the NFL. And he set a new franchise record for interception return yards in a season with 259, besting the previous mark of 251 -- established by Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnell in 1949, and equaled by Pro Bowler Dick Lynch in 1963.

Not bad for a former seventh-round draft pick, who the Giants picked up off the scrap heap this past spring.

"He was in position again," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "The one he picked in the fourth quarter, boy was that timing right. They had flipped the momentum on us almost completely. We weren’t doing much about it at that time. But thank goodness he makes that play and we end up kicking a field goal."

Brees came in 4-0 in his career against the Giants, with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Saints embarrassed the Giants last season, winning 49-24 in New Orleans.

Kiwanuka was asked what the difference was this time around.

"[We] just played harder," the linebacker said.

Rolle deserves some credit for that. He thought the Giants had played too soft in recent weeks, and had been too complimentary of opposing players before games.

Naturally, people were eager to hear Rolle's assessment of the Giants' performance after the game.

"Oh yeah, I saw a lot of dog," Rolle said.

"No pit bulls [though]," he added. "I didn’t see any pit bulls today. We are saving that for the long haul."


(espn.com)

Antrel Rolle believes he knows one way to get the Giants out of their inconsistent ways and steer them toward the playoffs.

Get nasty and stop kissing butts.

“I think we just need to get back to being a little nasty, having a nasty attitude,” Rolle said Tuesday on his weekly WFAN spot. “Don’t do anything that’s out of the line of football, but have a little nasty attitude, get a little bit more dog in us, and go out there and play the game. Play the game physical, play the game tough, play the game hard, and we’ll give hugs and kisses after the game. But while that game is going on, we respect no one. And that’s how the game of football needs to be played.”

Rolle sounded off a day after the Giants blew a huge chance to take command of the NFC East. Instead of seizing control, the Giants made it a three-team race, as their 17-16 loss to the Redskins leaves the Giants at 7-5 and the Redskins and Cowboys both only one game back at 6-6.

Did Rolle make sure to sound this alarm at this precise time? After all, it was almost exactly a year ago, after a loss to the Redskins dropped the Giants to 7-7, when Rolle stood in front of his locker and challenged his teammates to ignore their aches and pains and get on the practice field, to indeed be “All in.’’ That became the rallying cry for the Giants as they won their last two regular-season games and then won four straight in the postseason to capture their second Super Bowl triumph in a four-year span.

Rolle now is sounding a familiar theme, all-but pleading for the Giants to get back to a “dog mentality’’ where they stop giving so much credit to the other team and start pounding away on the opponents.

“Personally, that’s something myself, that’s not anything I’ve been too fond of,” Rolle said. “Do I respect my opponents? I respect them. You know, I’ll give credit when credit’s due. But I’m not gonna kiss anyone’s butt before the game. That’s something that I’m never, ever gonna do as long as I’m playing the game of football.’’

As for the loss to the Redskins, Rolle said “I don’t see enough dog out there on the field. I don’t see enough manhandling out there on the field, and I don’t see us putting opponents away when we know we could.”

Rolle at first said he did not think the Giants got “pushed over’’ by the Redskins but quickly changed his tune.

“At certain times we did,’’ he said. “I think at certain times we did get pushed over. To me, there wasn’t a more important game in the season than that game last night.”


(nypost.com)

Antrel Rolle has played a lot of nickel back throughout his career. During his time with the Giants, it was mostly grudgingly.

The safety thought he was brought to New York to be a ballhawk and make plays on the back end. It wasn't until late last year -- just in time for a run to and through the playoffs, coincidentally -- that Rolle finally embraced his position and the Giants began to soar.

Rolle was playing a traditional safety spot for the Giants for most of this season, back there breaking up deep passes and flying around toward the football. But Sunday, he was back in the nickel, lined up in the slot, covering the Packers' most dangerous receiver one on one.

It wasn't a different job for him.

"Nickel is something that I'm used to playing," he said Monday. "It's something I've played my whole career. It's kind of a natural fit for myself."

What made it different was the attitude he brought to the position. Rolle has made it clear what his preferences are in terms of how the Giants use him, but he's willing to put those away.

"Although I love playing safety," he said, "one thing I like more than playing safety is winning games. So whatever it takes to win at this point in time, our coaches are going to put us in the best position possible. We got a little glimpse of that [Sunday] night."

What made the move possible was the return of Kenny Phillips to the lineup. With Phillips and Stevie Brown playing deep coverage, Rolle was free to come up to the line and play Randall Cobb and even line up as a linebacker on some downs.

The formation also allowed the Giants to put some of their most veteran players on the field and not rely on rookie Jayron Hosley in slot coverage, where he has been shaky.

"Outstanding football player, savvy," Tom Coughlin said of Rolle in the slot. "He's a pressure player, as well. You can bring him in the pressure. I thought he reacted very well [Sunday] night to that spot, made some key tackles in there. Was in very good shape on a lot of the parts of the throwing game. Seemed to not miss a beat in terms of the time that he has been away from that spot."

It's undoubtedly the best look for the Giants' defense given what was accomplished last year once Rolle finally embraced the job and the results that were on display against the Packers this week.

Rolle said he wasn't sure if the Giants would continue to play that way. The health of Phillips, who left in the third quarter against the Packers after aggravating his right knee injury, is a key to the alignment. But against the Redskins, with their speedy quarterback Robert Griffin III and running back Alfred Morris, the Giants will need as much quickness both from the feet and from the mind as they can get on the field.

Rolle seems as if he's willing to do it, too, which makes the decision even easier. Having had a taste of championship success has caused him to re-prioritize his desires in a Giants uniform.

"Whatever it takes to win, that's what I'm going to do," Rolle said. "I like the role. I like the nickel role, I like the safety role. No matter where I play on defense, I like playing regardless. As long as I'm out there on the field helping my teammates, I'm fine."

He was saying some of the same things last year while privately brooding over his place in the defense. This year, the words ring much more honestly.


(newsday.com)

It was five years ago today that Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died after a shooting at his home. Taylor's death was one of the most shocking and affecting in recent sports history, and the memory of it still resonates strongly and emotionally with Taylor's fans, friends and former teammates. This video tribute includes insights from former college and professional teammates Antrel Rolle, Clinton Portis, Ed Reed, Chris Cooley and Santana Moss as well as Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who smiles as he remembers Portis badgering him to draft Taylor.

I remember hearing of Taylor's death, of course. I was a baseball writer at the time, but anyone who followed sports even tangentially heard the story, and no one could get their arms around it in a way that made any sense. Five years later, as I heard today from fans, watched the video and read the columns by those who were covering the story at the time, it's clear that Taylor's death is still affecting a large number of people.

Rolle talks about how he still watches Taylor highlights on YouTube. Cooley remembers how grateful he was that Taylor never practiced his trademark big hits against him in practice. And Moss breaks down in tears remembering the way the news affected him. If you're a Redskins fan, I know the loss of Taylor is a wound on your heart that still hasn't healed. I invite you to share your memories and your feelings about him in the comments section of this post.


(espn.com)

In their Week 7 matchup at MetLife Stadium, the Redskins were dominant on the ground. Led by rookie running back Alfred Morris and fellow rookie sensation Robert Griffin III, Washington confused the Giants with a unique option attack and slashed through the defense to the tune of 248 rushing yards. Morris registered 22 carries for 120 yards. Griffin needed just nine rushes for 89 yards. Still, the Giants won 27-23.

They meet again on Monday night and Antrel Rolle believes the solution for stopping the run is simple: the Giants need to be more physical.

"Well, I think we have to be more dominant," Rolle said today in a radio interview on WFAN. "We have to understand how to try to attack them and how they're going to try to come downhill and make sure we're the most physical group on the field. That's pretty much it: Winning your battle, do your job and make sure you're the most physical football team and everything else will take care of itself."

Morris, a sixth-round pick out of Florida Atlantic, has rushed for 982 yards and six touchdowns through 11 games. Griffin has 642 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Griffin, of course, isn't limited to just making plays with his feet. RGIII torched the Cowboys and Eagles defenses each of the last two weeks through the air, tossing four touchdown passes in each win. He now has 16 touchdowns to just four interceptions and has thrown for 2,504 yards. His completion percentage is at 67.5, an astounding number for a rookie signal caller.

"I wouldn't say he's been the toughest [matchup]. I think he's definitely been the most agile we've faced," Rolle said from Miami where he will be for the next couple days getting treatment on his knee before returning for practice Thursday. "But all those guys, they present their own threats. All those guys are great quarterbacks in their own ways. You're going to have some that are going to be more accurate than others, some that are going to have stronger arms, some that are going to extend the play longer than others. And he's definitely a guy that can extend the play. He can make each and every play. All guys are great quarterbacks. Each guy just presents different threats and challenges."


(nj.com)

Last year, it took Antrel Rolle a while to come around to the assignment of playing nickel cornerback, instead of staying at his preferred safety spot. This year, the change was no big deal.

The return of Kenny Phillips to the lineup for Sunday’s win against Green Bay prompted the Giants to again roll out their three-safety packages, and again move Rolle to the nickel corner spot“

Although I love playing safety, one thing I like more than playing safety is winning games,” Rolle said. “So whatever it takes to win at this point in time, our coaches are going to put us in the best position possible, and we got a little glimpse of that Sunday night.”

The three safeties used this year are Rolle, Phillips and Stevie Brown, who emerged while Phillips missed six games with an MCL sprain. Rolle said the change allowed the Giants to “put the more experienced players on the field.” Rookie Jayron Hosley had been used as the nickel corner the past few weeks, and made a few costly mistakes at key spots.

The Giants used the three-safety package for a majority of the game. Rolle and Brown played 85 percent of the defensive snaps, while Phillips played 75 percent, before leaving early after re-aggravating his knee injury.

If Phillips misses more time, the Giants may have to adjust again. Phillips said Sunday night he was “not worried,” but Coughlin said Phillips did not simply leave the Packers game just for precautionary reasons.

“Hopefully, he can deal with it and it’s not going to be anything major, but I can’t speak to that just yet,” Coughlin said. “He’s going to have to go through a couple of days of examination.”

While Rolle may not have as many opportunities to make plays at the nickel corner position, he called it a “natural fit.” Defending Randall Cobb was Rolle’s “primary responsibility,” and the Packers’ multi-purpose threat had just four catches for 39 yards against the Giants. Whether or not he’ll stay there depends on the weekly game plan, Rolle said.

“Outstanding football player. Savvy. He’s been there before,” coach Tom Coughlin said of Rolle. “He’s a pressure player as well; you can bring him in the pressure. I thought he reacted very well last night to that spot, made some key tackles in there. Was in very good shape on a lot of the parts of the throwing game. Seemed to not miss a beat in terms of the time that he has been away from that spot.”


(nj.com)

With a one-game lead in a division that has underperformed from top to bottom, the Giants could likely secure a playoff berth with a 10-6 record.

But Giants safety Antrel Rolle’s looking at the toughest part of the schedule, and suggesting that winning out might be necessary.

“I want to win six out of six,” Rolle said during his weekly appearance on WFAN (via the New York Daily News). “That’s the way I look at it, that’s the way I play the game, that’s my attitude about it. Four out of six — it may get us in, it may not get us in. it all depends.

“I don’t want to bank ourselves on a 10-6 season. So [I’m] definitely going to go for a 12-4 season.”

It doesn’t help his cause that they’re likely entering the toughest part of their schedule, starting with Sunday night’s game with the Packers. They also have a pair of division games left, along with Atlanta, New Orleans and Baltimore.

“We have control of our own destiny at this point,” Rolle said. “We’ve got to take care of each and every week as if it’s our last week, as if it’s our first week, as if it’s a do-or-die week, because that’s exactly what it is. It’s do or die; there’s no room for error at this point.”

Given the schedule they have in front of them, 4-2 would be impressive in its own right, despite Rolle’s lofty goals.


(profootballtalk.com)

A.J. Green just couldn’t watch his mouth. And now, he’ll need to spend all of Sunday watching out for Antrel Rolle.

The Giants safety made that clear to Green on Thursday, just minutes after hearing that the Bengals receiver had questioned the strength of the Giants’ secondary. The morning began with Green declaring on the radio that the Giants ‘D’ had “a lot of holes.”

And that’s all it took to set Rolle off.

“I’ll talk with my pads come Sunday,” Rolle said. “That’s how I approach the game. If he sees me, he better duck. That’s it.

“If I get a chance,” he added, “I’m coming across.”

A.J. Green, you've been warned. The always-spirited Rolle will be hunting for Green on Sunday in Cincinnati, looking to make a statement for the entire Giants ‘D’. It’s a statement the Giants ‘D’ failed to make back in Week 4, when they couldn’t shut down Browns tailback Trent Richardson, who’d yapped that he’d find running room then backed it up with 128 total yards and a score.

Green was already expected to be a marked man on Sunday; the Bengals receiver, who leads the NFL with eight TD catches, is easily Cincinnati’s most dangerous offensive weapon. The Giants praised the second-year man throughout the week and Rolle called him “a great receiver” and “definitely their best player on the offensive side of the ball.”

But Green drew the Giants ire early Thursday morning. In an interview on WFAN, the wideout praised the Giants’ defensive line, calling them “one of the best front fours in the game.” Then, he ripped the Giants’ beleaguered secondary.

“I feel like they’ve got a lot of holes in their defense,” Green said.  

Little else was needed to irritate a proud Giants secondary that knows that it has struggled. The Giants allow 264 passing yards per game, seventh-worst in the league, and they’ve been unable to shut down big plays. Last week, Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace turned a short slant into a 51-yard touchdown. And a week earlier, a 55-yard Dez Bryant catch helped spark the Cowboys near-comeback.

Rolle and his teammates knew these deficiencies long before Green opened his mouth. They just didn’t care to hear it from him. And while offenses have taken advantage of the Giants, Big Blue’s defense has been effective, making 17 interceptions, tied with the Bears for tops in the league.

“Have we given up plays? Yeah, we’ve given up plays,” Rolle said. “So I can definitely see why he says that. But at the same time we’re winning games. We’re doing whatever it takes to win games out here. We’re creating turnovers when an opportunity presents itself. So I don’t really worry too much about what he says.”

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell did care just a bit. Truth is, Green’s little rip was hardly revelation; every defense has weaknesses.  But the Bengal wideout gave Fewell just a little more ammo to push his unit to play tighter.

“I think we’ve shown lapses in play,” Fewell said. “There are holes in every defense. If you’re a good offense, you exploit what the defense gives you. All that says to me and says to our players is we need to play better.”

And the Giants defense must do that, if only to silence Green and anyone else in the league. The Giants’ beleaguered ‘D’ is tired of being ripped.

“Just go play the game, man,” Rolle said. “You can’t worry about what one guy says. He just needs to go play his game, and we need to play ours. If he sees holes, then hopefully, he’ll find ‘em.”

And if Rolle has his way, he’ll find A.J. Green, too.


(nydailynews.com)

Giants safety Antrel Rolle says the NFL’s rules that protect receivers from being hit when they’re defenseless are the reason he suffered a concussion on Sunday.

Rolle says that he suffered the concussion when he had to adjust on the fly as he was about to hit Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, concerned that he could incur a 15-yard penalty for hitting Bryant while Bryant was defenseless. According to Rolle, that adjustment left him off-balance, and he ended up tripping as he ran into teammate Corey Webster, ultimately resulting in Rolle falling head-first onto the turf.

“I was just worried about not giving them extra yards. But there’s no way around that,” Rolle told USA Today. “Does it suck for a defensive player? Yeah, it sucks. It definitely does suck. You can’t play a game the way you’ve been brought up how to play the game. We’re not trying to hurt anyone, but was I trying to detach him from the ball? Absolutely. Had he caught the ball, absolutely. I was there, I had perfect timing. I just couldn’t follow through with it.”

Rolle said that his desire not to take an illegal shot at Bryant led him to endanger himself.

“I definitely put myself in danger because it’s a split second where you have to make that decision,” Rolle said. “It’s not like I could make that decision on the ground because I was already airborne. So me twisting, turning and trying to get out of the way definitely put myself in harm’s way.”

The good news is that Rolle has been cleared to return from his concussion. The question is whether next time, Rolle will be so willing to pull up when he has a shot at a defenseless receiver.


(profootballtalk.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Antrel Rolle returned to the practice field Thursday, four days after suffering a head injury against the Cowboys.

Did he actually have a concussion? That's not entirely clear.

"To be honest, I don’t know what it was," Rolle said Thursday. "I just know I was dinged up at the moment, but for whatever it was, we had to go through and make sure we went through the right protocol. I saw the doctors. I went through the tests and everything and I’m back out here to work."

Coach Tom Coughlin liked what he saw. "He worked well today and he seemed to feel real good," Coughlin said.

With Kenny Phillips poised to return this week after missing four games with a knee injury, the Giants should have their starting safety tandem back in place for Sunday's game against the Steelers.

"It’s always great to have Kenny back," Rolle said. "I’m looking forward to having him back, looking forward to him making plays in this defense as he always does."

In Phillips' absence, the Giants unearthed another playmaker -- third-year safety Stevie Brown, who has five interceptions on the season, including three the past two weeks.

(The five picks puts Brown one behind the league leader, Bears cornerback Tim Jennings.)

Coughlin said Wednesday that he will find ways to utilize all three safeties. The Giants sometimes employed a three-safety look on defense last season.

Rolle was asked about that possibility Thursday.

"I think we can do whatever we want to do at this point," Rolle said. "It’s not our call to make as players. It’s just our job to do whatever we’re assigned to do, whatever we’re told to do and that’s all we’re going to continue to do."


(espn.com)

Antrel Rolle joined Richard Neer on WFAN in New York to discuss the challenges the team faces with the New York/New Jersey area dealing with the aftermath of Sandy, the head injury he suffered in Dallas, his status for this week’s game against Pittsburgh and the great play they’re getting from Stevie Brown, while generally refusing to bite on a war of words with Jerry Jones.

On the flight back into New Jersey just beating Hurricane Sandy:
“The flight wasn’t bad at all — very little turbulence, at least from what I can remember. Everything was pretty smooth. I think they did a great job of getting us in in a timely manner and getting us back to our homes safe and sound.”

On if he was worried as the storm loomed:
“I’m from Miami, so we go through the worst of the worst. So I’m pretty much used to this, but I know the people out here in New York are not too much used to this weather and this forecast. But this is something that I’ve gone through several times in my life before. And after going through Hurricane Andrew, to me, this is quite a breeze.”

On if the storm has thrown a wrench into their schedule:
“I think we had to adjust our schedule just a little bit due to the weather conditions, but we will be in a facility come Wednesday and everything should be A-OK.”

On the “head injury” he suffered against the Cowboys:
“They run you through a string of tests to check and see if you are concussed and whatnot. My tests came back pretty good. I was fully aware of where I was, I was fully aware of what happened on the play, what happened the play before … and things of that nature. Just little things like that. So overall I was OK with the tests, but being that they’re taking things very seriously when you’re talking about concussions in this league, they told me I wasn’t able to return to the game. Being that it was so late anyway, the trainer thought it was best for me just to sit the rest of the game out.”

On if he expects to be able to play Sunday against Pittsburgh:
“I just have a few more tests to go through come Wednesday, but if it’s up to me I’m definitely going to be out there come Sunday. I feel fine. I feel very good.”

On the surprisingly good performances the Giants’ secondary has been getting from Stevie Brown, who’s replacing the injured Kenny Phillips:
“Stevie has a knack for the ball. … Whenever the ball is in his area, he does his best to go get it. And whenever he touches it, he comes down with it. And that’s always good. Stevie, he’s had a rough road. I think he’s been cut from a couple different teams, and sometimes that’s what it takes in order for you to find your mark in this league.”

On Jerry Jones predicting at training camp that the Cowboys would “beat the Giants’ asses” in the game that was played Sunday at Cowboys Stadium:
“That’s something that was brought up before the season started, and I can tell you right now I haven’t thought about it unless I’ve been asked about it in the media. And that’s always going to be my approach — I can care less about who says what. The game still has to be played come Sunday. He invited a whole lot of people out there to watch the Giants get their butts whooped and it didn’t quite turn out that way. We went out there to take care of business. I think Dallas did an exceptional job of fighting back. A lot of teams in that situation would not have fought back the way they did, so I tip my hat to those guys for being the competitors that they are.”

Listen to Antrel Rolle on WFAN here


(sportsradiointerviews.com)

Tom Coughlin said on Monday that he does not know if safety Antrel Rolle suffered a concussion late in Sunday’s 29-24 victory over the Cowboys but indications are he may have been spared.

“Antrel could not come back in after hitting his head, taking a tumble and hitting his head on the ground,’’ Coughlin said.

Asked if Rolle had been diagnosed with a concussion, Coughlin said “I don’t know that, I’m not sure about that just yet. He was a little dizzy when he came off the field, last night on the plane he said he was fine, he didn’t seem to have any issues, he had no headaches. I’m sure he’ll still have to go through the protocol. Hopefully he’ll be okay.’’

The medical reports are not as thorough as they would be in a normal week, as the Giants on Monday had no access to any MRIs, given that Hurricane Sandy shut everything down outside their facility. The Giants team charter landed in Newark without incident about 1:15 Monday morning. “For the most part it was a good plane ride,’’ safety Stevie Brown said. “It wasn’t awful, it got bad at a few points but my definition of bad could be a little bit more than others, I don’t really like flying like that so when the plane starts shaking I get a little uneasy.’’


(nypost.com)

The Giants, at 5-2, are riding a three-game winning streak and enter Sunday's game against the 3-3 Cowboys with a chance to create some significant separation between themselves and the rest of the NFC East pack.

They also will have the opportunity to exact some revenge from the Giants' season-opening 24-17 loss.

"We didn't like going out there and losing that game," safety Antrel Rolle said in an interview on WFAN this afternoon. "Our first game at home, Wednesday night game, all the bright lights were turned on us and they came here and they whooped our butts, fair and square.

"They were definitely the better team that night and we'll show them who's the better team come Sunday night."

Observers claim the Giants are playing the best football in the NFL as they head into a brutal stretch on the schedule. Rolle doesn't think so.

"I can't say that we're the best team in football right now," Rolle said. "For one, our record doesn't show that, but two, we've been playing good football. I wouldn't say we've been playing great football. I don't think we've been playing to the kind of level I know we can play as a complete unit so at this point in time we're right where we need to be."

The Falcons own the league's best record at 6-0, while the Texans are 6-1 and the Bears are 5-1. The Giants are one of four teams sitting at 5-2.

"We'll continue to get better each and every week, but as far as putting that title of being the best team in football, no one is going to be able to do that until February, February 4th or 5th, whenever that game [the Super Bowl] is played," Rolle said. "Until then you just try to grow and get better each and every week and that's what we're trying to do here with the Giants."


(nj.com)

The Giants earned their first division win Sunday against the Redskins. Up next is a trip to Dallas, to face a Cowboys team that spoiled their season opener by handing the Giants a 24-17 loss.

"Obviously Dallas beat us the first game of the season, so we are definitely looking for get-back," safety Antrel Rolle said. "We’re definitely looking for some get-back at this point in time."

Rolle also went on to call this week's game a "must-win." The Giants sit atop their division with a 5-2 record, although their record in the NFC East is 1-2.

There's also the matter of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' message to fans this summer at his team's training camp, telling them, “Y’all should come to Cowboys Stadium and watch us beat the Giants’ (butts)."

Rolle said that doesn't trigger in their minds this week, but running back Ahmad Bradshaw said they "definitely" remember Jones' words.

"We take pride in the billboard postings and different things, which motivates our team," Bradshaw said. "We just use it all for motivation for our team."

Asked if the Giants look forward to this week's trip, Bradshaw said, "definitely, no question. We have fun in Dallas stadium."


(nj.com)

The words came straight from the heart and poured out of Antrel Rolle’s mouth as he stood in front of his locker inside a shell-shocked locker room. The 2011 Giants had just given a shameful performance against the Redskins and had been booed out of MetLife Stadium — and a Super Bowl dream appeared shattered.

But Rolle’s impassioned plea helped transform the Giants into champions:

“If you’re going to go out here and play the game on Sunday, you need to be out there with your men throughout the week,” Rolle said that day. “I’ve been nicked up all year long. A lot of other people have been nicked up all year long. We go out there and we’re fighting.

“I don’t know. I ain’t the coach, man. I’m not trying to be the coach, and I’m not trying to say what he should do or shouldn’t do. But I feel as teammates we need to hold each other more accountable. If you’re going to be in the battle come Sunday, let’s be in the battle throughout the week. That’s only going to make us better.”

On the eve of another important divisional home game against the Redskins, I asked Rolle what compelled him to stand up that day.

“I really don’t know, I felt like it was do-or-die that moment,” he said. “I just felt like we needed all of our guys on the field. I felt like in order for us to have any kinda shot, we needed everyone on the field. And that was the only message to that comment, because I knew what I was going through. Maybe my teammates didn’t know, but I knew what I was going through, I knew what I was battling. I just felt like if we had all of our guys out there and we have more of that attitude, we’ll just get ourselves that much over the hump.”

Rolle had a pair of bum shoulders.

“I had excruciating pain at times,” he said.

He practiced anyway.

“The way I see it, if I can run, I’m gonna practice,” Rolle said.

I asked him if he knew his words would carry so much impact.

“I definitely knew it would be an eye-opener,” he said. “The way I look at it, if things are always kept under wraps, then guys are gonna keep on doing the same thing. Once people started paying attention to it and looking to see, ‘Well, OK, who’s out there, who’s not, who’s this, who’s that?’ it might give a little sense of urgency, ‘Let me get my butt out there.’ ”

His teammates knew Rolle wasn’t singling anyone out.

“I think it was more or less a wakeup [call],” Justin Tuck said. “We understood he wasn’t talking to anybody individually. But I think guys took it to heart, and understood that he was right. We understood we had to step it up. ... I think some guys came back, and probably shouldn’t have. But the fact of the matter is it helped us. He hadn’t made a stance like that before, so no one had kinda looked at him in a leadership role, but after that, it really woke this team up. You give him a lot of credit for having confidence to stand up and say what was right, and the rest is history.”

Super Bowl history. From that moment on, the Giants were “all-in.” And when Rolle looks around now, in the only place he wants to be, he sees a 2012 Giants team that has adopted that mentality.

“We definitely have guys out there practicing that’s hurt and nicked-up and bruised,” he said. “We still have to be very, very smart about injuries — you gotta be careful, you don’t anyone damaging themselves, but if they can go, at least give a little bit. Any little presence is better than none.”

Especially when you are defending a championship. Especially this Sunday, when the Giants cannot afford to drop to 0-3 in the NFC East.

“There’s never gonna be a letdown Sunday for us, there’s never gonna be a roller-coaster Sunday for us,” Rolle said.

“This is definitely a must-win game for us, without a doubt,” Rolle said.

He likes the mentality of this year’s team more than the up-and-down 2011 Giants.

“I think we might have the edge a little bit more this year,” Rolle said. “Us going though that last year has put a little bit of a fire under our butt this year to get things going early and try to keep it going early, never have letdowns and never get complacent due to any kind of success.”

When E.F. Rolle speaks, everyone listens.

“Although I may be outspoken to the rest of the world, within the locker room, I don’t really say too much to the guys here,” he said. “Whenever I say something, they know it comes from deep within. It takes a lot for certain things to come out of me. ... I’m never gonna say anything that’s out of character or that’s not 100 per cent true.”

If you’re in a foxhole, you want Antrel Rolle in it with you.

“I consider myself a nut at times,” Rolle said. “A lot of times I really don’t think logical at all. I never say no. I know my coaches take advantage of it, so whatever they ask me to do, I’m gonna make sure I get it done, to the best of my ability.”

Rolle always considers himself the toughest guy out there on Sundays.

“I’ve respected opponents, but I’ve never feared anyone,” Rolle said. “It doesn’t matter how big, strong, fast they are. My teammates will definitely vouch for me — I’ll attack anything moving.”

His two interceptions of the Niners’ Alex Smith last Sunday earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

“I always make fun of my coaches, they always say, ‘Antrel, you’re not gonna stretch?’ And I say, ‘Do you ever see a lion stretch before they go hunt their prey?’ They just get up and go get it,” Rolle said. “No matter what I’m asked to do, I just try to go get it.”

From the man who restored the roar to the Giants.


(nypost.com)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Giants safety Antrel Rolle played brilliantly in New York’s 26-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday.

And now he’s been rewarded for his efforts.

The two-time Pro Bowler has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording six tackles, deflecting two passes and picking off two balls thrown by 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.

Both of Rolle’s interceptions at Candlestick Park came in the third quarter, and the first was in front of ex-Giant and former teammate Mario Manningham.

“I think what made that interception happen was definitely Corey Webster,” the former first-round pick told WFAN co-hosts Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno in his weekly spot on Tuesday. “I think he did a phenomenal job of staying patient and squaring up the receiver. And once the receiver broke on the slant route, he undercut the route so well that Alex Smith had to put air on the ball. I was fortunate enough to get a good break out of my Cover 3 zone and was able to hold onto the ball.”

Rolle is the first Giants player to take home the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award since defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was awarded in Weeks 14 and 16 of the 2011 season.

The award isn’t a first for the six-foot-0, 206-pounder, though he’s never won it with the Giants. He’s won it three times before — in Weeks 11 and 17 of the 2007 season and Week 9 of the 2009 season — when he was a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

Rolle has played in all six games for Big Blue this season, recording 35 tackles in addition to the two interceptions.


(cbslocal.com)

The perception of Antrel Rolle for the better part of last season was that his mouth — as much as his actions on the field — kept putting the Giants in difficult spots.

Remember Rolle’s proclamation about Big Blue beating the Redskins "99 out of 100 times" in the days leading up to their 23-10 defeat, sealing a regular-season series sweep for then-struggling Washington and putting the Giants’ playoff hopes in jeopardy.

That was nothing compared to what Rolle said afterward, when he tapped his chest and challenged the heart of a team that heeded his message all the way to Super Bowl XLVI.

Fast forward to today and the questioning of just how essential Rolle is to the Giants’ success no longer exists. In reality, outside of Eli Manning and perhaps Jason Pierre-Paul, there is no one more valuable than the seventh-year safety whose words and actions have become lock step with what Tom Coughlin demands from the leaders in his locker room.

On the heels of his best individual performance as a Giant and the franchise’s best regular-season effort in quite some time, it’s only fitting Rolle hit the airwaves Tuesday afternoon and set the tone for what must come next when Robert Griffin III and the Redskins visit MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

"We need this win," Rolle said in his weekly spot on WFAN-AM 660. "We need this win extremely bad."

The Giants would not have gotten their impressive win in San Francisco without him.

Rolle was outstanding in anchoring the secondary during Sunday’s triumph at Candlestick Park with two interceptions and six tackles, tied for the team lead.
Rolle picked off 49ers quarterback Alex Smith on consecutive possessions in the third quarter. On the first one, Smith was forced to throw high to former Giant Mario Manningham with Corey Webster in tight coverage.

Rolle made an acrobatic, one-handed pick, but he deflected the credit.

"What made that interception happen was definitely Corey Webster," Rolle said.

"I think he did a phenomenal job of staying patient and squaring up the receiver. And once the receiver broke on the slant route, he undercut the route so well that Alex Smith had to put air on the ball. I was fortunate enough to get a good break out of my Cover 3 zone and was able to hold onto the ball."

Once the 49ers got the ball back, Rolle was at it again; stepping in front of Michael Crabtree with his second INT of Smith in a span of three passes.

After the game, Rolle complimented the coaching staff and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. He also threw verbal bouquets at teammate Prince Amukamara for his interception of Smith after dogging the second-year cornerback all week for his inexperience in playing zone defense.

Rolle badly was beaten by 49ers tight end Vernon Davis last season, especially on a long touchdown reception — a replay of which he watched "maybe 20 times" before the game for motivation.

Davis was shut down by the Giants this time as part of a dominant defensive performance that reinforced Rolle’s opinion about how good the reigning Super Bowl champions can be.

"People are going to say whatever they want, but the game still has to be played on Sunday," Rolle said. "No one is gonna ever tell us what we can and can not do as the Giants organization."

With great perspective, Rolle has emerged as an even larger-than-expected part of that.


(northjersey.com)

For years, Michael Vick has been considered the epitome of the dual threat quarterback with top-notch speed and a cannon for an arm. But as more and more quarterbacks enter the league with the ability to make plays with their legs, he's no longer a novelty.

The Giants have already faced a few dual threat quarterbacks this season. First there was Cam Newton, and there was Vick. Last Sunday they got small doses of 49ers backup Colin Kaepernick. But next Sunday may be the ultimate test. Robert Griffin III has taken the league by storm as a rookie.

For years, Michael Vick has been considered the epitome of the dual threat quarterback with top-notch speed and a cannon for an arm. But as more and more quarterbacks enter the league with the ability to make plays with their legs, he's no longer a novelty.

The Giants have already faced a few dual threat quarterbacks this season. First there was Cam Newton, and there was Vick. Last Sunday they got small doses of 49ers backup Colin Kaepernick. But next Sunday may be the ultimate test. Robert Griffin III has taken the league by storm as a rookie.


(nj.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—The Giants were adamant about keeping Antrel Rolle at his free safety position this season after spending virtually all 2011 as the nickel cornerback.

Rolle was needed to fill a gaping hole in the secondary, even though nickel back is not where he does his best work. Strictly a safety this season, Rolle has been freed up to roam the field and make more plays.

His best showing to date was in San Francisco, where he intercepted the league’s most difficult quarterback to pick off, Alex Smith, twice in a third-quarter display of playmaking.

Rolle has great hands, but he’s often been unable to use them because he’s dropping deep in coverage. He's also versatile enough to be used in other roles, such as a primary blitzer against running quarterbacks such as Michael Vick.

With starting strong safety Kenny Phillips out with sprained knee ligaments, Rolle’s experience in the defensive backfield the past few games has been even more vital as he’s been required to help backup Stevie Brown get in the proper position.

Rolle has been dealing with a sore left knee but hasn’t missed a game and rarely misses a snap during the course of a game.


(sportingnews.com)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants safety Antrel Rolle got a tour of the 49ers' Santa Clara facility in April 2005, when the team considered taking Rolle in that year's draft.

Eight seasons later, Rolle was a nightmare for the player the Niners did pick with the first choice that year -- quarterback Alex Smith.

Rolle picked off Smith twice in the third quarter as the 49ers were trying to erase a 17-3 deficit. On the first one, Smith was attempting to thread a tight pass to former Giant Mario Manningham. Smith threw high and Rolle made a spectacular, one-handed pick that set up a Lawrence Tynes 30-yard field goal.

Once the 49ers got the ball back, Rolle was at it again, stepping in front of Michael Crabtree with his second interception of Smith in a span of three passes.

"The first one was Cover 3, and I was able to read the quarterback," Rolle said.

On the second one, Rolle was first in a Cover 3 look and then he came down to blanket Crabtree on a crossing route. When Crabtree didn't make a sharp cut, Rolle sped in front of him to pick off the pass.

After the game, Rolle complimented the coaching staff and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. It was a switch from last year, when Rolle said Fewell was not taking advantage of Rolle's ball-hawking skills.

"Perry Fewell and the rest of our defensive coaches did a tremendous job getting us ready, getting us prepared for this game," he said. "The coaches, they just really emphasized the little things this week."

Rolle and the rest of the Giants' defense were able to rattle Smith one week after he posted his best game statistically of his career. Smith was clearly confused by the shifting Giants secondary and the pressure from the front four.

"I could tell at times we had him rattled," Rolle said. "But every quarterback is going to get rattled sometimes, depending on how you disguise your coverage and things of that nature."


(espn.com)

SAN FRANCISCO — Yes, Antrel Rolle had two interceptions Sunday, his first two of the season and only the fourth and fifth in three seasons with the Giants. But when he got up to speak after a 26-3 victory over the 49ers, Rolle seemed a lot more excited to talk about Prince Amukamara’s interception.

That’s because Amukamara’s pick came on the Alex Smith-to-the-tight-end play that has burned the Giants repeatedly in the past.

“That’s a play last year when Vernon Davis scored on us last year,” Rolle said. “We got that play a couple of times. I said, ‘Prince, you didn’t play any zone when you were in college. You don’t have zone eyes.’ I said, ‘Listen, this is what’s going to come. They were very successful with this play last year. It’s going to come, it’s going to come.’ ”

Sure enough, it came early in the second quarter. The 49ers were nursing a 3-0 lead and after a nice opening drive, had been struggling to move the ball.
After a Giants punt, San Francisco had a first-and-10 at its own 34. Smith was looking for Delanie Walker deep to the left side. As the ball was in the air, Rolle was vehemently pointing back to Amukamara. The second-year cornerback out of Nebraska pulled the ball down for his first interception of the season.

“He played it to perfection, he played it better than anybody could have played it,” Rolle said. “I told him, ‘I’m really proud of you.’ Because he listened to what I said and he just saw the route.”

That turnover led to a Eli Manning touchdown pass to Victor Cruz to give the Giants the lead for good. However, it was Rolle’s two interceptions in the third that helped put the game away.

Rolle made a sweet catch of a Smith pass on San Francisco’s first possession of the second half. The ball was a little high, but Rolle reached up with his right hand and pulled it in, and then changed directions and returned the ball 20 yards to the 49ers’ 12. That set up a Lawrence Tynes field goal and a 20-3 lead for the Giants.

“I was fortunate enough to hold on to it with one hand and make a play,” Rolle said, somewhat modestly.

Added linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka: “A tipped ball in the air around him, he’s going to come down with it. That’s a testament to how hard he works as an individual.”

The second pick came on the next 49ers possession. On a third-and-16 at the 49ers’ 15, Smith was trying to force the ball in to Michael Crabtree at the right hashmarks. Instead, Rolle jumped the throw and returned it 22 yards to the San Francisco 5, setting up another Tynes field goal.

“Antrel made a couple of outstanding catches of the ball, in a very difficult position, and put us in point-blank range in the second half,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

Rolle was asked whether the two-interception day meant something special to him, given that the eight-year veteran hasn’t been the turnover producer he was in Arizona.

“This game meant as much to me as each and every game that I approach,” he said. “It’s just a game. It’s a conference game and we’re playing a very good opponent.

“I always try to go out and give my best no matter who we’re playing, no matter what division we’re playing. I just try to go out there and give my best performance for the team because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”


(nj.com)

In the days following his collision with a camera in the fourth quarter of the Giants' win over the Panthers, Antrel Rolle maintained the left knee injury he suffered was minor.

Nearly three weeks later, to his surprise, it remains an issue.

"It's a battle, it's a constant battle each and everyday. But I just try to do whatever I can to go out there and perform on Sunday," Rolle said in his weekly interview on WFAN this afternoon. "As long as I'm out there with my guys, man, that's what's good enough for me. With this knee injury, it's going to take some time. It's going to take some time.

"I never thought it would be this crucial. It's just a lingering process, not anything too serious, but it's something that just lingers around and it kind of sticks with you a little bit, but I'll be fine. And I will be out there again come Sunday."

Rolle has played through the knee trouble the last two weeks and will be needed again this Sunday against the 49ers. The Giants, already without Kenny Phillips due to a sprained MCL, are now down two safeties after Will Hill was suspended for four games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy.

In his place, the Giants activated safety Tyler Sash, who is coming off the same suspension, and needed to be activated by Monday at 4 p.m. or the Giants would've had to waive him. Both Sash and Hill tested positive for Adderall.

"It is difficult -- especially when Will Hill has been playing good football for us," Rolle said. "Unfortunately, we had Kenny go down and myself, I'm still dealing with this knee injury. It just seems like if it's not one thing, it's another. I will be honest about that. But we're a tough unit. We're a tough unit and we're a close unit.

"And we're going to make sure with Will and his suspension, make sure that he's staying level-headed and make sure he keeps himself in the game and at the same time move Sash along and get Sash caught up to speed. We're going to look to Sash to be a playmaker come Sunday."

With Phillips out Sunday against the Browns, Stevie Brown got the start in his place and after a costly mistake in coverage that allowed Josh Gordon to score a 62-yard touchdown, he came through with two key turnovers.

"Very, very crucial turning point in the game," Rolle said of Brown's first turnover, an interception of Brandon Weeden at the end of the first half. "I think it couldn't have been a better moment in the game. Stevie Brown, he's a guy for us, like you said, he's making plays for us and he's been coming up huge for us with Kenny being out."

Rolle became close friends with former Giants and current 49ers running back Brandon Jacobs in their two seasons as teammates and the two have maintained contact since Jacobs' departure.

"I definitely kept in contact with Jacobs. [I] checked up on his knee and when I had my knee injury, he called to check up on my knee," Rolle said. "Jacobs is a good guy, man. A very passionate guy and I miss having him as a teammate."

But Rolle said the friendships – the Giants will also go up against former teammate Mario Manningham – are forgotten until the final whistle blows Sunday.

"It's going to be good to see those guys and to actually play against them," Rolle said. "We're all friends, we're all great friends off the field, but on the field we have to go out there and execute. So if that means to bring the noise then so be it. We're definitely going to bring the noise and we'll hug and shake hands after the game, but during that game time, there won't be any pats on the butt. It's going to be straight hard-nosed football."


(nj.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Safety Antrel Rolle was limited in practice as his bruised knee continues to bother him.

Tom Coughlin has repeatedly praised Rolle for his toughness and ability to play through pain. But Rolle is still feeling discomfort with the knee, which he banged against a television camera in the corner of the end zone last Thursday in Carolina. It's a situation to monitor as the week progresses.


(espn.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Part of the Giants' euphoria from their big 36-7 win over the Panthers was dampened by the sight of safety Antrel Rolle being helped off the field in the fourth quarter after a collision with a photographer.

Rolle was running full speed toward the end zone to cover Greg Olsen on a pass that was overthrown by Cam Newton. Olsen ran into the photographer and tumbled to the ground, but Rolle tried to hurdle her and his knee appeared to hit the lens of the camera. He was helped to his feet and ushered to the sideline by trainers for a brief examination, then quickly carted to the locker room.



The Giants announced that Rolle suffered a laceration to his knee, but he also was having the joint X-rayed. Tom Coughlin and Rolle both said he is not expected to miss any time.

"I was trying to jump over the camera," Rolle said. "I guess I wasn't as successful as I wanted to be."

The Giants are already thin in their secondary, but most of their injuries have been at cornerback. That included Thursday night when rookie Jayron Hosley left the game with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter. Corey Webster missed a series in the first half having his hand X-rayed, but returned to the game with a cast protecting a broken bone. Webster said he expects to be able to play with the cast in future games.

In the spirit of the evening, Rolle's replacement, Stevie Brown, had an interception in the end zone shortly after taking the field for his first defensive snaps of the season.


(newsday.com)

The New York Giants suffered a huge letdown in their season-opening loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and a depleted secondary is taking the majority of the blame for that. The G-men struggled to slow down Tony Romo and his receivers, and safety Antrel Rolle was again forced to chip in primarily as a cover guy.

Antrel Rolle joined Joe and Evan on WFAN in New York to discuss the tough loss to the Cowboys in the opener and the urgency to improve quickly.

On if they were suffering from the effects of a Super Bowl hangover in the opener:
“We weren’t really aware of anything that was taking place before the game because we were in the locker room just preparing, but was there a hangover? I don’t think it had anything to do with a hangover. I just think that the Dallas Cowboys were the better team that night and it came out. And I think they wanted it a little bit more than we did.”

On what went wrong against the Cowboys:
“We have to win the one-on-one matchups and we have to do what we’re assigned to do as far as assignment and technique and dropping to your landmarks and playing the guy within your area, squeezing points that need to be squeezed, making plays when the opportunity presents itself. And I don’t think we did such a good job of that last Wednesday night. I think we definitely have to clean it up, we definitely have to get more crisp in our approach and more crisp in our assignments, but most of all, we have to have that attack mentality that ‘I’m going to make the play, not you.’”

On Tony Romo’s performance last Wednesday:
“I’m not surprised by his play. In my eyes, Tony Romo has always been a good quarterback. He’s a quarterback that can extend the plays and keep it going. He was just a little bit too comfortable for my liking. I just felt like he was a little bit too comfortable and I’ve never, ever seen Tony Romo that comfortable going up against our defense.”

On having to get back on track quickly with the potentially underrated Buccaneers on deck:
“We gotta pick it up, man. There’s not too much more to say about it, we definitely have to pick it up. … Last year is last year, it has nothing at all to do with this year. And that’s our approach.”


(sportsradiointerviews.com)

Antrel Rolle won a Super Bowl with the Giants in 2011, but it was also a grueling season for him in which he battled physical troubles, his own emotions, and eventually called out the entire team when they were on the brink of missing the playoffs. The safety sat with Newsday's Tom Rock for a Q&A session in which he reflected on the season, its difficulties and its glories.

I saw you on the field after the Super Bowl and you were completely exhausted. It looked like you didn't even really comprehend what was going on at the time. How long did it take it to sink in?
"I'd been to a Super Bowl before [with Arizona], but this past year, that Super Bowl, I think it drained me to my possible limits. I don't think I had another game left in me."

So if the game had gone into overtime . . . ?
"If that game had gone into overtime, I was going to pull it together. I had it in me for that game. But I didn't have another game in me. That's for certain. I think my parents saw it, I think my brothers and sisters saw it. After the game, I just went back to the room and I just crashed. It was a sigh of relief. I didn't go to any party, I didn't celebrate after. I was more mentally exhausted than physically exhausted. My shoulders were banged up but more important than anything, there was a lot on my plate playing the multiple positions, playing the nickel, playing the bison (the name of a Giants subpackage), playing safety as well as doing multiple thinking for my teammates, for myself and for the coaches . . . I kind of distanced myself from everyone going into the playoffs. The only people I really spoke to was my family. That was something I'd never ever done while playing football was distance myself from everyone. Not my teammates, but outside friends or whatever. I felt like this was something that I needed to give my all and I didn't have room for anything else in my life at that time. I think it was definitely worth the sacrifice."

You played with a lot of pain last year, two torn rotator cuffs in your shoulders. How hard was that?
"It was hard but it wasn't as hard as most people may think. I'm a guy who has always fought through injury, I've always fought through tough times, through battles no matter what it's been. If God allowed me to run, I was playing. That's just the way I approach the game. If I'm allowed to run, I'm going to go out there and do the best I can for my teammates. I know that they were depending on me and I had a huge role to play last year and I just couldn't see myself sitting out no matter how injured I was."

Did you want out last year? Was there a low point when you wanted to leave the Giants?
"No. Never."

There were articles written that you did.
"I don't even know where those stories came from but I've never ever wanted out of this organization. I think this organization is a class-act organization. I think it's a first-class organization. There were times where I wanted to play the position, the safety position. Yeah, there were times where I was unhappy about maybe how I was being played and things of that nature. But you have to take the good with the bad. Sometimes me having to play the nickel spot, obviously they put me in that spot because they knew I could do it. You have to take that on your shoulders and put all the selfishness aside and do what's best for the team. That was my approach toward the end of the season. It took me a while to get there. I can admit that. But when I got there, we were all in."

That was a big turning point for the team, when you seemed to commit yourself to that role. Did you see that as a turning point at the time?
"Absolutely. I think I definitely felt it at the time. I put a lot of pressure on myself and I always say that I'm going to be as good as I want to be. I think at that point and time, right after the Washington game, I made a choice that I'm just going to go out here and be the best nickel I can be, go out here and be physical and disrupt receivers and just play within the defense and let's see the outcome."

You get criticized sometimes for being too outspoken, but then you spoke out after that Redskins game (a loss that left the Giants at 7-7). It seemed like when you were outspoken there, it actually helped and changed the mood and the attitude of this team.
"I think it's definitely a fine line. You never want to cause any problems. That's something I've never done, I've never caused any problems within this organization or with my teammates. They'll be the first ones to tell you that. By me saying what I said, it was one of those moments where I thought: 'Damn, Antrel, do you say this? Do you know what it's going to cause? Or do you keep your mouth closed and you know what that's going to cause?' I chose to just let it weigh on my shoulders and deal with whatever was going to come my way but I just knew that once we got on board and we had everyone on deck that the outcome was going to be phenomenal. I don't have a crystal ball or anything but I just know the talent of this team and I know how hard we worked to get to where we were. I'm just grateful that my teammates backed me up. My teammates backed me up with their play, with their words, with their actions. For us to go out there and win it as a team, it couldn't have been more gratifying than that."

Do you feel you're misunderstood by the fans and public?
"I really don't think I'm misunderstood. I think the way people portray things, I think they lead people to misunderstand me. If anyone ever listens to what I say, I never ever say anything for myself, I never ever say anything about my own selfish goals or selfish reasons. Everything is always for the betterment of the team. I realize that maybe I was a little different breed coming here and me speaking out and saying certain things may have opened peoples' eyes, but I never said anything other than the truth. I never said anything to intentionally hurt anyone or have anyone look at me with an odd eye. I've always said things in favor of our team, whether good or bad. I've always been a guy that takes criticism. I've always been a guy who loves for people to critique me, whether it's going to hurt my feelings or it's going to lift me up. I just always wanted the right info. Just give me what I need to hear as opposed to what I want to hear. That's just the way I am. I know it may not all seem pretty at first but at the end of the day, it's going to have a pretty outcome."


(newsday.com)

ALBANY — He knew there was something very wrong with both his shoulders last winter, but Antrel Rolle refused to go through the customary routine of getting an X-ray or MRI to determine why he was in such excruciating pain.

No time for that. Not with a regular season to be saved and a Super Bowl title to claim.

“I wasn’t going to go for any tests, I didn’t want to know what it was,’’ the Giants safety told The Post yesterday after lunch at the University at Albany. “I knew it was something. I know my body. I’m a fast healer, not too many things really bother me. Little nicks and bruises, I kind of get over it in a day or two.’’

Not this time. Rolle didn’t seek answers because he didn’t want anyone to tell him he had to take a seat.

“I’d rather just eat the pain and we’ll handle it in the off-season,’’ he said.

Oh, he ate the pain all right. He revealed to The Post he played down the stretch last season with a Grade II tear of the right rotator cuff. His left rotator cuff wasn’t as severe — it was partially torn. His range of motion was nearly non-existent. If he could brace for impending impact, the discomfort was tolerable. The action on a football field cannot always be choreographed or calculated, and when the unexpected pull or tug occurred he saw stars.

“There were definitely times where my shoulder felt like it was almost coming out, or if I jumped up to bat a ball down it felt like the worst things I’ve ever felt,’’ Rolle said. “Yeah, it definitely hurt. I’m not Superman, you know.’’

His left shoulder was damaged in the Dec. 11 game at Cowboys Stadium. Rolle dealt with it as best he could but in the first playoff game, Jan. 8 against the Falcons, his right rotator cuff was torn.

After that, on game days, Rolle said he got his shoulders wrapped tightly by assistant trainer Leigh Weiss, “keeping them restricted, but not too restricted.’’ He took a shot of Toradol to blunt the inevitable pain and took the field.

In the critical final regular season game against the Cowboys — essentially a play-in game for the playoffs — Rolle said he hit running back Felix Jones on a slant pattern and then made a guttural sound to describe what happened next. “I just lay on the ground for a second,’’ he said. “I just had to jump up because I didn’t want to get myself into that mind-frame that, ‘Damn, you’re shoulder’s hurting.’ I had to keep going.’’

At Candlestick Park in the NFC Championship, Rolle said on one play his shoulder bent all the way backward.

“That was another moment,’’ he said, not appearing as if he enjoyed the recollection. “It was very painful. Very, very painful.’’

As last season wore on, Rolle evolved into an emotional leader for the oft-battered defense and his sounding the “All In’’ rallying cry became one of the seminal moments in the title run. Justin Tuck admitted Rolle’s plea for anyone and everyone to participate in practice — no matter how banged up — struck a chord and provoked him to ignore his own ailments.

Rolle now had to practice what he preached.

“There was no coming out, that wasn’t an option,’’ he said. “I can’t say it and not live by it, that wouldn’t be me.’’

Yesterday, Rolle looked frisky intercepting an overthrown Eli Manning pass and he says his shoulders are no longer a concern. He said the Giants doctors “suggested’’ he have surgery on both shoulders.

“I asked them, just give me a month,’’ Rolle said.

He worked extensively on his shoulders, sometimes twice a day back home in Miami, and reports his shoulders are “probably stronger than they were before.’’ He hasn’t missed a beat in training camp.

“Thank God I was able to be successful with that miracle,’’ said Rolle, adding he doesn’t regret what he put himself through. “God forbid, if it has to be an issue, I’m doing the same thing again.’’


(nypost.com)

There’s never a dull moment with Antrel Rolle. The Giants safety who made the statement ‘at the end of the day’ famous last season with WFAN in New York was at it again for the start of training camp. No.26 had a jaw dropping hair cut when he arrived to Albany, NY last week from who he calls the best barber in Miami, who also happens to be blind.

Rolle made it known last season that the Giants were a Super Bowl team and he backed that talk up. He took Jerry Jones recent comments in stride and believes that both teams won’t disappoint on September 5th.

Antrel Rolle joined WFAN in New York with Boomer and Carton to discuss his performance in training camp so far, getting his hair spray painted neon yellow and blue, playing cornerback while Terrell Thomas gets healthy, Jerry Jones saying he wants the Cowboys to kick the Giants ass and Jerry Jones comments regarding ‘Glory Hole’.

How’s training camp going for you guys?
“It’s been going good man. We are doing good. Doing a lot of great work. You know a lot of progress. Guys are filling in the blanks. We’re starting to figure out what we have on our team and trying to keep what we pretty had consistent with the older guys and our veterans.”

I’m trying to figure out what you did with your head. What’s this haircut all about?
“Hey man that’s the best barber in Miami hands down. [Craig Carton: Cause he spray painted your head neon yellow?] It wasn’t spray paint. It was actually dye. It was a four hour process.”

Are you hoping that Terrell Thomas gets healthy, so you don’t have to play cornerback as much?
“Oh absolutely. That’s always been my primary concern with hoping for the best with Terrell Thomas. It’s not only him being on the field because I know what he has gone through. I see the work he has put into that rehab and getting his knee right. To come back and be himself for the team each and every day, so it was extremely hurtful to see him have another setback like that. Terrell Thomas is a strong guy and I am sure he is going to bounce back in no time. As far as me? This is my third year doing this, so whatever position I am detailed to play it really doesn’t matter. I am going to go out there and be the best guy I can at that position.”

What are your thoughts on Jerry Jones saying he wants the Cowboys to kick the Giants ass?
“[Laughs] Jerry Jones is an awesome owner. He does whatever he can do to try to motivate his organization, but they are going to need a little more motivation than that to come in and kick our ass. I tell you that much. We don’t lay down to anyone and that’s our approach. We come to play the game. We know they are going to be ready. We know they are going to bring their ‘A’ game, but so are we.”

What are your thoughts on Jerry Jones comments regarding ‘Glory Hole’?
“[Laughs] You know there is nothing wrong with wishful thinking. There’s nothing wrong with wishful thinking. You just have to make that become a reality in the best way possible.”


(sportsradiointerviews.com)

ALBANY, N.Y. — Antrel Rolle reported to training camp with a new haircut and the same mind-set that helped him emerge as a leader for the Giants on the way to their Super Bowl XLVI victory nearly six months ago.

The outspoken Rolle, who has said every word that leaves his mouth has a message, went from complaining about teammates and game plans to complimenting everything the franchise for which he plays represents, from ownership to coach Tom Coughlin and on down.

What the Giants have had since is a playmaker willing to sacrifice his own hunger for some more All-Pro glory in order to help solidify the defense, making it one of the best.

The team is asking Rolle to do exactly that again, at least for the short term.

Because with the uncertainty surrounding Terrell Thomas’ ACL injury continuing to cloud his immediate future, Rolle is the best option the Giants have right now to play nickel cornerback against slot receivers, some of the quickest and most difficult players on the field.

"In life, sometimes you are going to get some changes," said Rolle, who opened camp by expressing his strong desire to move back to his free safety position. "You have to play the cards that are dealt to us. It is something that I have done before so I am not a stranger in this position. So if I have to play it, then so be it."
After practice Thursday, Coughlin had no new information to provide on Thomas’ right knee injury. A report late Wednesday night stated doctors – presumably Dr. Arthur Ting in California, who performed the second surgery — believed Thomas did not tear his ACL when he slipped in practice.

Asked if he believed Thomas could play again this season, Coughlin said, "I don’t know what to believe."

The plan now is for Thomas to see Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla., for a third opinion Tuesday.

"As I told you [Wednesday], I’m going to stay positive until somebody tells me differently," Coughlin said. "I think he’s with Dr. Andrews and that’s another opinion, so we’ll see. … I don’t know what to believe until we get it all back … at one time, there was a possibility of a scope to look at to see the damage.
"We’ve done the MRIs and all that stuff. I think he’s collecting different opinions."

The last two times Rolle reported to camp with a unique haircut his teams went to the Super Bowl. The first time was in 2008 with the Arizona Cardinals; then last year with the Giants.

"Whatever it takes to keep it going," Rolle said.

That seems to have become a mantra for a player critics once said talked too much.

"Antrel is willing to do whatever you ask him to do," Coughlin said. "He’s played down there. He’s played back at safety. He’s known both positions. He would play both positions and play them well."

Working under the assumption Thomas will not be back any time soon, if at all — the Giants have to go forward in camp believing that’s the case, considering the circumstances involving his surgically repaired right knee – Rolle playing slot corner puts Prince Amukamara with the first team on the outside likely in a competition against Michael Coe, Justin Tryon and Bruce Johnson.

A wrinkle ultimately could be whether that combination behind Amukamara — in addition to rookie Jayron Hosley — could be using linebacker Jacquian Williams in the pseudo-safety/slot role Deon Grant occupied for most of last season.

"I think we have some different combinations of people, as you’ve seen if you’ve been watching close enough," Coughlin said. "There’s different guys playing in that spot – even Jacquian is playing in that spot. We’ll use the different combinations of people … and whoever we feel like is the best person to give us the balance we want between the pressures and the man coverage aspect of it, we’ll go that."


(northjersey.com)

ALBANY, N.Y. – Last year, when the Giants’ defensive coaches needed to replace Terrell Thomas, they had Antrel Rolle playing down low instead of at a natural safety spot. Rolle found it difficult to accept and at one point even talked about wanting out of the organization.

Eventually, Rolle came to accept and embrace his job as a nickel cornerback. The rest is Super Bowl history.

Well, the Giants and Rolle are right back in the same spot now that Thomas, whom secondary coach Peter Giunta said was ticketed to play the nickel corner spot, is likely lost for the season again. Rolle is the easiest, quickest solution to the problem right now.

So must the process of getting him to come around commence once again?

“That’s a good question because … two days ago, I went up to him and had a conversation with him and said, ‘Antrel, we’re going to put you down in the slot just like your position last year. Not saying it’s going to be permanent but we need you to get some reps there.’ He said, ‘No problem, Coach,’” safeties coach David Merritt told reporters today. “And of course, after the Terrell Thomas situation, I went back to him again and said, ‘Okay, Antrel, you need to think of yourself as a starter at that position,’ and he said, ‘Whatever it takes.’”

Obviously, seeing the results of buying into being a nickel cornerback – which allows much fewer chances to intercept a pass or deliver a big hit than safety – has helped Rolle realize the greater good.

“No question,” Merritt said. “That’s the one thing we did last year. All of the guys started trusting and believing the guy that’s next to them. And when they started to understand and believe the guy that’s next to them is going to be where he’s supposed to be, the guys started playing well, they started playing faster.”

Make no mistake here, the Giants want Rolle to play the nickel spot as little as Rolle does. Putting him down low means they’d have to bring another safety onto the field to fill his spot at the top of the secondary. That player was Deon Grant last year, but he remains unsigned as of now.

So the hope is one of the veteran candidates (Giunta mentioned Antwaun Molden or Dante Hughes by name for that spot) or perhaps rookie Jayron Hosley can step up and win the nickel job, allowing the team to keep Rolle deep.

All of this, of course, is assuming Prince Amukamara plays well on the outside.

“He did a great job the other day in his 1-on-1s and he’s making progress and doing a great job,” Giunta said of Amukamara. “He did get all the meeting time and all of that (while sidelined this spring), so he understands the defense. Now, it’s just a matter of getting the techniques down, getting the calls and playing with each other.

“He flashes the talent. There’s no issues with the foot, no issues with the back. That’s what was holding him back, not lack of confidence, not lack of knowing what to do. It was just lack of being physically fit and able to do it. Now, he’s in football shape and ready to play.”


(nj.com)

Antrel Rolle said Osi Umenyiora has been “smiling like a kid in a candy shop” since he restructured his contract and made peace with the Giants. And he’s not the only one.

With Umenyiora back in the fold and seemingly happy, the defending Super Bowl champs are “stacked,” Rolle said, and primed for another championship run. They have what Rolle “truly” thinks is the best defensive line in football, and with Umenyiora back maybe one of the best overall defenses, too.

“We have an outstanding defensive line without Osi, but with Osi there it makes it that much better,” Rolle said on Tuesday night at Chelsea Piers where former Giants receiver David Tyree was holding a bowling event to benefit Children of the City. “I think we have a great team all the way around, not just the defensive line. We’re stacked right now at each and every position.

“As long as guys stay healthy it’s going to be a great run.”

Having the 30-year-old Umenyiora back will be a huge help to that run, and not just because of the 121/2 sacks he had in 13 games last season. The resolution of his years-long contract squabble with the Giants eliminates what might be the only offseason distraction the champs have had.

“We don’t have to answer questions about it,” Eli Manning said. “We don’t have to worry about it. We just have to worry about playing football.”

“Everybody knows this is a business in the NFL and Osi had to do whatever he had to do,” Rolle added. “Sometimes business can get a little sticky. We all know that.”


(nydailynews.com)

S Antrel Rolle is excited to have a Super Bowl ring but doesn't want to become complacent. “Once it's all said and done, we still have to go out there and take care of business,” Rolle said at Wednesday's ring ceremony. “You can always have more rings. Ask Michael Jordan.” Rolle said he's eager to show it to his former University of Miami teammates.


(cbssports.com)

Giants safety and Super Bowl champion Antrel “At The End Of The Day” Rolle paid Boomer & Craig a visit in the Allstate Studio on Tuesday. And by the sound of things, I’d say all three had some fun.

Rolle talked about the Giants’ triumph over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI and everything that led up to that moment.  He told the guys how, even when the Giants were just 7-7, he knew he was part of a special team.  Rolle also talked candidly about players being held accountable and what he expects from his teammates.

He was asked about his spat with Boomer’s pal Cris Collinsworth, seemed to get a kick out of Craig’s impression of his head coach Tom ‘kiss my a–’ Coughlin and said he has never been part of or heard anything about any kind of bounty program.

After acknowledging his overuse of  his catch phrase ‘at the end of the day’ (for which he blames his mother), Rolle was treated to a montage of him doing his thing.

Before saying goodbye, Rolle showed the guys his new chest tattoo — and drew Craig’s attention because of his well-toned, hairless body…


(cbslocal.com)

Everyone is preparing to join in the annual college basketball festivities in the month of March, including Super Bowl champion defensive back Antrel Rolle of the New York Giants. While enjoying the offseason and taking in some sports other than football, the two-time Pro Bowler will be kicking back and playing along with Class Act Sports brand new app, Class Act Brackets.

A completely free pick 'em style bracket game, Class Act Brackets gives all players the chance to win $100,000 for completing a perfect bracket. Prizes will also be awarded to the top five gamers, and people can create as many custom private or public leagues as they wish while enjoying this year's college basketball tournament.

All 67 matchups will be announced during Selection Sunday on March 11, and fans can begin completing their brackets shortly after the schedule is set. Class Act Brackets is available for iPhone, iPad and Android, or directly through the official website at Brackets.ClassActSports.com
Check out ClassActSports.com along with Antrel and all the other basketball fans around the country for your chance to put 100 grand in your hand for free today!


(classactsports.com)

New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle will be appearing at fye Tuesday to sign copies of a video commemorating the Giants' Super Bowl victory.

According to an ad posted on Craigslist, Rolle will be at the store from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The video, available in DVD and Blu-Ray format, commemorates the Giants' championship season. The season culminated with a 20-16 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

According to the ad, wristbands for the event will only be made available to customers who reserve the DVD ahead of time. They will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.


(levittown.com)

Veteran safety Antrel Rolle had a choice to make earlier this season with the New York Giants: Complain about the fact that he was moved away from his natural position, or do what the coaches asked for the betterment of his team. Fortunately for the Giants, he chose the latter, and Giants players and fans couldn’t be happier as he helped deliver the team’s second Super Bowl title in the past four years.

“I only played safety two games this year. I pretty much played a fill-in position. I played whatever position was needed at that point. And I wasn’t too happy about that throughout the course of the year but towards the end of the year, I had to make a decision, is this about me, or is it about the team? Is it about my own self-goals or is it about the team goals,” Rolle said in an exclusive interview with Jared Ginsberg of Class Act Sports.
Rolle was all over the field this season (he had a career-high 96 tackles to go along with two interceptions) playing whatever roll was needed on the defense, forgetting about individual accolades for the sake of his teammates.

“And once I made that decision that the team was so much more bigger than myself, I started to become the best nickel that I could possibly be. It didn’t matter whether or not I got interceptions, it didn’t matter whether or not I was playing safety, playing nickel, playing linebacker. I said to myself whatever position I was going to play, I was going to be the best at that position. So I tell people all the time, I’ve been All-Pro, I’ve been to the Pro Bowl but there is nothing like a team accomplishment, and there is nothing like winning the Super Bowl,” Rolle said.

The Giants started out 6-2 before four-straight losses put them at 6-6. The last loss of that streak was to the defending champion Packers, 38-35 on a field goal as time expired.  After that game, Rolle told anyone that would listen, “We’ll see them again.” The Giants did see them again, to the tune of a 38-20 NFC Divisional Playoff win at Lambeau Field, and it was Rolle who was one of the leaders and most vocal guys in the lockerroom.

“First and foremost, I think it always starts with myself. I go home every day and look at myself in the mirror and see how I can get better as an individual and see how I can help my team. I just felt like we needed a little more boost, we needed a little bit more energy. We needed a little more fire, a little more mental toughness in order to make the run we knew we needed to make to get to the post season,” Rolle told Class Act Sports.
The Giants went on to finish the regular season with three wins in their final four games, before four-in-a-row in the playoffs. Rolle helped keep it loose during that time, even attributing to one of the team slogan’s, “Where Trel At?”

“I’m always the last guy out of the lockerroom, That’s just my thing. I like to be the last guy out, make sure everyone gets out there efficiently and on time, but whenever Deon [Grant] didn’t see me, he’d always ask, ‘Where ‘Trel at? Where ‘Trel at? You know the defense don’t roll without ‘Trel! Where ‘Trel at?’ So the [equipment team] they’re in charge of my equipment- they took it and ran with it and started making fun of our Ebonics- ending a sentence with a preposition. It became like an in-house slogan. Whenever you said it, no matter what you’re going through it always brightened up your day. It was more of an energy booster. When times got tough, going through the postseason I knew it was going to be a stressful stretch, so one Saturday, I decided to get everybody shirts and put it in their lockers, and they came in Saturday and saw the shirts, and it just put a smile on everyone’s face. And that’s what it was all about. And each week, we kept our tradition going. We put out different shirts every week,” he said.

Another key part of the stingy and timely defense that helped the Giants win their fourth Super Bowl was Jason Pierre-Paul. The second-year defensive end had a breakout year with 86 tackles and 16.5 sacks. And while Rolle admitted, he didn’t see this coming, he expects more of the same from Pierre-Paul in the 2012 season.

“I can’t tell you that I imagined him having the season he had this past season but I really didn’t know too much about JPP. But being around him, and seeing his work ethic each and every day, the sky is the limit for this guy. He is only just beginning he is definitely going to bring a whole lot more than what he brought this year,” Rolle told Class Act Sports exclusively.

Before the season began, Giants fans were unhappy with their GM Jerry Reese who let tight end Kevin Boss and wide receiver Steve Smith walk away during free agency and not make a splash signing any free agents. But Reese said the Giants would make the playoffs, and boy did they ever. In fact, Rolle said he was surprised at just how much everyone inside the organization believed in the team.

“Our management has always been awesome. Thanks to them, I am a Giant and thanks to them, I am a Super Bowl Champion. I think when everyone questioned ‘What are they doing? How come they aren’t making the moves? You know the Eagles are doing this, everyone is doing that, and we’re just staying put,’ I think they understood what we had in our lockerroom. Probably more so than we did, and I think they believed that through tough times, we will get it done, and it made us get stronger. It made us build chemistry and I think that was their mindset. They don’t have a crystal ball to say what is going to happen. But if the season had turned a different way, I’m pretty sure everyone would have probably ripped them for that, but thanks to us and thanks to them, we believed in each other and they believed in us more than anyone, and were able to go out there and be Super Bowl Champions,” he said.

He had made the Super Bowl with the Cardinals three years ago, and was seconds away from being a Champion, before Santonio Holmes caught the winning touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 35 seconds remaining in the game. So Rolle did all he could to ensure not having that feeling repeat itself again in Super Bowl XLVI.

“It’s extremely special. Most of all, because I think it is well-deserved. It was a collective team effort from top to bottom, and most of all, we gave ourselves a chance when no one else did. And we believed in each other and that’s all it took. Once we got on the same page at the same time and things started clicking, we weren’t going to be denied and we knew it and we felt it, we went out there and we believed it, we dreamed it and it became true,” Rolle said.

It won’t be easy repeating, as the Patriots were the last team to do it in the 2004-2005 seasons, but Rolle knows his team is very capable of winning it again- if they play as the did when it mattered this season.

“It’s going to take more, it’s going to take the same thing just magnified by ten because being the Super Bowl Champs, that bulls-eye is going to be on your back. But I’m never going to sell ourselves short. I think the sky is the limit for us. I think we have an identity. I think we know who we are and what we can be at this point and we are only going to get better,” he said.


(classactsports.com)

All season long, Antrel Rolle was a regular guest on WFAN with Joe and Evan.  From a blogger’s perspective, he was an absolute goldmine for content, not just for the nonsense he spewed, but also for his penchant for inserting the phrase “at the end of the day” after every other sentence.  Here’s a quick sampling of that (audio only):



Well… apparently Antrel can poke fun at himself a little.  At the Giants’ parade, you have to look close, but he was sporting an “At the end of the day” hoodie.  Good for you, Antrel.  Cheers, bud, and thanks for the fodder.




(bloggingthebeast.com)

The Rock says he is going to electrify MetLife Stadium like never before at next year's WrestleMania.

But Dwayne Johnson was a football player at the University of Miami before he became The Rock. And he dreamed of playing in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl. That is why he took time to walk on the MetLife Stadium field before yesterday's WrestleMania press conference and soak in the atmosphere of the home field of the world champion Giants. He also said he is thrilled for his fellow Hurricanes Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips.

"Very proud of those guys," Johnson said. "What happens when we’re at the University of Miami, there is such a love and connection and a brotherhood that we all have that we love and we support each other. It is about 'The U' whether we have winning seasons or not. But all those guys who go on and play in the NFL, I am very very proud of those guys. That was my goal too but it didn’t happen for me. It happened to those guys and I am very proud."

"Football was my life for a lot of years," he added. "I've always had what I call Super Bowl dreams, of getting drafted and playing in the NFL and playing in the Super Bowl. That never happened. So I live vicariously through a lot of these guys and the New York Giants is one of them.

"To be able to come here and not be a Super Bowl champion but be 'The People's champion'... on this field... awesome."


(espn.com)

As Queen’s “We Are the Champions” blared over the sound system, 200 cheering seventh- and eighth-graders welcomed New York Giants starting safety Antrel Rolle to the gymnasium at the Anna L. Klein School in Guttenberg.

“In my household, education came first I wasn’t allowed to get C’s on my report card,” said Rolle, whose Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 21-17, in the Super Bowl.

“Football is a great, outstanding thing, but it’s just a stepping stone,” he told the students, stressing that nothing beats receiving a good education.
Rolle came to the school on an invitation by his friend, Guttenberg Police Officer Chad Smith. The 29-year-old Rolle, who also reached the Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals two years ago, did not hesitate in saying yes.

“I have a huge love and passion for the kids,” Rolle told The Jersey Journal.

“My mother was a guidance counselor for 32 years, while my father and two brothers are police officers in Miami (Fla.), so I know what giving back to the community is about.”

The students in attendance seemed to appreciate what Rolle, who owns a home off River Road in North Bergen, had to say, taking home the positive message he was trying to send.

“The message I took home is that education is big, something to take very seriously,” said Gilberto Cue, an eighth-grader who plays football and basketball.

“Motivation is the most important thing for everything you do,” is the message Simon Correa, also an eighth-grader, took home from the event.
Rolle, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, took questions from the kids.

“I knew from a young age I could do anything I set my mind to,” Rolle said when asked how he became a professional athlete. “Throughout my life, I saw plenty of more athletically gifted players than me, but they didn’t have my heart and determination.”

As far as the NFL goes, Rolle said winning Super Bowl XLVI was “a dream come true” and “the best feeling yet.”

Anna L. Klein vice principal Joe Forenza introduced Rolle to the students, while Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff presented Rolle with a plaque thanking him for his service to the community, as well as a Key to the Town.

“This is an honor, it’s great for the kids,” Drasheff said. “We’re stressing sports/fitness for our young people, but obviously we want to stress the importance of scholastics as well.”

Rolle stayed after his talk to sign autographs and have pictures taken with students, faculty and police officers.


(nj.com)

The Giants unabashedly expressed their confidence -- some might call it cockiness -- during their run to the Super Bowl XLVI title. And at the forefront of it all was safety Antrel Rolle.

Consider: Rolle refused to put the Packers on a pedestal before their divisional-round game, then called out 49ers tight end Vernon Davis ahead of the NFC Championship Game. And heading into Super Bowl week, Rolle was blunt in saying the Giants wouldn't have boarded the plane for Indianapolis if they didn't believe they would beat the Patriots -- which they did.

Was it legit trash talk? Or simply media hype? Rolle, not surprisingly, is clear in how he feels.

"I've always understood that the media doesn't play the game of football," Rolle said Tuesday during a visit to NFL Network. "All they can do is write. No matter what, they have no say-so in what the outcome is going to be when the game is played. If you have a confident football team, that's what you need in this league. ... We (weren't) saying we can't be beaten; we (weren't) saying we're the best in the NFL. What we (were) saying is, 'Yeah, we're confident in our approach. We're confident in what we have here as a unit.'

"People are going to take it and twist and turn it around into whatever they want to write. But, at the end of the day, you need to have a confident team to play in this league."

Sure, the Giants could've dialed it back a bit, but that's not how they're made up -- especially Rolle.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with what we said," Rolle said. "Myself, in particular, they asked me how do I feel about (the Super Bowl). And I said we wouldn't board the plane if we didn't expect to win the game. Now, I can't think of one team or one individual that would get on the plane the week of Super Bowl thinking they're going to lose the game. That guy's got to keep his (butt) at home. That guy is not going to get on that plane. Our coaches and players understand that. And the media, they understand that also. But it's what sells. ...

"That's my mindset. That's me as an individual. Not everyone has to like it. I know what has gotten me to this league, what has gotten me to be the player that I am. And it is my confidence -- in my play and in my teammates I have next to me."


(nfl.com)

With the NY Giants defeating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl XLVI last night in Indianapolis, three player Super Bowl Rings were added to the proCane trophy case with starting safeties Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips winning rings along with defensive lineman practice squader Dwayne Hendricks as well. Congrats to all three players, but we must not forget Special Assistant Coach for the Giants and former proCane Jesse Armstead who also, as a result of the Giants’ victory, won a Super Bowl Ring yesterday.

CORRECTION: Bruce Johnson will also receive a Super Bowl ring. Despite not being on the NY Giants roster either on the active or IR roster, according to their website, Bruce Johnson will receive a ring. Several proCanes.com fans notified us that Bruce did post a message on Facebook to that effect. We thank everyone for their help in getting this figured out!

Antrel Rolle has been vocal all year long for the New York Giants becoming well known for his coined phrase ‘at the end of the day.’ It was an up-and-down year for Rolle even wanting out of New York by Week 15.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that No.26 was very honest when it came to his opinion on the most critical play of Super Bowl XLVI involving Wes Welker dropping a pass that was thrown to his opposite shoulder that he got his hands on but couldn’t haul in. Everyone has their own take on the play and who to blame for this one. Rolle gives some insight on how the New York Giants defense was not ready in terms of coverage on this particular play and really from the sound of it the Patriots missed a golden opportunity as noted by our staff here at SRI.

Antrel Rolle joined XX 1090 Sports Radio in San Diego with Darren Smith to discuss the feeling of being a Super Bowl champion, Tom Coughlin being a passionate head coach, Tom Coughlin’s speech over the weekend, Wes Welker’s crucial dropped pass late in the 4th quarter and defending Rob Gronkowski.

How does it feel 24 hours later?
“Oh man it feels outstanding. It feels outstanding and it’s something that no one can ever take away from you. It’s well deserved and we are just living it up right now. We are trying to soak in every bit of it and just we live it out to the fullest.”

What was it like over the weekend with Tom Coughlin preparing for this game?
“Coach Coughlin is amazing for us. He’s been amazing and most of all he is a very, very passionate guy. He’s a very passionate guy with a passionate attitude about coaching and that’s something we appreciate as players and that’s something we need as players. We are going to go out there and make sure we give it our all – give it our all – and give it our all for him and to make sure he will not be denied. Make sure we will not be denied and this is the outcome we got.”
What’s so special about Tom Coughlin’s speech? Did he deliver the speech of all speeches on Saturday night?
“It was just very personal. It was very personal and above all you know it came from the heart. It wasn’t about football. It wasn’t about us going out there and winning the game. It was about us as individuals. It was about us as men. It was about him as a man. I think that’s where we understood where the passion comes from deep inside.”

How much of a good view did you have on the Wes Welker dropped pass?
“Well actually there was a communication error on that play. That was guys playing two different coverages and we tried to relay the right coverage down, but once you’re locked in…you are locked in. We tried to relay the coverage a little too late. Some guys were playing one coverage while others were playing another, but through it all things like that happen. Things like that tend to get away from you in the game and we just thank god that Wes didn’t make that catch. It wasn’t their time. It wasn’t their time. Everyone has a fair…has a time where…they needed their time. Yesterday just wasn’t New England’s time. They’re an outstanding football team. One of the best football teams I have ever played against and I don’t like going up against them too much because I know what they bring to the table. With that being said we got to go out there and do what we need to do as a team. Go out there and be the best we can be.”

What was the big difference in Rob Gronkowski in this game?
“I really wasn’t too much focused on Gronkowski to be honest with you. I mean I don’t pay any more attention to him than I pay attention to any other opponent. I made sure I stayed focused on the guy who I was covering. I wasn’t on him very much. To be honest with you I didn’t pay that much attention to him.”


(sportsradiointerviews.com)

INDIANAPOLIS­ — After emerging as an emotional leader for the Giants down the stretch of the season, safety Antrel Rolle seemed almost drained and overwhelmed immediately following their dramatic Super Bowl victory.

“This is the only reason I came to New York,’’ said Rolle, a former Cardinal. “My mother will tell you, I care less about money, I care less about a ring, I care less about a parade, the only think I care about is us going out there and giving 120 percent and let’s see what the outcome will be. No one can take this away from us, no matter what. They can say what they want to say, they can put us down, they can say we got lucky, they can say we won because [Rob] Gronkowski was hurt. We’re going to hear it all, but at the end of the day we are champions.’’

Rolle promised a few days before Super Bowl XLVI if the Giants won, he would unveil a brand-new T-shirt from his collection of designer shirts available on his website, rollegear.com. He planned on the shirt saying, “At the end of the day,’’ in honor of the phrase he used during the season to punctuate almost every sentence he uttered.

There was no crowing by Rolle after the Giants defense again got quarterback Tom Brady out of his rhythm and held the Patriots far below their usual offensive output. The player who stated during the season the Giants would beat the Redskins 95 out of 100 times, the player who tried to rally the troops after the terrible second loss to the Redskins by insisting every player get out on the practice field, the player who days before the Super Bowl boldly declared, “We will not be denied,’’ was introspective after slaying the Patriots, 21-17.

“I can’t tell you I had this vision,’’ Rolle said. “I can tell you I had this vision of us going out there and being the best that we can be, making sure we’re the most prepared team possible. If outcome with us giving 100 percent wasn’t this, I think we’d all be satisfied with that. We could take that on our shoulders. We knew we had a lot more to give than we had been previously giving.’’


(nypost.com)

With the NY Giants defeating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl XLVI last night in Indianapolis, three player Super Bowl Rings were added to the proCane trophy case with starting safeties Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips winning rings along with defensive lineman practice squader Dwayne Hendricks as well. Congrats to all three players, but we must not forget Special Assistant Coach for the Giants and former proCane Jesse Armstead who also, as a result of the Giants’ victory, won a Super Bowl Ring yesterday.

INDIANAPOLIS — Where Trel At?

The Super Bowl, that’s where.

It sure can appear to be a cute slogan on a cool T-shirt by an entrepreneurial safety living the life, but it is so much more than cute or cool or potentially profitable. Antrel Rolle is not merely a part of Super Bowl XLVI, he’s one of the major reasons why the Giants still are around after their season nearly was capsized by too much bad football, most notably by the defensive backfield Rolle inhabits.

Mention “Where Trel At?” to Rolle’s teammates and they start grinning. He’s guilty of the same facial expression.

“No matter what kind of mood you’re in, no matter what kind of day you’re having, when you hear that it just puts a smile on our face,’’ Rolle said yesterday. “Something so little has definitely brought us closer together as a team.’’

For stretches of the season the emotional temperature of the Giants could be gauged by Rolle, who in his second season with the team emerged, in his own way, as the fire to Eli Manning’s ice. Justin Tuck, a team captain, admittedly struggled with his leadership duties as injuries compromised his work on the field, and there’s no doubt Rolle stepped in to fill the void.

His indignation as the Giants were sliding was palpable, just as it is clear he is intensely confident his club will take care of business Sunday night against the Patriots.

There were times this season when it wasn’t readily apparent that Rolle and the team felt the same way. There was the big one, after the dreadful 23-10 loss to the Redskins, when Rolle went on a riff about players with “nicks and bruises’’ needing to forget about the ashes and pains and get out on the practice field. The Giants haven’t lost since.

“When Antrel stood up and talked about players practicing … in my opinion that was the pivotal moment for us,’’ safeties coach David Merritt told The Post.

Impactful with his words, Rolle this season spent just two games at his natural safety position, as he has been asked to fill holes at nickel cornerback, which cut deeply into his play-making ability. Where Trel At? could be a search for where he will line up next, but it’s not. Instead, it’s the handiwork of safety Deon Grant.

“Trel [is] the type of guy who can get ready in two minutes,’’ Grant said. “If it’s 10:30, we’re supposed to be on the football field, he starts getting dressed at 10:27. So I walk in there he’s nowhere to be found I’ll be like ‘Where Trel At? Where Trel At?’ and everybody liked the way I started saying it. They ran with it.’’

Actually it was equipment gurus Joe and Ed Skiba who turned the phrase into a T-shirt, which now is available on rollegear.com.

“The Skibas, they just sort of took it and ran with it, making fun or our Ebonics and ending sentences with a preposition,’’ Rolle said. “Everyone says its now. I have my teammates’ sons walking around saying ‘Where Trel At?’ Everywhere I go.’’

There’s more coming. Rolle’s linguistic crutch — one he’s recently tried to shed — is coming to a crew-neck near you.

“If we go out there and win this thing on Sunday just watch me on the parade, watch me on the float, I will be sporting an ‘At The End Of The Day’ shirt,’’ he said.

This is all part of a two-year transition for Rolle, who initially chafed under the weight of coach Tom Coughlin’s guidelines but now is in line as one of his greatest supporters. Rolle barely spoke to the media when he played for the Cardinals, but now his locker is a must-stop destination, just as his weekly radio spot on WFAN is required listening.

“I’m in the New York swing of things right now,’’ Rolle, a Miami native, said. “I can actually say New York is my second home.

“I can’t see anything being greater than being an athlete and playing in the brighter stage of New York. It’s something I’m definitely blessed to be in. I’m gonna try to capture it and appreciate it and ride it until the wheels fall off.’’

He hopes no one has to ask Where Trel At? late Sunday night, because Rolle plans on being up there on the victory podium, finishing what his Giants started.


(nypost.com)

INDIANAPOLIS — The text message is saved in David Merritt’s phone for quick access.

That’s how much it means to Merritt, to Antrel Rolle and to the Giants’ Super Bowl season.

Antrel stay the course my young brother! Putting coaching aside you are right where God would have you to be at this point in your life and career. Find out through prayer WHY are you here? What lesson is to be learned or who are you supposed to help here on this team or in this area!!!
Merritt paused as he read the text aloud.

“Now we’re going outside of football: ‘in this area,’” he said before continuing.

Know that God has US here for a reason & sometimes a season. You may get that chance to leave in the end but WE must finish this season the right way, working unto God & not man!

This was 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 18 — roughly three hours after the Giants inexplicably lost to the lowly Washington Redskins and 2½ hours following Rolle’s ripping unnamed players who don’t practice through some hurts during the week.

At 7-7 and facing a second straight season without a trip to the playoffs, Rolle was griping via text to the Giants’ safeties coach about the defensive game plans and the lack of in-game adjustments.

The key line in Merritt’s message (“You may get that chance to leave in the end ...&rdquo was in reference to conversations Rolle had with the Giants’ staff.

He was unhappy with his role as the nickel cornerback. He was angry and considered Perry Fewell’s schemes inflexible. And for a few months by that point, he was hoping his time as a Giant would soon be over.

“He kept telling us he wanted out,” Merritt told The Star-Ledger.

Now, not so much.

In only a few weeks, the Giants’ loudest voice has gone from complaining to offering only constructive commentary about every facet of the team, including coach Tom Coughlin, with whom he’d previously clashed. He’s a content, high-energy inspiration for those around him and his turnaround has galvanized Coughlin as well as his teammates.

Many were involved in helping Rolle through the process. None has gotten less due so far than Merritt and his text-message therapy.

“Dave Merritt has helped me a lot. We’ve had a lot of 1-on-1 personal conversations, not anything about football, but about life in general,” Rolle said Thursday. “And he’s also a huge reason why I was able to buy into playing my role as a nickel (cornerback). I was extremely frustrated after the Washington game.”

According to Merritt, Rolle’s frustrations first boiled over after the victory over the Arizona Cardinals in October.

“There were a couple of things that happened during the game and I kind of critiqued him on it,” said Merritt, who is the only defensive coach who has been with the Giants since Coughlin arrived in 2004. “Although he played a fabulous game, I just wanted to get a point across about technique. And from that point on, we started butting heads a little bit.”

So began a couple of contentious, delicate months. Rolle was hot and Merritt tried to cool him down.

A linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and Cardinals from 1993-96, Merritt understood Rolle’s gripes about Fewell not making in-game adjustments. Merritt explained those changes couldn’t be made because the Giants had rookie linebackers Jacquian Williams and Greg Jones on the field.
And during the Washington game, rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara saw a lot of action in the first half.

“You’re right in a sense. But at the same time, we’re right by not putting all of this pressure on these young players,” Merritt recalls telling Rolle. “If you start to say at halftime, ‘Let’s do this now,’ it’ll blow those kids’ minds.”

Merritt wasn’t alone in trying to convince Rolle. Safety Deon Grant, general manager Jerry Reese and his family all had conversations with him.
And then, there was the chat he had with Fewell.

“He said, ‘Trel, you have to think about it this way: You and Deon are tight, right?’ I said, ‘Yeah,’ ” Rolle recalled. “He said, ‘Y’all are like brothers. How many more opportunities do you think he’s going to get to actually reach a Super Bowl?’ And when I thought about that, it actually brought tears to my eyes.

“From that point on, I never saw the game about me. I never saw the game about anything having to deal with me. I saw the game about my teammates, I saw the game about Coach Coughlin and I saw the game most of all about Deon Grant.”

Rolle and Fewell are fuzzy on the timeline of that meeting, though it sounds like it was right around the time of Merritt’s text message.
And now, just listen to Rolle.

“It really doesn’t matter to me if I play another down at safety again as a Giant,” Rolle said. “As long as we have a ‘W,’ at the end of the day, I’m good with that.”

Merritt was asked if he sees any similarities between himself and Rolle. He wanted to say yes so very badly, so he paused and tried to stifle a grin.

“No,” he finally said with a laugh. “He’s so outgoing and I am not as outgoing as he is. He doesn’t lack confidence. Maybe that’s the one thing I identify with in what I do and what I can do as a coach.

“But other than that, no. Not his swagger, not his dress. ...”

Then again, maybe these two are more in tune than they think because, in answering a question about butting heads with Rolle, Merritt said: “At the end of the day, when you approach him after you’ve had that disagreement, you go right back and say, ‘Do you understand what I’m saying? Is everything cool?’ And as long as he can look me in the eye and say, ‘Yeah I got you, Coach. I’m good.’”

Sorry but we missed the last half of that. We were too busy snickering after the “at the end of the day” part.

“There ya go! That’s an Antrel-ism!” Merritt exclaimed. “As a matter of fact, maybe he got it from me, to be honest with you.

“I’m going to give it to him, though.”


(nj.com)

INDIANAPOLIS — Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell called Antrel Rolle into his office for a meeting at some point during the regular season — Fewell estimated it to be in November, though neither could remember exactly when.

The reason for the impromptu meeting was simple: Fewell didn’t like what he was seeing in the safety-turned-nickel cornerback. He knew Rolle was upset about his position change; Rolle had made public that he believed the nickel back position wasn’t the best way to use his talents.

So Fewell thought Rolle needed a reminder that the team is bigger than he is. And he struck a cord by mentioning Deon Grant, Rolle’s best friend on the team, and putting the team’s goal in perspective.

“He said, ‘’Trel, you have to think about it this way: You and Deon are tight, right?’” Rolle told The Star-Ledger, recalling the conversation between he and Fewell.

“I said, ‘Yeah.’

“He said, ‘Y’all are like brothers, right?’

“I said, ‘Yeah.’

“He said, ‘How many more opportunities do you think he’s going to get to actually reach a Super Bowl or win a Super Bowl?’

“And when I thought about that, it actually brought tears to my eyes and from that point on I never saw the game about me. I never saw the game about anything having to deal with me. I saw the game about my teammates, I saw the game most of all about Coach Coughlin, and I saw the game most of all about Deon Grant.”

Fewell said he’s seen a change in Rolle since that meeting, which became another step in Rolle’s steady evolution from disgruntled newcomer to Tom Coughlin enthusiast over the course of a year.

“I just wanted him to think about when we’re going out and we’re playing, there are some guys that probably won’t get a chance to play anymore after this year,” Fewell said. “And it could be your best buddy. It could be the guy you sit next to in the meeting.

“We got to think about team before we think about anything else. As a leader — that’s what he is on our football team — he has to lead and not just for himself, but for others. So I just wanted him to think about that as the leader of our defense so he could really take in the total perspective.”


(nj.com)

INDIANAPOLIS –— Six years after Kenny Phillips found himself asking Antrel Rolle what life as a Miami Hurricane was like, the roles were reversed.

As a senior at Miami Carol High School in 2004 Phillips consulted with Rolle, then a senior at the University of Miami, during his recruitment by the Hurricanes. He asked what to expect and what he should look forward to in Coral Gables.

Rolle's must had the right answers -- Phillips became a Hurricane.

Later, when Rolle was a free agent in 2010 after five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Phillips, then in his second year with the New York Giants, was the one with the answers.

Rolle must have heard the right things -- he joined the Giants before the 2010 season.

On Sunday, they'll roam the Giants' secondary together in Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots.

"It took a year but, I mean, we're on the same page," Phillips said during Tuesday's Media Day. "We know what's going on. He's been a big part of what we do on defense. We ask him to do so many different roles and he does a good job in all of them."

Phillips and Rolle are the last line of defense for a unit that was ranked 27th in the NFL in total defense, allowing 376.4 yards per game – of which 255.1 were in the air. This week at the Super Bowl, however, Rolle reassumed the elder statesman role. His last game for the Cardinals was Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, a 27-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Rolle had three tackles.

This time around, Rolle will be able to share his Super Bowl insights with a fellow Hurricane.

The two have coined themselves AK-47. The A is for Antrel and the K is for Kenny, and when their numbers are added up (21 for Phillips and 26 for Rolle), it equals 47.

"We're dangerous," Rolle cracked.

As the starting free safety, Rolle led the Giants in tackles this season with 96, of which 82 were solo. Phillips had 63 tackles and four interceptions as the starting strong safety.

Their friendship started during the 2004 season when Rolle presented Phillips with a scholar-athlete award in Miami. Phillips impressed Rolle that night and the two stayed close.

"Right then I knew he was an exceptional talent as an athlete but also with the brains to go along with it," Rolle said. "That's always a plus."

Growing up in Miami, Phillips joked he didn't have a choice about being a Hurricanes fan and he admired Rolle as most high school football players looking up to college stars would. They kept in touch during Phillips' recruitment and became closer when Rolle returned to Miami to work out during the summers.

Phillips smiled wide when he talked about playing along side someone he looked up to for years.

"It's been like that ever since I got in the league," he said. "When I first got here, I had (former Giants cornerback) Sam Madison and a guy like (Giants free safety) Deon Grant, that have been playing since I was in high school. It's great because when you go to a guy they have great knowledge."

Rolle knows the feeling.

"I looked up to Deon Grant so it all kinda follows suit," Rolle said.

"Deon's like the grandfather of the group, I'm like the father and Kenny's like the son."


(sun-sentinel.com)

A year ago Giants safety Antrel Rolle said that it was time for coach Tom Coughlin to realize it’s 2011 and update his coaching methods. But in 2012, Rolle says he has come around to see the wisdom in the way Coughlin does things.

“My first season I questioned a lot of things that coach Coughlin was doing,” Rolle said today. “After taking a step back and reflecting on all of it, I understand exactly why he is the way he is. I used to always wonder, I felt like he was always trying to turn us into men. Does he not know that we are men before we ever step on the football field here as a Giant? I used to ask myself questions like that. Once I matured enough and I took a step back, he is not trying to turn us into men, he is trying to help us become better men. That is something that I realize and that is something that I have taken on my shoulders and I am man enough to admit.”

Rolle now credits Coughlin’s structured approach to running the team for the way the Giants have been able to deal with the distractions of the Super Bowl.

“I understand everything behind his discipline and his structure, it comes with a reason,” Rolle said. “Things are tough in New York and he has to be that way. He has prepared us for a bigger and brighter stage, which is the stage we are on right now. For us to come here and be able to handle all the press, all the media, all the festivities and things around us and our team has done an exceptional job doing that. I see it, I see it in our eyes that our focus is the game and the game only. I think that this is what he has been trying to prepare us for all year I long. He has just going about it in different ways.”

It’s easy to see why players would find it frustrating that Coughlin has exacting standards about minor details like how they wear their socks, but Rolle said he now sees some benefits to Coughlin holding the players to a high standard. It’s hard to argue with the success Coughlin has had as a head coach.


(profootballtalk.com)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Antrel Rolle, the Giants' version of Bart Scott -- sans the middle-finger salute -- said Tuesday at Media Day that the Christmas-Eve win over the Jets was the turning point to their season. And he suggested the Giants were motivated by Rex Ryan's pre-game trash talking.

"You can't talk with your mouth," Rolle said. "You can only go out there and let your pads do the talking."

Obviously, the Giants love talking about that game, especially Rolle, the biggest yapper of them all.

"That's when it all started, when we were all on deck," he said. "The practices were phenomenal, it was electrifying. We were flying around like maniacs that week. There was a lot of trash talking, and we just said we're going to let our play do the talking."

Rolle also wasn't shy about claiming the Jets benefitted from some "outrageous calls," saying, "I think they were definitely getting fed the biscuit."


(espn.com)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Less than 24 hours after saying the Giants boarded their flight with the mentality that "we are expecting to win" Super Bowl XLVI, Antrel Rolle reiterated his confident state of mind.

"We are going to win this thing," Rolle said when asked again about the Giants' mentality at Super Bowl media day on Tuesday. "We are going to win this thing for a lot of good reasons."

However, Rolle said he was not guaranteeing a Giants' victory over the Patriots when asked if that was a guarantee. The safety said he was just expressing how the confidence the Giants feel.

That confidence also extends to how Rolle feels about the Giants' ability to slow down Tom Brady and his offensive weapons like tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

"I definitely think so," Rolle said. "Tom Brady is an exceptional quarterback, but I feel like if we put our mind to it and play the way we have been playing, and if all of us go out there and play as one, we might not be able to stop everything he is doing but we'll stop a whole lot of the things he is trying to do."

"We are definitely going to take care of business," Rolle added. "Those guys are exceptional at what they do. And we understand that. But so are we."

The Giants' confidence has been surging ever since they beat the Jets on Christmas Eve. They've won five straight games since then.

"We were pretty confident in 2007," Justin Tuck said when asked to compare the confidence of this team to the one that won Super Bowl XLII.

"That's something that this football team rarely lacks. We are a confident bunch of guys. I would say our confidence level was just as high in 2007 as it is today."

Rolle said on Monday that the Giants "wouldn't have boarded the plane if we didn't expect to win" when asked about the team's approach to the Super Bowl.

"We have come here for one thing and one thing only which is to win," Rolle said on Monday. "We are expecting to win this game come Sunday."

The Giants have felt all season that if they come with the right approach and execute, they'll win.

"When we go out there and have that mentality that we have, and we fight, I don't think we can be denied," Rolle said. "I'm not saying we can't be beaten. Any team in the NFL can be beaten. But we are not going to be denied at this point."

"We are not going to sell ourselves short this opportunity."


(espn.com)

Antrel Rolle is no stranger to speaking his mind. He’s also no stranger to being confident. Often times for Rolle, that has created a volatile mix.

Rolle raised some eyebrows — and perhaps elbowed out some more room for himself on the Patriots’ bulletin board — when he said the Giants wouldn’t have boarded the plane to Indianapolis this week if they weren’t confident they would walk away winners.

Rolle is quick to give the Patriots respect, but just as quick to point out he’s simply saying what he truly believes.

“I’m not guaranteeing anything,” Rolle told “NFL Total Access” Tuesday. “But I did mean what I said when I said that we wouldn’t have boarded the plane if we didn’t expect to win the game.”

Rolle was asked if he’s simply saying what everyone else on the Giants is thinking.

“Without a doubt,” he responded. “And we do.”

It’s no secret the Giants are a confident bunch. It’s been a common theme throughout the team’s current seven-game winning streak.  And Rolle is plenty comfortable telling everyone as much.

“We’re a confident team,” he said. “I’m a confident player. This is what you need at this point. This is (the) Super Bowl.”


(nfl.com)

INDIANAPOLIS — No team in the NFL has figured out a way to stop the tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The Giants are no exception, as the Patriots [team stats] tandem combined for 12 catches, 136 yards and two touchdowns in New York’s 24-20 win in Week 9.

Despite that, safety Antrel Rolle has no doubt the Giants will be able to stop the most productive tight end duo in NFL history on Sunday.

“Think? No. I don’t think it,” Rolle said. “I know it.”

Rolle isn’t lacking self-confidence and he certainly isn’t intimidated by the Patriots offense.

“You have to have that determination,” Rolle said. “You have to be determined to win. They put their pants on just as well as we put our pants on, so we’re not really worried about all the other outside things.”

Containing the tight ends is a priority for safety Deon Grant, but it’s not his top concern.

“We’re going to definitely get (their numbers) down, but at the end of the day, they find open zones or beat a guy here and there,” Grant said. “If we give them that and still come away with the victory, we’ll take it all day. They can have 500 yards. If we come away with the win, we could care less about it, but we’re definitely going to try to keep that down.”


(bostonherald.com)

INDIANAPOLIS - Antrel Rolle hasn’t always been like this, the type of player to whom media flock. He barely said a word when he played in Arizona, didn’t invite the scrutiny, the attention, the leadership role. That’s not the case anymore, not in New York.

As he said, “Whatever I feel at that moment I’m going to say.’’

He has. And yet, though Rolle said, “I’m not a fan of the media at all,’’ the media is surely a fan of him.

“With this team, I just felt like certain things needed to be said,’’ Rolle said. “I don’t come in with any premeditated thoughts because that’s not who I am. I just speak for the moment, I never speak out of anger. I only speak out of passion and concern for my team.’’

Prior to the Giants’ game against the Patriots in November, the 29-year-old safety said New York didn’t need to worry about its schedule, the schedule had to be worried about the Giants. He called Wes Welker human. He seemed more than confident.

He didn’t give quite the same sound bites yesterday, but he maintained that he’s just being himself when he opens his mouth, even when he’s surrounded by tape recorders and microphones.

It’s something that, he said, came from his parents; his mother is a high school counselor, his father a police chief. He watched them find success over the years, watched the hard work it took for them to get there.

“They always stood strong for what they believed,’’ said Rolle. “I guess it kind of trickled down to me. That’s the way I see things. A lot of times I take a lot of heat for a lot of things. I understand that.

“But at the same time I don’t care what the outsiders say. I only care about what’s going to come forth in our locker room with our guys. My teammates understand me, and those are the only people who need to understand me. They know that I’ve never been a problem, I’ll never be a problem, and everything I say is for the betterment of this team.’’

Rolle’s willingness to speak up seemed to spur the Giants to where they are now. After New York lost to the Redskins to fall to 7-7, the safety criticized teammates for not playing when nicked up, for not being committed enough.

The words had an effect. The next week the Giants beat the Jets in a must-win game. And New York hasn’t lost since, winning five straight to make it to the Super Bowl.

Rolle, a first-round draft pick of the Cardinals in 2005, played in the Super Bowl three years ago, Arizona losing in the final moments. He signed with the Giants in 2010 on a five-year, $37 million deal, and had a team-leading 96 tackles and two interceptions this season.

Rolle said he’s not thinking about that last trip. He’s focused on the Patriots and on Sunday and on the Giants defense.

“Defensively I think we had our struggles this year,’’ Rolle said. “Right now, we have a [tough] mentality. That’s the way we look at it. That’s the way we want to keep it. We’re very confident in our approach. But, most of all, I think we’re very smart in our approach.’’

They’ll need to continue to be smart against the Patriots’ high-powered offense. But if there’s one thing that can be counted on, it’s that Rolle will stay confident in his abilities and in the abilities of the Giants’ defense. And that he might just be convinced to talk about it before week’s end.

For now, though, Rolle is staying away from controversy, away from anything that might incite the Patriots.

Rolle said that, outside of the locker room, outside of the media attention, he really doesn’t say all that much. He is a “chill, low-key guy.’’ And then something happens, something propels him to speak out.

“I’m just trying to go out there and be a player,’’ Rolle said. “If swagger is what it is, then that’s what it’ll be. I don’t approach every game the same. Sometimes I might be the most quietest guy in the locker room. Sometimes I might be the most animated in the locker room.

“I never know what I’m going to be. I just go out there and play it by ear, and be whoever I’m supposed to be on that given day.’’


(bostonglobe.com)

INDIANAPOLIS – Even if Antrel Rolle hadn't been here before, he probably would make you think he has.

So describes the confidence of the New York Giants free safety, back in the Super Bowl three years after playing for the Arizona Cardinals in a last-minute loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rolle's self-assuredness has created controversy this season with bulletin-board comments, but being the leading tackler on a team playing for a championship speaks for itself.

"When you're hearing all the talk — 'he's a big mouth; he's this and that' — it's tough especially knowing you're not that person," the two-time Pro Bowler said Monday after the Giants arrived to begin practicing for Sunday's rematch against the New England Patriots. "There's definitely a bigger picture than what it's made out to be."

To Rolle, it's more about motivation than bragging, something he and the Giants have fed off of during their five-game winning streak. Being their top tackler in the regular season (96) and postseason (21) suggests how busy he has been on a team lacking a nickel cornerback, often playing near the line.

Rolle figures to be active against the Patriots, who aim to send tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez and wide receiver Wes Welker downfield against him and Kenny Phillips. Forget about what happened in Week 9 in Foxborough, Mass., when New York won 24-20 after Rolle caused a stir by calling the Patriots offense "nothing spectacular" and suggesting that Giants opponents should fear them.

With the stakes different this time as well as the look of both teams, actions speak louder than words, and Rolle is focused as he seeks a different outcome in this championship appearance. There's no doubt he loves his position, a switch from where he played when entering the league in 2005.

Drafted eighth overall as a cornerback by the Cardinals, the Miami (Fla.) product admittedly didn't like or understand the system and asked to switch to safety three years later. Rolle quickly took to his new job and its mental demands, which paid off immediately with the first of consecutive Pro Bowl selections.

His second, in 2010 with the Giants, demonstrated his quick adaptability to a new team as well as to New York.

"He hasn't given up a lot of big plays. He's playing much sounder and less-risky football, and he has done what they've asked," Giants radio announcer Bob Papa said. "They've gone this whole year without a nickel corner, and throughout a lot of the season he had to play against the slot (receiver).

"He even said it's not his strength and hasn't really done it in a long time, but he said, 'Whatever the team needs me to do, I'm going to do.'

"He has morphed himself into this real team player. Not that he wasn't beforehand, but he's really become a leader on this team, too."

So much so that when the Giants were reeling at 6-6, Rolle thought they would still make the playoffs. That has been borne out with a late-season and playoff run that has made their No. 27 defensive ranking a distant memory.

But while the boasts have been dialed down, the Giants seem to be carrying out Rolle's beliefs without him saying a word.

"As a defensive unit, we've had a lot of struggles," he said. "But right now we have a bad-ass mentality. That's the way we like to look at it, that's the way we want to keep it, and we're very confident in our approach.

"At the same time, when the bell goes off on Sunday, we're in attack mode."


(usatoday.com)

Before playing the New England Patriots back in Week 9, Antrel Rolle was the one who said the Giants’ opponents on their schedule should fear them. He was the one who called pesky slot receiver Wes Welker human, and the one who labeled the Patriots’ inflated offense “nothing spectacular.”

“I’m confident every week,” Rolle said back then. “That’s who I am.”

Today, the same man stood before reporters with the same opponent looming. But in a way, it didn’t sound like the same brash Giants safety from a few weeks ago.

“I get extremely nervous, I get extremely nervous before playing games, sometimes to the point where I feel like I can’t even stand up,” Rolle said in the middle of a bustling Giants locker room today. “It can be going against whoever, and I’ll still feel the same way.”

With the Patriots circling back for another crack at the Giants, it seems Rolle has taken a different approach, from decidedly confident to tacitly humble. Despite beating New England, 24-20, Rolle said there’s no confidence to be gained from that. After heading home to Florida for a brief recess following the NFC Championship Game victory, he said he touched down at the airport and immediately sharpened his focus.

Nothing about the Giants’ improbable five-game winning streak makes him feel invincible, he swears, adding that “you never feel like you can’t lose. You can only feel like you prepared yourself enough.

“That means absolutely nothing at this point,” Rolle said of beating the Patriots back in early November. “That was a game back then. You hear people talking about (Tom) Brady, saying he’s not on his game, he’s not this; that means absolutely nothing. We all know what Brady can do; we all know what he’s capable of.

“They’ve won 10 straight — that’s something that’s going to be our focus point.”

Perhaps it’s because Rolle has lost in a Super Bowl before (with the Arizona Cardinals, in Super Bowl XLIII). He’s gone through this process and come home empty-handed. He was careful not to downplay any member of the Patriots today, including the matchup nightmares of tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

When asked about Brady, Rolle said: “I don’t think you can actually take his strengths away from him. We just have to be exceptionally good at what we’re doing.”

After his session was up, Rolle jogged quickly out of the locker room, taking a brief moment to show off his own brand of T-shirts — one of which he was wearing. He plugged the website where one could purchase such things and said he’ll try to sell some in Indianapolis next week.
But he left behind no traces of his trademark confidence.

“We understand what’s ahead of us,” Rolle said. “But at the same time, we can’t get away from what we’ve been doing and what’s been successful.”


(nj.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Antrel Rolle is not one of the 15 players on the Giants’ roster who played in the Super Bowl XLII victory over New England four years ago, but that does not mean Rolle – the Giants’ loquacious safety – does not have a good story from the game.

Asked Tuesday about his memories of that Super Bowl, Rolle launched into a tale about how he was traveling in South America at the time.

“I watched it in Brazil,” he said. “There was only one place where I was that was showing the game. I was standing on top of like two bar stools, and probably a midget was under me, who knows. I don’t know. It was extremely crowded. Everyone was stacked on top of each other. It was a small place in Brazil no bigger than a rest room, and there were a million people in there. It was the only place showing it and I had to watch the game.”

Rolle’s only firsthand experience with the Super Bowl came when he was with the Arizona Cardinals, who lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII. That game featured Santonio Holmes making a game-winning touchdown catch for the Steelers though Rolle said that if Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had thrown to his side of the field on that play he believes he would have intercepted the pass.

“That play is a crazy play,” Rolle said. “I was actually on the opposite side, and the guy that Ben Roethlisberger was targeting first was actually the guy I was covering. I kind of bumped him, and he fell down. Ben Roethlisberger went to cut back, and he was going there and I was like, ‘This is a pick, and I’m taking this to the house,’ because there was no one in front of me. He just turns the other way and chucks the ball. You can’t be mad at that play. You have to take that one. You have to live with that one.”

Rolle spoke for about 15 minutes Tuesday and was his typically entertaining self, furthering the notion that he will be a highlight of the Giants’ session at next Tuesday’s media day in Indianapolis. Among other notable quips, Rolle said, “I don’t know man – I’m not looking at his body!” when asked about Eli Manning having any bruises from the San Francisco victory, and he smiled when asked about Ann Mara, wife of the former Giants’ owner Wellington Mara, who had scolded the Fox analyst Terry Bradshaw last Sunday for picking against the Giants in the N.F.C. championship game.

“When I say ‘all hands on deck,’ I don’t just mean the men in the locker room,” Rolle said. “We’re all one here, we’re all one in this organization.”


(fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com)

Get your popcorn ready.

Because if Tuesday’s press conference was any indication, Giants safety Antrel Rolle is going to put on a show next week at Super Bowl Media Day.

Here were some of the highlights of Rolle’s 17-minute, 29-second LOL-fest:

Rolle when asked if he watched the 2007 Super Bowl.
“I watched it in Brazil. There was only one place where I was that was showing the game. I was standing on top of like two bar stools, and probably a midget was under me, who knows. I don’t know. It was extremely crowded. Everyone was stacked on top of each other. It was a small place in Brazil no bigger than a rest room ... and there was a million people in there, and I had to watch the game.”

Rolle when asked if the Giants’ Super Bowl run was one of the reasons he signed there.
“...I didn’t even know Arizona before I got drafted there, the Cardinals? I’m like, Jerry Maguire?”

Rolle when asked if he noticed if Eli Manning had any bruises after getting hit so much by the 49ers.
“I don’t know, man, I’m not looking at his body!”

Rolle when asked if he saw 82-year-old Ann Mara chiding Terry Bradshaw after the NFC Championship game.
“When I say ‘all hands on deck,’ I don’t just mean the men in the locker room.”

Rolle when asked if he’d ever cross Mrs. Mara.
“I don’t cross any Maras.”

Rolle when asked if he through it was fitting that the Giants were wearing their road-white jerseys.
“It doesn’t matter what we got on, we could go out there bare-skinned...”

Rolle when asked about Tom Brady.
“During the course of the game I’m covering my guys -- we’re in zone coverage -- I see him scanning the field, and I’m like, I’ve played against a lot of great quarterbacks in my career, and the way he scanned the field, I was like ‘Dang!’ During the play, I was like ‘Wow!’ It kind of stung me for a second.”

“He’s exceptional, and gets all the credit he deserves and then some.”

Rolle was asked about Mannning.
“I think he’s proven himself before this year. But we all have to go through ups and downs and criticisms and speculation and what people may think and what they might think, but when it’s all said and done -- I didn’t say at the end of the day.”

Rolle first approached the podium and muttered the word “s---” under his breath.
“I’m tired. ... It’s all good.”

In 2007, Michael Strahan emerged as the star of Super Bowl Media Day. But at the end of the day, Rolle may overshadow Strahan's epic performance next week.


(espn.com)

Comments

Technically, four proCanes are headed to Super Bowl XLVI, though only three will see action. Vince WIlfork played an integral part in the Patriots’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, with several defensive plays, while Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips were solid in their defensive effort versus the 49ers and fellow proCane Frank Gore. Additionally for the Giants, current practice squad member of the Giants Dwayne Hendricks would also get a Super Bowl ring if the Giants were to win.

CORRECTION: Because Bruce Johnson was injured before the beginning of the season, he was not put on IR, but instead waived, so he is not on the Giants’ roster.

Before the 49ers selected Alex Smith with the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005, they hosted four players for pre-draft visits: Smith, Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver Braylon Edwards (remember him?) and cornerback Antrel Rolle.

Rolle, selected eighth overall by the Arizona Cardinals, joined the Giants in March after the Cardinals released him. Even though Smith and Rodgers were the 49ers’ true finalists for that No. 1 pick, Rolle thought there was a chance he might start his career with San Francisco. It resumes there, at least, Sunday when the Giants visit the 49ers for the NFC Championship.

“There was talk of it. I went up and had a nice visit with the San Francisco 49ers,” Rolle recalled today on a conference call. “I was optimistic. It’s the NFL draft. You never know what to expect.”

And what does he expect out of Alex Smith on Sunday?

“Alex is a good quarterback in my eyes,” Rolle said. “Anytime you can go 13-3 with you being the starting QB, you might be doing something right. He’s definitely taking his game up another level.”

If history is any indication, we should expect another riveting playoff game between the 49ers and Giants. But Rolle discounted that angle: “That has nothing to do with Sunday. Every game presents its own challenge. We’re aware of the history between these two teams. But it has nothing to do with Sunday.”

Rolle also downplayed any back-and-forth talk or Tweets between the Giants and 49ers. After saying Monday that the Giants “can’t be beaten,” Rolle followed that up by warning the 49ers that they should be careful what they wished for in terms of this matchup. That comment stemmed from an innocent quote Vernon Davis said on Monday how he was praying for the Giants to win, more so because Davis wanted to play at home rather than Green Bay.

When told that the 49ers have followed orders and not responded to the Giants’ verbal boasts, Rolle said:

“Doesn’t matter to me. They were the ones that made the comment, they wish the giants win. They wish the Giants win. All I said was that their wish was granted and be careful what you wish for. I don’t need them to speak back and we don’t need to speak to them. The game’s going to be played Sunday. May the best man win.”

Rolle admitted he is friends with a couple 49ers, that he hangs out in the offseason with Davis and Frank Gore in Miami.

“We’re extremely close. We hang out in the offseason when hang out inMiami or take random trips,” Rolle said. “I trained with Frank. We went to Miami together. We’re all good friends. But that won’t have anything to do what happens Sunday. You do your hugs and handshakes after the game.”


(mercurynews.com)

The wind blows, fish swim and New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle talks. Rolle is a very good football player, but talking is the activity for which he is best known. At a time when pro athletes are looking for ways not to talk the media -- specifying only one day per week on which they'll do interviews, for example -- Rolle is a nonstop talking machine.

He talks on Mondays, when players are still weary from the game and the flight home. He talks on Wednesdays and Thursday and Fridays, when the locker room fills with reporters looking for colorful quotes and insight. He talks after games, win or lose, happy or angry. Heck, he even talks on Tuesdays, which is the players' day off. He does a weekly radio appearance on Tuesdays that's appointment listening for everyone who covers the team because it almost always generates news.

"Trel likes to talk, but he's a guy you listen to," Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said Sunday, after Rolle turned in his best game as a Giant in the playoff victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field. "When he says something, he usually has a reason why he said it."

Of this season's Giant developments, the emergence of Rolle as a voice of locker-room reason had to be among the least likely. This is his second year in New York; he signed as a free agent from Arizona before the 2010 season. A year ago, he was complaining about Tom Coughlin and saying the playoff-bound Jets had better team chemistry. A month ago, after the loss to the Redskins that dropped the Giants to 7-7, Rolle stood at his locker and talked about how guys needed to stop sitting out practice with minor injuries.

This is stuff you're not supposed to say to the media -- stuff that stirs controversy and can injure that aforementioned team chemistry. And with the Giants' secondary playing as poorly as it was at the time, the immediate reaction was to proclaim Rolle a malcontent. Columns were written in New York suggesting that all Rolle did was talk -- first guy to the microphone, last guy to the ball, stuff like that. Outside the Giants' locker room, the first reaction to Rolle's words was concern that the team could be on the verge of a meltdown.

But inside the locker room, the reaction was much different. Rolle's words in the wake of the Redskins loss hit home with defensive end Justin Tuck, who had been sitting out practices with nagging injuries but playing on Sundays. Never mind that Rolle went out of his way, that day and in his radio spot two days later, to say specifically that he wasn't calling out Tuck. Tuck, a tenured Giant with a Super Bowl ring who could either have easily brushed off Rolle's perceived swipe or angrily fired back, took the words to heart. In Tuck's own words, what Rolle said "struck a chord." After that, and a conversation with Coughlin, Tuck was back on the practice field that week along with Ahmad Bradshaw and several other teammates whose nicks and bruises had been keeping them on the exercise bikes.

"I can't take credit for that," Rolle said Tuesday on that weekly radio appearance on WFAN in New York City. "Guys have turned things around on their own and for the betterment of this team. We have one goal in mind, and that's to compete and win a championship."

In that same interview, Rolle was asked about 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, who'd said a few days earlier that he'd "prayed" for the Giants to beat the Packers. Rolle's answer was this:

"If he said that, I can only hope that he was saying it just because they wanted to get a home game. You know, they'd better be careful what they ask for, because their wish has been granted and we will see those boys come Sunday."

The second part of the quote is the one being played up, because that's the way things work in this league and this business these days. But the fact is, Davis was clearly, and as he himself explained, only saying what he said because the 49ers preferred to play the NFC Championship Game at home. By now, Rolle surely knows that, and although it's possible this "Rolle vs. Davis" storyline will be kept alive this week, you can be certain Rolle won't be the one responsible for doing so. He talks, yes, but he doesn't appear to suffer nonsense. Rolle's talking has a purpose.

He may come off as a blustery yapper, but what Rolle has done over the past few weeks defies the modern sports establishments' attempts at easy categorization. This is a guy who talks -- all the time, yes -- but also backs it up. His individual performance against the Packers, which included occasional one-on-one coverage of Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley in addition to his usual safety role, was one of the main reasons the Giants' secondary held up against Green Bay's aerial attack. Earlier this year, while they were waiting for top draft pick Prince Amukamara to return from injury, Rolle served as the nickel cornerback. For all of his talk, he has been an obvious and willing team player since arriving in New York. And upon further examination, all of Rolle's talk seems to have real, team-oriented purpose behind it.

Rolle's not out there bellowing about how great he is. He's not getting in the opposing coach's face and yelling, "Time to shut up, fat boy!" as a teammate of his did. He's not planting deleterious information about teammates in off-the-record interviews. Rolle is out there, playing hard, and the talking he does is intended for the good of the team. Although his personality might not appear to fit the traditional Big Blue profile, Rolle has emerged late this season as one of the leaders in the Giants' locker room.

He's doing it his own way, sure, and it's doubtful anyone saw Rolle-as-leader coming. But when he talks, even the veterans in that room listen. And leaders are judged, in the end, on results.


(espn.com)

Antrel Rolle has been on a roll the past couple of days.

The Giants' safety, who would later address 49ers tight end Vernon Davis' comments, started out by telling reporters that New York "can't be beat" in the NFC Championship Game in San Francisco on Sunday.

Or, in the Super Bowl, for that matter.

"We wouldn't say we're unstoppable, but our mind-set is extreme at this point. We're not going to be denied. ... I might be a little biased, but in our minds, we can't be beat," Rolle said Monday.

"It don't matter who we play," Rolle said. "You can put an All-Star team in front of us, and we're going to go out there and compete. We don't fold. No matter what happens, if there's a bad call, or things aren't going our way, we're not going to break."

Then Tuesday, Rolle was asked on New York radio station WFAN what he thought about Davis saying that he "prayed and prayed" that the Giants would beat the Packers so that the 49ers could face New York at home.

"If he said that, I can only hope he's saying it just because they want to get a home game," Rolle said. "They better be careful what they ask for, because their wish is being granted and we'll see them come Sunday."

Then, probably grabbing the microphone like he was a professional wrestler, Rolle made sure all the listeners knew he was ready for Sunday's game.

"I don't give a damn who we're playing, man," Rolle said. "That's my take. I'll take any opponent, any given day. That's my attitude. If someone has a problem with it, oh well. But that's how I am. That's how I was raised. I don't shy away from any opponent.

"My heart doesn't pump any Kool-Aid, only blood. I'm ready for whenever, however, whatever, however it gets to me. I'm ready for it."

There was a little bit of Kool-Aid in there as Rolle did have a couple of sweet things to say, praising quarterback Alex Smith for leading the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.

"The No. 1 challenge is going to be the mental aspect," Rolle said. "They are a mentally tough team. They are extremely hungry. I used to play against those guys twice a year when I was in Arizona. This is a totally, totally different team. I mean the mind-set, they are very hungry and very determined and they want to win just as bad as we do. I think it will come down to a defensive battle."

And that's where Rolle comes in. The Giants have won four games in a row, and Rolle said he and his teammates are "not going to be denied" the next two games.

"I wouldn't take the field if I felt otherwise," Rolle said. "More than us gelling as a team, we are believing as a team. We understand where we are, we understand where we are trying to get to and what it takes for us to get there. We will do everything in our power. We won't be denied at this point. We are all in."


(sfgate.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants wanted a rematch against the San Francisco 49ers the second they walked off the field at Candlestick Park with a 27-20 loss in November.

But the Giants say it really doesn't matter who is in front of them at the moment. With their confidence and swagger growing by the minute, the Giants would take on a Pro Bowl team right now and believe they would come out victorious.

"We're not going to be denied," safety Antrel Rolle said of the Giants' "swagged out" mental state of mind at the moment. "We understand what we have as a team. It's not all about talent, it's all about chemistry. We're jelling at this point."

"We wouldn't say we're unstoppable but our mindset is extreme at this point and we're not going to be denied," Rolle continued. "That's our mindset. In our minds, we can't be beat."

The Giants face the 49ers on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game riding a four-game winning streak and a tidal wave of confidence. Fresh off dismissing the defending Super Bowl champion Packers, 37-20, the Giants like their chances of going back to their first Super Bowl since the 2007 season.

"We are riding a lot of momentum, a lot of confidence," wide receiver Victor Cruz said. "We're a scary team right now because of the confidence and amount of passion we are playing with right now. At every position, not just Eli (Manning) or myself or the defense. Everyone is playing with that same confidence and intensity."

The Giants probably would have expressed the same type of confidence if they had to face the Saints. But they suffered their worst loss of the season to Drew Brees in New Orleans, 49-24, in November.

The Giants got the match up they wanted. They don't have to go through the Superdome to get to the Super Bowl and get to face a 49ers team that they feel they should have beaten the first time around. They fell 10 yards shy of scoring a late touchdown that would have sent their last meeting to overtime.

"Just how we played against New Orleans and how we played against San Fran, definitely, it works out in our favor a little bit," Cruz said when asked about facing the Niners as opposed to the Saints. "That we are able to get San Fran as opposed to New Orleans just because of how we feel about (the 49ers) and we understand that we have a good chance of winning that game. We felt like we had a chance to win. We understood that if we saw them again, it could potentially be a different outcome and we wanted that opportunity."

The Giants were a much different team when they last saw the 49ers. They were coming off the high of winning in New England and were 6-2 at the time but they lost linebacker Michael Boley in the first half to a hamstring injury and the defense fell apart without their valuable linebacker in the fourth quarter. With Boley watching on the sideline, the Giants suffered breakdowns that led to two 49ers' touchdowns in 61 seconds.

Defensive end Justin Tuck wasn't healthy at that point in the season, and the Giants secondary is much more in sync and the pass rush is considerably more formidable this time around.

The Giants forced four turnovers and held Green Bay's explosive offense in check as Aaron Rodgers' longest pass was for 21 yards. In their four consecutive wins, the Giants have collected 17 sacks and have allowed an average of just 12 points per game. They also shut down Green Bay's talented tight end Jermichael Finley, who had just four catches for 37 yards. One of the Giants' main focus points on Sunday will be containing San Francisco's tight end Vernon Davis.

"Has to be," Boley said. "He is one of the two things that keeps their team going."

That other thing is running back Frank Gore. Of course, the Giants don't want to underestimate quarterback Alex Smith either.

But they are oozing confidence because of the play of their own quarterback. Manning has engineered an offense loaded with dynamite big-play ability and connected with wide receiver Hakeem Nicks for a 66-yard touchdown and a 37-yard Hail Mary at the end of the first half against Green Bay. He also has touchdowns of 72, 74 and 99 yards in the last four games.

And it doesn't matter where the Giants play as they have embraced coach Tom Coughlin's call to be Road Warriors again like that 2007 Super Bowl team that won as the road team in the postseason.

The Giants welcome the idea of playing at an amped up Candlestick again.

"I could care less about how hostile it is," Rolle said. "When you're at home, you want to bring 'em to their feet. When you're away, you want to bring 'em to their knees."

"It doesn't matter who we play," he added. "At this point, the way we are playing ball, if we go out there and take care of things during the week, it doesn't matter who you put in front of us. You put an all-star team in front of us, we are going to go out there and be the best that we can be on that Sunday."


(espn.com)

Antrel Rolle was already fined $5,000 once this season for wearing University of Miami eye black, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped him from wearing it again. Rolle wore “U” eyeblack again this past week versus the NY Jets. Look for another fine for Rolle again this week.

Click here to see a photo of Rolle wearing the “U” eyeblack earlier this season.

After the disappointing loss to the Washington Redskins in which they showed little fire at times, the Giants seemed to be motivated during today’s practice. During the portion open to the media (individual drills only), the players and coaches were energetic and encouraging of one another.

It apparently continued for the entire session.

“Everyone was flying around. The energy level was top-notch,” safety Antrel Rolle said.

“That’s something that we need to have day in and day out and not let it fade away no matter what the circumstances are.”

Rolle indicated there was a new message being spread this week.

“Just more energy and everybody hold everyone else more accountable,” he said.

“If you need to pick another guy up a little bit, pick him up. If you need to critique him a little bit, that’s fine, go and critique him. But we need to as a collective effort and that’s something (Coughlin has) been putting a lot of emphasis on this week.”

 In a development that should please Rolle, who said everyone needs to practice, RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) put in limited time today after Coughlin indicated he wouldn’t work at all.

Bradshaw had been practicing only one day per week as he manages a stress fracture in his foot.

Also likely pleasing Rolle was DE Justin Tuck’s practicing and not being listed on the injury report.


(nj.com)

While Giants safety Antrel Rolle has talked in back-to-back weeks about wanting to be a ball hawk and not being able to play the role that he envisioned himself playing with the team, Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is saying to not point the finger at him.

"I'm not restricting what he can do," Fewell said on Wednesday. "I would be more than happy for him to get a lot of interceptions. I think I said that last week. Hopefully Saturday he can get a lot of interceptions for us."

In the last two weeks, Rolle has made it clear that he wants to be able to play a more traditional free safety role with the Giants and get back to trying to be a ball hawk. With injuries to the Giants, he's play more in the slot this season and has not been playing the deep ball as much.

"Personally I am extremely frustrated being that I am not able to do what I came here to do which is go get the ball," Rolle told WFAN on Monday.

Rolle signed a five-year, $37-million deal with the Giants before the 2010 season. In his five seasons with Arizona, Rolle had 12 interceptions, including four in his final year with Arizona. With the Giants, Rolle has just two interceptions in 30 games, with one interception in each of his two years. The safety envisions himself being more of a threat to opposing quarterbacks than he's being right now.

"I'm a ball hawk, man," Rolle said on Dec. 14. "That is what I do, that is what I love to do. This is my second year in this defense and I understand it like the back of my hand. Unfortunately, with injuries [to teammates] and things of that nature, I haven't been able to do what I want to do. And even when I am back there [in coverage], I don't get the opportunities that a lot of other safeties get for whatever reason."

Though Fewell is deflecting the blame for Rolle's frustration the defensive coordinator said that looking back on it, he could have helped out rookie Prince Amukamara more during Sunday's loss to Washington. The Redskins picked on the rookie in the game, victimizing him for a touchdown and two other big plays.

Fewell called it a tough coverage, advanced coverage and a rookie mistake for Amukamara on Sunday when talking of his problems.

"We could have helped him a little bit more. Hindsight is 20/20," Fewell said. "So you're asking me from my hindsight. Did we work on the coverage? Yeah, we worked on the coverage. He knew how to execute the coverage and knew what to expect within the coverage. Would I do it to him again? Hindsight is 20/20. Yeah, I would try to get him into a different coverage obviously."

There will be no rollover effect from Sunday's benching in the second half for the rookie.

"Well play him," Fewell said. "He'll play this week. No doubt. I think he's up to the challenge."


(espn.com)

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)

Justin Tuck said he spoke with Antrel Rolle and the two are “on the same page” after Rolle made post-game comments about how Giants players need to practice and fight through minor injuries if they can.

Rolle reiterated in his weekly interview with WFAN that he was not pointing fingers at any Giant, especially Tuck, who missed two days of practice last week with a toe injury. Tuck and running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) were the only Giants to miss two days of practice last week before going through a limited practice on Friday and playing on Sunday. Safety Kenny Phillips (knee) was limited all week in practice and played as well.

“If you know ‘Trel, then you know he’s one of those guys who try to light fires under guys,” Tuck said on his weekly interview on WFAN on Monday night. “And if it was directed at me then whatever. But I don’t think it was and I’ve talked to him since.”

“Sometimes in the heat of the moment, I know ‘Trel, he’s a competitor and I know he was frustrated after this loss,” Tuck continued. “So, sometimes you say things and not necessarily knowing what the ramifications are gonna be. I talked to ‘Trel since and we’re on the same page –- there’s no animosity either way between me and him and I know a lot of people are going to ask that question this week.”

Rolle reiterated on Monday that his comments were made to describe what the Giants' mentality as a team needs to be if they want to win these last two games and make the playoffs.

“My comments weren’t directly to anybody in particular,” Rolle said on WFAN. “And I know the media as always are trying to pinpoint one of our guys, which was Justin Tuck. I didn’t pinpoint and neither did I name-call anyone. If we are going to make the run that we need to make, we need to have everyone on board, whether it is nicks or bruises, we have to learn how to push through it. I am saying it from a mental aspect.”

“If you can push yourself through little things like that, then you can push yourself through other things,” he added. “Then the media is trying to come and say well Tuck didn’t practice [last] week. In my eyes, Tuck played a positive game from me seeing what I can see on the field.”

Head coach Tom Coughlin said there is a legitimate reason if a Giant is not practicing during the week.

“I do know this: every player that is medically cleared to practice practices and every player that is not medically cleared to practice does not,” Coughlin said. “It is all a matter of whether or not the player comes out the medical room with a tag that says he is out for the day or limited.”

“Of course, this time of the year, there is a lot of that,” Coughlin continued. “I am sure there is frustration there and I am not sure that is the mechanism in which you express your frustration.”

Speaking about the team overall, Rolle wants every Giant to give the team everything they got in these next two games.

“Legitimate injuries are legitimate injuries,” Rolle said. “I am not saying be Superman. But I am saying if you can give us a little bit more, give us a little bit more. It all starts in practice. We need everyone on board if they can be on board.”

Linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said Rolle’s comments were taken in the right manner.

“I always believe in what Antrel Rolle says,” Kiwanuka said. “He’s usually pretty spot on. He’s not necessarily calling out individuals, but as a team, if you can be out there on the practice field, then you need to be out there.”

“Whenever you have a certain number of people [not practicing], regardless of what point in the season you’re at, it’s not good for the team,” Kiwanuka added. “I agree. You can’t really judge somebody else’s injury. Everybody who’s been in the league understands that. If you can’t go, you can’t go. But we just need everybody to push as hard as they can so that we can have everybody out pulling the line in.”


(espn.com)

Antrel Rolle is tired of looking over at the sidelines during practice and seeing far too many of his teammates.

Some of them need to toughen up, the safety said, and start fighting through their injuries to get back on the field.

Rolle didn’t call out any of his teammates by name after the Giants’ 23-10 loss to the Redskins on Sunday, but it wasn’t hard to find his intended target. Only two players barely practiced last week and still played on Sunday: RB Ahmad Bradshaw and DE Justin Tuck.

“I’m not calling anyone out. It’s not about individuals,” Rolle said. “What I’m saying is this – and quote me on this – if you’re going to play Sunday . . . granted, some injuries you can’t practice through, I understand that. But little nicks and bruises? If you can push through it, push through it because your team needs you.”

There were nine players on the Giants’ injury report last week and five of them didn’t play in the game. LB Spencer Paysinger and S Kenny Phillips practiced every day on a limited basis. Only Bradshaw and Tuck sat out Wednesday and Thursday before a limited practice on Friday.

Rolle only mentioned either player once – when he said Tuck “had a pretty positive game” and “went out there and fought each and every play.” Rolle instead kept his attack broad and insisted, “I don’t even know who doesn’t practice half of the time.”

Still, he was clearly questioning someone’s toughness, and indicated more needed to be done to get those injured players back on the field.

“If you’re going to go out here and play the game on Sunday, you need to be out there with your men throughout the week,” Rolle said. “I’ve been nicked up all year long. A lot of other people have been nicked up all year long. We go out there and we’re fighting.

“I don’t know. I ain’t the coach, man. I’m not trying to be the coach and I’m not trying to say what he should do or shouldn’t do. But I feel as teammates we need to hold each other more accountable. If you’re going to be in the battle come Sunday, let’s be in the battle throughout the week. That’s only going to make us better.”

Tuck didn’t have a strong reaction either way to Rolle’s rant. He even admitted that “when I was young I used to look at some of the older guys when they missed practice, and kind of give them a little look like, ‘They should probably be out here.’ ”

“I don’t know,” Tuck added. “The one thing I understand is no one knows your body better than you do. I would hope — and I do believe that — everyone on this football team, when they’re able to go out and help this football team, they do it.

“I always say that it’s easy to be tough when you’re doing it with somebody else’s body.”


(nydailynews.com)

After earning their biggest win of the season last week against the Cowboys, the Giants laid an egg today against the Redskins. But Giants defensive back Antrel Rolle says the real Giants are the ones you saw last week, not the ones on the field this week.

“Washington, they’re not a bad team at all. But we are 10 times better than what we showed out there on the field today,” Rolle said, via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.

The truth is, as former Giants coach Bill Parcells used to say, the Giants are what their record says they are. And the record says the Giants are a .500 team. Maybe they’re not all that much better than they showed today against the Redskins.

The good news for the Giants is that they still control their playoff destiny: Win their last two games, and they win the NFC East. But in order to win their last two games, the Giants are going to need to be about 10 times better than they were today.



(profootballtalk.com)

After a 28-14 season-opening loss to the Redskins at FedEx Field, Antrel Rolle was so disgusted that he said “We know the Redskins are not a better team than us. If we played them 100 times they might win five.’’

That potentially-combustible quote on Tuesday was brought up to the Giants safety during his weekly radio spot on WFAN. Rolle was given the chance to back away from those comments with the Giants set for the rematch with the Redskins on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Did he really say the Giants would beat the Redskins 95 out of 100 times?

“I said ninety-nine,’’ Rolle said.

No, there was no backing away by Rolle, who was in a spirited and energized mood after the Giants ended a four-game losing streak with their 37-34 victory over the Cowboys.

“I don’t plan on losing to the Redskins, I’m going to be honest with you,’’ Rolle said. “I’m not guaranteeing a victory, I’m not doing any of that, we got to play the game come Sunday, but I’m very, very confident in this team and very, very confident we’re going to get the job done, go out there and bring it, bring it the way the New York Giants know how to bring it.’’

Rolle did not discount the defensive issues that continue to hurt the Giants.

“Our season will be shut short if we continue to play that way,’’ Rolle said.

But he took great exception to speculation that he was to blame for blowing the assignment on what turned out to be an uncontested 50-yard touchdown pass to an uncovered Dez Bryant, a play in which Rolle and cornerback Corey Webster clearly got their signals crossed.

“The play with Dez Bryant, I don’t know if I call that communication error, I don’t know what I want to call it, we don’t point fingers at each other but the mistake that was made, it shouldn’t have been made,” Rolle said.

“Which brings me to my other point. In this league every position you’re going to take some sort of blame, which is fine. People say the only thing that matters is what your coaches feel and your organization, which is fine, I understand that. But I don’t see it that way, because there’s fans out there, fans who really don’t understand the ins and outs of football, really doesn’t understand coverage and things of that nature. Whenever there’s a big play and you being the safeties, you’re always the one to get blamed and get finger-pointed and it’s wrong.”

The play gave the Cowboys a 34-22 lead late in the fourth quarter, and on the telecast, NBC’s Cris Collinsworth said Rolle was at fault.

“The commentators don’t know the coverage we’re in, they don’t know how we’re playing our defense, they don’t know I’m disguising, showing a Cover 2 but I’m really supposed to drop down and play a Cover 3,” Rolle continued. “It drives me crazy, when I speak about this I’m not speaking about this only on behalf of Antrel Rolle, I’m speaking out on behalf of people across the league. Commentators always want to point the finger as if they know what they’re doing and they know what they’re talking about but in reality they don’t half of the time.

“There was something wrong, which shouldn’t have happened. There’s no one without sin in our defense. Everyone makes their own mistakes, no one’s perfect. I take a lot of pride in understanding our defense in and out. I have to understand our defense in and out, being the quarterback of the defense. I’m not saying I don’t make mistakes, because I do, I’m saying if there’s a coverage and I’m supposed to be in a certain area best believe I’m going to be where I’m supposed to be. Like I was Sunday night, like I was against San Francisco, like I was against the Packers. They say ‘Antrel Rolle got burned.’ No, Antrel Rolle didn’t get burned, Antrel Rolle was exactly where he was supposed to be. Know what the hell you’re talking about. There’s people watching on TV, the only thing they know is what the commentators are telling them.

“I’m not going to explain exactly what happened on that play but I can say I was in the right spot, I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Whether it was Corey Webster screwing up, whether it was somebody else it doesn’t matter. Just because I am the safety or Deon Grant is a safety or Kenny Phillips is a safety that doesn’t mean we’re always supposed to be back deep. ‘’

Animated and full of energy, Rolle was on a roll during the interview, unable to contain his excitement as he heaped praise on Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul, the two players most responsible for carrying the Giants to a comeback victory inside Cowboys Stadium.

On Pierre-Paul: “All-around defensive lineman, I don’t see anybody playing at a higher level than him. I mean that across the league. This guy does so much for our football team. I don’t even think he realizes. He’s out there, he’s playing care-free, he’s doing what he’s supposed to do and then some. His motor is through the roof. This guy has been, he’s definitely the MVP of our defense, hands down. I don’t think anyone comes close. He’s been that dude. I must admit, I’m his biggest fan. I love watching that guy go to work, I love putting on the film and I’m like ‘Damn, look at that boy go to work’ and I love his attitude about it.

“He should definitely be in that Pro Bowl. I don’t know what’s going on with these fans voting but Jason Pierre-Paul definitely needs to be in Hawaii this year, but hopefully he’s not there this year because we’re in a better place. He’s a monster, he’s freakish. I laugh because I really don’t think he understands how good he is.’’

After praising kicker Lawrence Tynes, punter Steve Weatheford and the coverage on special teams, Rolle was just getting warmed up for Manning.

“I’m talking about that No. 10,’’ Rolle said. “That dude, man, you can say whatever you want to say about him, No. 26 is No. 10’s biggest fan. I’m like Deon, ‘I beeeelieeve in Eli.’ He’s saved us all year long, man. We definitely have to keep him out of those situations. That guy is clutch. I don’t care about giving him those compliments because I know Eli can handle that, he can handle anything. He might not be the rah-rah rally kind of guy, he might not be like me, he might not be as vocal as I am. But that dude is a leader, in and out, and when it’s on the line. There’s one interview I heard this year and that when I knew, I said ‘This dude got it.’ He was like ‘If the game is on the line I would rather have the ball in my hand than for them to have it in theirs.’ That tells me all I need to know about our quarterback.

“Our offense has been outstanding, they’ve been saving us. I can’t speak enough of how impressed I’ve been with the offense all year long, they’ve been saving us. The defense hasn’t been getting the job done., which is unacceptable.’’



(nypost.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –- The Giants’ secondary has been torched in each of the last three games.

But safety Antrel Rolle wants Rex Grossman, Mark Sanchez and Tony Romo –-- the next three quarterbacks to face the Giants –- to throw the ball his way.

“I’m a ball hawk man,” Rolle said on Wednesday when asked about how he views himself and how his Giants career has gone so far. “That is what I do, that is what I love to do. This is my second year in this defense and I understand it like the back of my hand. Unfortunately, with injuries [to teammates] and things of that nature, I haven’t been able to do what I want to do. And even when I am back there [in coverage], I don’t get the opportunities that a lot of other safeties get for whatever reason.”

Grossman threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening win over the Giants this year. Now, Rolle wants Grossman to look his way during the rematch this Sunday.

“Honestly, I wish teams would challenge me more, I wish they would throw the ball,” Rolle said. “I like to be tested and I like to understand where I am as a safety. So, if I got to put it out there for teams to throw the ball at me, I am going to put it out there -- throw the ball at me because I want to go get it.”

The Giants defense has been reeling as of late, surrendering an average of 40 points per game in the last three games. New Orleans’ Drew Brees, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Dallas’ Romo each passed for four touchdowns against the Giants (7-6). Tom Coughlin’s defense has had breakdowns in communication and mental lapses in the secondary against the high-powered offenses.

Rolle would love nothing more than to plug the leaky defense by making some big plays instead of watching a big play happen against his defense.

Since signing a five-year, $37-million contract with the Giants in 2010, Rolle has just two interceptions. In his last three seasons in Arizona from 2007-‘09, Rolle had a combined 10 interceptions and three touchdowns.

As a Giant, Rolle has had a variety of responsibilities from spending time near the line of scrimmage to blitz and stop the run last year to covering slot receivers earlier this season.

Rolle has racked up the tackles –- he had 87 last year and has 77 this season –- but the interceptions have not been there.

It wasn’t until the last two weeks, when Kenny Phillips suffered a knee injury, that Rolle says he has been able to play deep.

“I do what I am told to do and I do it very effectively,” Rolle said. “If it was up to me, I would definitely be back deep, hunting the ball and doing what I love to do. But that is not what is required of me right now with the position and roles that I am playing. I have to do exactly how my defensive coordinator wants me to play and I have been doing it extremely well all season long.”

So when Rolle heard NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth say during the Sunday night telecast that the safety was “barbecued” on a 50-yard touchdown reception by Dez Bryant in the fourth quarter of the Giants’ 37-34 win over the Cowboys, the safety was not thrilled.

On that play, cornerback Corey Webster let Bryant go as Rolle was coming up. Rolle said the play was disguised as a Cover 2 but was really a Cover 3 and that he was in the position he was supposed to be in.

“You have these analysts that figure like they know what is exactly going on,” Rolle said. “I am not criticizing them and I understand in a lot of situations even what they see… but don’t sit there and put someone on blast, ‘oh Antrel Rolle got barbequed.’ Like, you know, get out of here with that man.”

“There is no one without any sin on our defense and there are going to be times where I do mess up and where I have messed up,” he added. “But unless you know what you are saying, then don’t say it.”

Rolle has certaily done his share of saying things, including saying on his weekly radio appearance on WFAN earlier this season that if the Giants played the Redskins "100 times, they might win five." But he admits that he is not immune to what fans say and think about his play.

“I take a lot of pride in my game and in my craft,” Rolle said. “That stuff matters to me.”

“If I am wrong, I am going to say I am wrong,” Rolle added. “I don’t shy away from my faults. I am human at the end of the day.”

The Giants defense has looked incredibly fragile the past three weeks. But Rolle and his teammates know that if they win two of their next three, including beating Dallas in the season finale, the Giants will be playoff-bound.

And Rolle would love to start making some of those game-turning plays he made in Arizona in these last three weeks.

That’s why he wants Grossman, Sanchez and Romo to challenge him.

“When you watch certain teams on film, they really don’t attack us how they attack a lot of other teams,” Rolle said. “I think a lot of times, big plays have come more so [from] what we have allowed them to do as opposed to what they have done.”

“I played deep the last two games and haven’t gotten any balls,” Rolle added. “I’m just running around and trying to make something happen. As long as my defense wins, I could care less about my individual stats. It definitely weighs on you at the end of the day but as long we win, I’m winning.”



(espn.com)

A battle of logic has broken out before a football game.

On Tuesday, Giants safety Antrel Rolle said on his weekly spot on WFAN that the Giants would win 99 out of 100 games against the Redskins. He upped the total from September, when he said following a Giants loss to Washington that they would win 95 times out of 100.

On Wednesday, Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman responded and not surprisingly found some flaws in Rolle's proclamation.

"It is the NFL and nobody is going to beat anyone 99 out of 100 times," Grossman said on a conference call. "I am confident about where we are. We haven’t finished games lately and we need to finish and everything should take care of itself. I understand that there is a lot of pride in the NFL and a lot of people go about their business with a lot of pride and ego and we do the same thing."

Grossman will get his chance to prove Rolle wrong on Sunday as he and the Redskins will go for the season sweep of the Giants when the two teams meet at 1 p.m. Grossman threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-14 Washington win.

"I don't care about playing the role of spoilers," Grossman said. "I play this game to win. You put so much energy and effort into each week that winning the game and feeling good after the game each Sunday and being proud of what you accomplished, that is plenty of motivation. You are playing for pride and going out there and trying to win and that's really all the motivation you need as far as I'm concerned. If we are spoilers in the process, it doesn't give you any gratification. It is good to go win.'

In what has been an up and down season for Grossman, who even lost his starting job during the middle of the year, one his brightest spots came against the Giants. Grossman completed 21-of-34 passes (just one of four times this season he completed more than 60 percent of his passes) and posted a 110.5 quarterback rating, his highest of the season.

This time around, the Redskins bring a much different offense into town on Sunday as they try to make Rolle eat his words. Roy Helu is now the starting running back, instead of Tim Hightower, who was placed on IR, and the team is without the services of tight end Fred Davis, who is suspended. Davis torched the Giants for a season-high 105 yards on five catches in the first meeting. The offensive line has also been saddled with injuries.

That doesn't mean the Redskins are going to go down with a fight, though.

"We just need to continue to establish our identity and what this offense, defense and special teams are trying to become," Grossman said of his team's up-and-down season. "We have played well but playing well in the NFL is only going to allow you to be competitive. We need to finish games and it at all possible to dominate some games to get where we need to be."



(espn.com)

NEW YORK — Eli Manning and the rest of the Giants offense kept the team’s playoff hopes alive with 15 points in the final 5:41 to beat the Cowboys Sunday night. In doing so, they bailed the defense out after the secondary was victimized for a 50-yard touchdown — due to another breakdown in coverage — that gave Dallas a 34-22 lead.

On the play, there was some miscommunication between cornerback Corey Webster and safety Antrel Rolle. Webster released Bryant, assuming Rolle was going to help out over the top, but Rolle jumped on an underneath route, leaving Bryant wide open.

In his weekly interview with WFAN yesterday, Rolle wanted everyone to know it wasn’t his fault and “I was exactly where I was supposed to be.”
“No, Antrel Rolle didn’t get burned,” he said. “Know what ... you’re talking about at the end of the day.”

Rolle was the subject of criticism during NBC’s Sunday night broadcast — NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth said Rolle was “barbecued” on the play — and in the aftermath of the game, and he wasn’t happy about it.

“Commentators always want to point the finger as if they know what they’re doing and they know what they’re talking about,” Rolle said. “But in reality, they don’t half of the time.”

Tuesday, fellow safety Deon Grant confirmed Rolle wasn’t at fault on the play.

“It wasn’t Antrel,” said Grant after a holiday gift giveaway event at an elementary school in the Bronx. “I’m not going to say who was in the wrong, but I can definitely say it wasn’t Antrel in the wrong.”

Blown coverage has become a recurring theme in the Giants secondary in recent weeks. A similar botched play allowed Packers wide receiver Donald Driver to score an easy touchdown the previous week.

“Those are the things we can’t have,” Grant said. “Last week better be the last week that happened. In order for us to get to where we’re tying to go, as a secondary, as a defense, we can’t have them small mental mistakes.”

“It’s time for us to give our offense a little break. Let them continue to put up the points, but in the fourth quarter it should be a time when we don’t have to worry about going with the four-minute defense and the no-huddle offense.”



(nj.com)

In an interview that aired on NBC before the Giants played the host Cowboys, Bob Costas asked Giants safety Antrel Rolle which quarterback was best - Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers.

Costas asked Rolle that because the Giants have played the Patriots, Saints and Packers this season.

"They are all dangerous," Rolle said. "I think I have definitely grown and have a high level of respect for each and every last one of those guys. Tom Brady, you know, he's magnificent. I think that the way he scans the field is like I've never seen before. Drew Brees is a very athletic quarterback and his release on the ball is like shoosh, shoosh. It's coming at you right now. And Aaron Rodgers, I think he is just overall a cocky guy. He's extremely cocky. And you know what? I love it. You know, I love it. He is extremely confident in his approach. He just feels like he is going to get the job done, and he has for (19) straight."  



(jsonline.com)

Mark Antrel Rolle’s words – the New York Giants will be in the playoffs.

It’s easier for the defensive back to say coming off his team’s loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday because the Dallas Cowboys stumbled themselves. The Giants are just a game back of the Cowboys with four games to play and the NFC East rivals face each other twice, including this Sunday.

As rocky and unbalanced as this season has been, the Giants control their own destiny in the final month of the season.

“You ask will we make the playoffs? Without a doubt,” Rolle said Tuesday on WFAN, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. “Without a doubt. We will be in that postseason.”

The Giants have lost four straight games but they battled the Packers, only to lose on a field goal at the very end. Rolle’s talk won’t mean anything if New York cannot step up and handle the Cowboys on Sunday night in Dallas.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

On the day after a brutal loss to the Saints, Antrel Rolle said the Giants will make the playoffs.

“Absolutely,’’ Rolle said Tuesday afternoon on his weekly WFAN radio spot. “Let me tell you something. We’re gonna fight, I don’t care how we fight, I don’t care what corner we’re gonna back ourselves up to, everyone might be off the Giants bandwagon, which is fine. We only had us from the beginning anyways. We only need us in order to get to where we need to. If the fans want to be there then be there, we would love you, we will love to have you there, we definitely appreciate you but if you’re not there, if you jump off the bandwagon, that’s fine, too. We’re gonna play ball regardless. We are professional football players. We are the New York Football Giants. We are not going to go out without a fight. ‘’

Those are strong words after the Giants put up an extremely weak performance in Monday night’s 49-24 loss in New Orleans. The Giants have lost three straight games and at 6-5 are one game behind the first-place Cowboys in the NFC East and appear for the second straight season to be headed for a collapse.

“I can only speak for myself, I’m a fighter and I fought to the end last night and I’m going to fight until the end of the season, no matter which road it takes," Rolle said. "We have to figure out what’s our purpose and what are we here for. Are we trying to be a playoff contending team or are we just going out there and just going through the motion? I play football for one reason and one reason only, that’s to go to the playoffs. Each and every year. I’m sure my teammates feel the same way but we’re not showing that right now. We’re not showing that as a team. I think everyone within the Giants organization needs to get together, coaches and players, and figure out what is going on and how do we stop this bleeding. Clearly there’s something wrong.’’

Rolle expressed similar sentiments after last week’s 17-10 loss to the Eagles that featured inept offense from the Giants. Monday was a case of no-show defense inside the Superdome, with the Saints gaining 577 total yards, the second-highest total against the Giants and the most yards given up in a game by them since 1943.

“Not taking anything away from the Saints, they are a great offensive team but I think we definitely made them look a whole lot better than they actually are,’’ Rolle said.

If numerous corrections are not made by this weekend, the Packers could make the Giants defense look as silly, or sillier than Drew Brees and the Saints did.

“The Packers are an outstanding team and they are led by Aaron Rodgers, his playmaking definitely speaks for itself,’’ Rolle said. “At the same time when we want to play ball as a Giants team and when everyone’s on the same p[age we play ball. That’s what we need to get back to. We need to find a way to get back to that. I don’t know what it’s going to take and I don’t know what has to happen but we need to find a way to get back to that.’’

Rolle last week questioned the way his team responded to several incidents and physical punishment by the Eagles. Rolle was not at all unhappy to see safety Kenny Phillips early in the fourth quarter deck Saints tight end Jimmy Graham with a shot that got Phillips flagged for unnecessary roughness.

“Kenny Phillips and myself kept talking throughout the game, we’re not gonna quit, we’re going to keep fighting,’’ Rolle said. “I don’t care what the score is, we’re going to fly around and we’re going to make sure we come to play. That’s what he was doing, he was playing football, the guy was trying to hang on and bobble the ball and Kenny Phillips laid him out,. He’s playing fast, trying to decapitate the receiver from the ball, not trying to hurt the guy intentionally, if the guy was leaning down and he was falling and Kenny was trying to run through him. I’m sorry, we have to play ball.’’


(nypost.com)

On Monday, Antrel Rolle was one of a few Giants players who expressed some frustration after Sunday night's 17-10 home loss to the rival Philadelphia Eagles. The safety said he didn't think the Giants responded as they should have after the Eagles came out physical and that changes are in store going forward.

"There’s a lot of things that rubbed me the wrong way and I don’t like the way we responded to it," Rolle said.

"At the end of the day, you play within the lines, you play within the rules, but you don’t take [stuff] from nobody at the end of the day. And that’s my attitude. You don’t take [stuff]from anybody and last night I felt like we took a little bit. Like I said, man, I don’t know what’s going to change and I don’t know how it’s going to change, but in order for us to be where we want to go, things are definitely about to change."

Rolle didn't go as far as to say that the Giants played soft on Sunday, but he didn't think they were exactly tough either, especially after given their success earlier in the season.

"I don’t think we’re playing soft," he said. "I think guys are out there flying around and we’re playing extremely hard. I don’t think we played to the standards that we know we could play. I don’t think we played with as much toughness as I know we can play. I didn’t see that same intensity as when we went out there and played the Patriots. I didn’t see that."

For Rolle, the Giants' lack of toughness was exemplified when Eli Manning took a couple hits following his first interception and his team didn't respond as he believes they should have.

"You don’t want to do anything foolish, you don’t want to do anything stupid," he said, "but I think there’s a way for you to send a message and still stay between the lines at the end of the day. But that’s something we didn’t see. I don’t know. At the end of the day we have to put our foot down. We have to make it to the point where teams fear us, where receivers fear coming across the middle, where we’re a feared opponent."

Rolle wasn't alone. Both Justin Tuck and Chris Canty expressed similar frustration. We'll have more on that later on.

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nj.com)

Almost exactly three years since Plaxico Burress' fateful mishap on Manhattan's social scene, several other Giants had a scary scrape there early Tuesday morning.

But The New York Times reports that WRs Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, DE Chris Canty and DBs Antrel Rolle and Aaron Ross are safe and sound after a man was fatally shot at the Juliet Supper Club.

Two other people were wounded, one seriously, by a lone gunman.

Cruz, who was there celebrating his 25th birthday, told the Associated Press that he hit the deck when the shooting started.

"I was just sitting there and you could hear it on the other side, the shots go off," he said. "The rest was just me on the ground and trying to get out of there."

Per its sources, The Times also says Chiefs T Branden Albert, Eagles S Jarrad Page and several NBA players were in attendance. None had any connection to the incident nor were nearby when it occurred.

Page was released by the Eagles on Wednesday, but the team says the nightclub incident is not the reason he was cut, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

The Giants players, believed to be celebrating Cruz's birthday, left together shortly after the shooting. All of them are practicing today.

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(usatoday.com)

Tom Coughlin says he may make a reference or show his team some footage of last year's meltdown against the Eagles sometime this week.

But Antrel Rolle says Coughlin shouldn't bother. This is a different season.

"I don’t give a [hoot] about that game last year," Rolle said. "Last year is last year. That don’t affect anything with us this year. If he wants to be reminded, he can be reminded."

Like Rolle, Coughlin said he is focused on this being a new year. But last year's loss could be a nice little motivational tactic for the head coach.

"I doubt we’ll talk about that," Coughlin said. "We may make reference to it or show a little tape from that. It’s a new year, a new season and we’ve been down, visited there, again."

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Michael David Smith is reporting on ProFootballTalk.com that New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle has been fined $5,000 from the NFL for wearing a University if Miami logo on his eyeblack.

The logo is clearly seen in the inset of the Getty Images photo posted above.

The NFL has strict regulations about players altering approved uniforms or posting personal messages or symbols on them.

Rolle played for the Hurricanes from 2001 to 2004 and was a consensus All American in his final season.

He was drafted in the first round (eighth overall) by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2005 NFL Draft. Rolle signed with the Giants in 2010.

Click here to see a photo of Antrel Wearing the eyeblack.

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sun-sentinel.com)

Antrel Rolle was sporting “U” eye black this sunday in the Giants’ win over the New England Patriots.



Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.

The NFL has fined New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle $15,000 and defensive tackle Linval Joseph $7,500 for their actions in the 20-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Rolle was fined for making a horse-collar tackle on running back Reggie Bush at the end of a 35-yard run in the second quarter. He was penalized on the play.

Rolle was fined $20,000 for spearing Washington tight end Fred Davis in the first game of the season, as well.

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(wsj.com)

Antrel Rolle is a prideful guy. Or, as he put it while walking off after his session with reporters today, a “cocky (guy).” Note the brackets in his quote.
So all of this talk about the New England Patriots, Wes Welker and the Giants’ brutal schedule the rest of the way? Yeah, it’s clear he’s had enough of it.

“I don’t worry about our schedule,” the Giants safety said. “I think our schedule needs to worry about us.”

Over the past two seasons, Rolle has elicited plenty of eye rolls with his comments on the radio and in the locker room. He’s an outspoken player and that often gets him into trouble.

But he also brings the attitude — or as he likes to call it, “swag” — to the Giants’ defense. And while he and Tom Coughlin don’t always agree, Rolle definitely embodies the second half of Coughlin’s “Respect all, fear none” mantra in approaching opponents.

Rolle certainly isn’t fearing the Pats, whom the Giants face on Sunday. Not even close. And his attitude is apparently contagious because his fellow defensive backs were echoing his sentiments today.

“I mean, we’re not really worried about what the outside people feel about us,” safety Kenny Phillips said. “We definitely feel like we’re a good team and we play for each other, we play for our coaches. Whatever’s being said, we really don’t care.

“But if we win this, which I feel we will, the outside world will say the Giants are now a great team.”

The Patriots come into this weekend’s game with the second-ranked passing attack in the league, as they’re averaging 327.4 yards per game. Welker is on pace for 130 receptions and Tom Brady’s 67.6 percent completion rate is second to only the 68.9 percent he posted in 2007.

The Giants, meanwhile, have the 13th-ranked defense, are still trying to get over the loss of cornerback Terrell Thomas and have given up 25 passes of 20 or more yards.

All of the above is a big reason many see a mismatch here. And why the Patriots are favored by 8½ points against a team with an identical 5-2 record.

Just don’t expect Rolle to share such sentiments, particularly about Welker, whom he believes won’t be the problem for the Giants he’s been for other defenses.

“I don’t know. You have to ask those guys he’s given trouble to,” Rolle said when asked why Welker is tough to cover. “I don’t plan on having to answer those questions.”

Color Deon Grant unimpressed as well. Of shutting down Welker, he said, “It ain’t tough. It got done (Sunday), so it ain’t tough.”

The Steelers are the ones who got it done. They held Welker to 39 yards on six catches, thanks to a not-so-intricate plan.

“They played ball, man. They didn’t do anything spectacular,” Rolle said. “They weren’t double-teaming, they weren’t doing anything. They just lined up and they kicked their (butt). Bottom line.”

More brackets.

Speaking of which, the Giants defensive backs don’t believe they’ll need “bracket” coverage (i.e. double teams) on Welker or any of the Patriots’ targets. In fact, Phillips likes the matchups of Rolle or Ross or “whoever” against Welker. Notice he didn’t mention Corey Webster, who is more adept at handling bigger receivers. Webster might have his hands full with tight end Aaron Hernandez, whom the Giants said should be treated like a wide receiver.

“We’re not too shabby,” Phillips said of the Giants secondary in relation to Brady’s bunch of targets. “I think we’re pretty good also.”
Rolle put it flatly: “I can handle anything. And I’m up for all challenges.”

He’s not alone.

“We know what type of guys we have, especially in our secondary,” Phillips said. “It’s going to be a challenge. I’m not going to say it’s easy, but I think we’re up to it.”

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s or Kenny Phillips’ proCane Rookie Card.


(nj.com)

Antrel Rolle rarely if ever comes out of games.

So when he has to cover slot receivers on third down, he may be tired.

That’s what makes his play so impressive, says Giants secondary/safeties coach Dave Merritt.

“For him to go into the slot position and cover that third wideout that comes into the game fresh when he has been on the field the entire time is tough,” Merritt said. “That is the one thing that I want to make sure everyone understands. A lot of times when that third wideout comes in, you bring in your third or fourth DB and they are both fresh and going to battle. Antrel is on the field the whole entire time and then all of a sudden he has to cover that third wideout who just came on the field as a fresh player. We have put him into man-to-man situations as well as zone and he has responded. He really has and he is doing a really good job.”

Rolle began his pro career as a corner in Arizona, but was moved to free safety in 2008. At that point, he never thought he’d have to switch back to his former position, but injuries to Terrell Thomas and Prince Amuakamara led to the veteran being thrust emergency slot corner duty.

“It actually goes back to when we first came into camp, we said we were going to use Terrell Thomas as the nickel and use Prince on the outside as well as Corey Webster or Aaron Ross,” Merritt said. “Then all of a sudden Prince and Terrell Thomas go down and you say who is the next best guy now. It is Antrel Rolle. We were never going to use Prince in that position right away. It would have been Antrel as the second nickel and when Terrell Thomas went down, that is when it accelerated his mental as far as learning the slot position which he hasn’t done in a couple years. If you go back to last year, he actually played in our three safety package at the nickel position. I actually related it to when we called it x, y, or z last year and that is all you are doing but just a little more. It is a little more man-to-man. He has responded well.”

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin may not like the bye, but safety Antrel Rolle does.

“My body’s banged up,” Rolle said Wednesday during his weekly appearance on WFAN. “I can’t even feel my fingers, they’re jammed every which way. But the bye allows us to get some of our key players back and get them healthy. I think it came at the right time.”

During the Giants Week 7 bye, Rolle will be hanging out in Miami. Then he’ll come back up to New Jersey on Monday for practice.

The 4-2 Giants host the winless Dolphins on Oct. 30, and Rolle doesn’t think his team is going to have a post-bye letdown.

“We don’t plan on being upset on Sunday,” Rolle said.

Rolle thinks at worst the Giants should’ve won five of their first six games heading into the bye. But due to some mental errors and missed assignments, it didn’t happen.

“The biggest thing is being smarter, more disciplined in our technique and not beating ourselves,” Rolle said when asked what the team needs to improve going forward. “In a couple games, we beat ourselves.”

Rolle knows the Giants have a very difficult schedule on the horizon, but feels like the team will be ready.

“We have to make sure we keep our eye on the prize, and I’m sure we will,” Rolle said. “We’re gonna be ready for battle. We don’t take anyone lightly.”

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Many Giants have been playing out of position this season because of injury.

But Justin Tuck hopes that will change at least somewhat when rookie Prince Amukamara comes back, which he could do in two weeks.

Antrel Rolle has been playing a lot of slot cornerback in 2011, and has been doing a fantastic job according to Tuck, but would be better served playing his regular safety role when Amukamara returns and takes over as the third corner covering the slot.

“I give Antrel a lot of credit because a lot of people don’t understand what we’re asking him to do,” Tuck said Monday on WFAN. “He’s playing the slot receiver, who’s always the quickest, the toughest guy to play, and he’s a safety playing that position. But I give him a lot of credit because the coaches have asked him to do it and he’s stepped up for us. We’d like to have him play center field, but that’s unselfish thing for him to say ‘Yeah, coach. I’ll do it.’ I think he’s done an admirable job at it.”

Amukamara has yet to play a game this season because he's still recovering from foot surgery, but Tuck says the first-year pro has stayed mentally sharp in meetings and will be able to pick up the defense faster than people think.

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Antrel Rolle never was a teammate of Michael Strahan or Antonio Pierce, but the Giants safety Tuesday said he doesn’t feel either one of them should be chiming in on Justin Tuck’s neck injury.

“I don’t feel it’s Antonio Pierce’s place or Michael Strahan’s place to comment on someone’s injuries,’’ Rolle said on his weekly WFAN spot.

Strahan, during the Giants victory in Philadelphia on Twitter, questioned why Tuck, who reaggravated a neck injury, was out of the game in the second half. Pierce, afterward on ESPN, chided Tuck and Brandon Jacobs for missing the loss to the Seahawks and said as long as their injuries do not require surgery they should be on the field with their team.

Rolle said, “I’m not fully aware of the severity of Tuck’s injury,’’ but did not question why the Giants defensive captain did not play. As for Jacobs, who missed the game with a swollen knee, Rolle said, “I saw Brandon Jacobs’ knee first-hand. His knee was the size of a volleyball with the amount of fluid.’’ Rolle added he did not think there was any way Jacobs could play.

As far as the 36-25 loss to the Seahawks, Rolle said he thought the Giants “needed to play with a little more attitude, a little more passion. The initial strike wasn’t there.’’

Rolle was involved in allowing the game-winning touchdown when rookie receiver Doug Baldwin was allowed to run free for a 27-yard scoring catch.

“I could have sworn I heard a whistle,’’ Rolle said of when Osi Umenyiora jumped offside but did not blame any hesitation on giving up the touchdown, explaining he and cornerback Aaron Ross did not read the play the same way.

“We were on the right page but we didn’t see it the same way,’’ Rolle said. “We saw the same route but played it different ways and it cost us.’’

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nypost.com)

Antrel Rolle is not a punk. This is the core message he attempted to get across on Sunday against the Eagles.

The Giants safety was flagged for unnecessary roughness after engaging in some extracurricular activities with tight end Brent Celek. The penalty pushed the Eagles deeper into Giants' territory, setting up a touchdown by running back LeSean McCoy.

Despite that, Rolle has no regrets.

"I felt like they were cheap-shotting a little bit, they kept trying to put their hand up in my facemask and kept grinding after the play," Rolle said, according to ESPN.com. "I just had to let them know that I am not a pushover, I am not a punk under any means and sometimes you have to put your foot down. Even if it costs you a little bit, sometimes it has to be done.

"It is more of a mental toughness and more of an attitude than anything sometimes," he continued. "That is where I was going with that. I wasn't going to get myself ejected, I wasn't going to throw any blows. At the same time I am going to stand my ground."

It's easier to use this kind of rhetoric when you win, as the Giants did on Sunday against their division rivals. Something tells us Rolle is a much quieter man this week if the Eagles come out on top.

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

Whether he is answering a question about his opponent on his weekly radio spot, or refusing to back down when engaged in a tussle on the field, Antrel Rolle rarely takes a passive approach to anything he does.

In his short time as a Giant, the safety has shown that he is not going to shy away from saying what he believes -- like last week, when he said on WFAN that he wanted Michael Vick to play so the Philadelphia Eagles would have no excuses when the Giants "put it to them the way we will" -- or run from a fight when challenged by an opponent.

Take his minor scuffle with Eagles tight end Brent Celek late in the second quarter of the Giants' 29-16 win on Sunday. Rolle had just gotten into a shoving match with DeSean Jackson on the play before, and now Celek was getting physical with him. Rolle ended up retaliating and receiving an unnecessary roughness penalty that would eventually help the Eagles score a touchdown on that drive.

While coach Tom Coughlin was not thrilled with the flag, Rolle viewed it as a necessary unnecessary roughness penalty.

"I just had to let them know that I am not a pushover, I am not a punk under any means and sometimes you have to put your foot down," Rolle said. "It is more of a mental toughness and more of an attitude than anything sometimes." Since signing a five-year, $37 million deal with the Giants in 2010, Rolle has certainly brought an attitude to the Giants' defense.

This coming Sunday, the Giants may feed off Rolle's energy when he returns to Arizona to face the Cardinals, the team that drafted him out of Miami as a cornerback in 2005.

"There's going to be extra special ... you definitely want to go in and give them a show," Rolle said. "But I am not going to let any emotions take me out of the game or make me even more exhausted than I already will be."

"I had a great career there, fans were awesome," Rolle added. "If you get claps or get booed, it doesn't matter."

Rolle certainly evokes mixed reactions from fans with his comments at times. His weekly radio spot has often created headlines thanks to juicy quotes.

From discussing how early the Giants should've shown up to the stadium prior to their loss at Indianapolis last season, to suggesting Coughlin should lighten up, to boasting that the Giants would beat the Redskins 95 out of 100 times after they lost to Washington in Week 1, Rolle speaks his mind and rarely bites his tongue.

"Antrel is the man," linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said. "He came in and quickly became a big part of this team and this defense. He is a guy who is going to hit you in the mouth and he is going to tell you about it afterward. And we like that around here."

In Arizona, Rolle spent his first three seasons playing cornerback for the Cardinals and had five interceptions in 2007, including three returned for touchdowns. He was converted to safety in 2008 and helped the Cardinals reach the Super Bowl that season. "That whole playoff run, we came together as a unit," Rolle recalled. "We had a mental toughness that we weren't going to be denied. I've never seen a team come together like we did. No one gave us a chance but we proved everybody wrong."

After he had four interceptions and 61 tackles in 2009, the Cardinals released Rolle for salary purposes, and he joined the Giants, including good friend and fellow Miami product Kenny Phillips.

"I had a great time with that organization and staff," Rolle said of the Cardinals. "Basically their hand was pretty forced. I had a lot of money backed into that last year. Obviously you have to pay a safety $17 million in one year so they were forced to cut me and tried to re-sign me."

As a Giant, Rolle has had to fill a lot of roles for defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. Last season, he was often asked to play up near the line of scrimmage to help against the run or blitz. Safeties coach Dave Merritt said the Giants asked Rolle to take on a lot of responsibilities last season.

This year, Rolle has been asked to cover receivers in the slot at times after cornerback Terrell Thomas was lost for the season with a torn ACL in the preseason.

So far, Rolle leads the team with 20 tackles. But he also has two unnecessary roughness penalties in three games, the second of which came from his tussle with Celek.

"Antrel is a tough kid and he really plays well down at the line of scrimmage," Coughlin said. "He is very physical. I think for all of us, in the competitive nature of that game, there are so many emotions going on, it really is important to grab ahold of yourself and stay under control."

"You never know what is going to happen and you are out of control," he added. "You can be ejected. You can cost your team valuable yardage. I know he thought at the half [about] the way I am expressing it [emotion] and hopefully he will learn and we all will learn."

Rolle said he will continue to defend himself if he feels it is necessary.

"If I feel like something has to be done, I am going to handle it and I will take care of disciplinary actions after that," Rolle said. "I wasn't going to get myself ejected [in the Philadelphia game], I am a smart player and I wasn't going to hurt myself or my team by getting ejected. I think I definitely had to make a statement and hold my ground."

"I just felt like sometimes it is bigger than the game," Rolle added about his unnecessary roughness penalty against the Eagles. "I don't want them to get that attitude over us, that they have more swagger than us or they have more passion or more desire or even more toughness."

While Coughlin may want his players to offer more boring quotes and walk away from all altercations on the field, Rolle believes his never-back-down attitude can be a plus for the Giants.

"You definitely have to have swag and definitely have to have attitude," Rolle said. "I am definitely a guy that is never going to back down from any opponent. If you speak it enough, it will come to light."

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Antrel Rolle was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct during the Giants">Giants’ 29-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and was involved in a handful of other scuffles throughout the game. This is emblematic of Rolle’s moxie — or “swag,” as he calls it — and he’s not shy in defending it.

“When I play the game, I play the game,” Rolle said today. “At the end of the day, the coaching gets done Monday through Saturday. Sunday, when I’m on the field, I’m in the zone. When I feel something needs to get done, I’ll handle it.

“I’ll take care of disciplinary actions after that. I wasn’t going to get myself ejected. I wasn’t going to hurt myself or hurt my team. I definitely was going to make a statement and hold my ground.”

Rolle didn’t understand why he was issued a 15-yard penalty because he said both he and Eagles tight end Brent Celek were tussling. Celek’s helmet came off, and Rolle admitted he pulled it off, but he said both players were involved. He added that he and Celek exchanged pleasantries after the game.

The 15-yard penalty didn’t seem to bother Rolle because “I have confidence that 15 will get 30 more.”

“And that’s the way I look at it, in the heat of the moment like that,” Rolle said. “Sometimes you have to put your foot down.”

Coach Tom Coughlin did not agree with this logic. The coach said Rolle was aware of how costly a personal foul can be and understands Rolle is an emotional, physical player. Coughlin did not expect the need to talk to Rolle this week about the emotions of playing Rolle’s former team, the Cardinals.

Rolle spoke fondly of his time in Arizona, where he helped the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. He had an amicable departure, understanding that they couldn’t pay him the money he wanted.

The Giants made Rolle the NFL’s highest-paid safety during the 2010 free agency period.

“I had a great time with the organization and with the teammates and the staff,” Rolle said. “Excited to go back and play ball.”

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nj.com)

It's week three of the NFL regular season and that means the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles rivalry is about to be renewed. It also means trash talk is going to be a dominant fixture in the media over the next several days. In fact, it's already begun. Shocker, right?

The chatter began late Tuesday afternoon when Giants safety Antrel Rolle said he's covered Eagles wide receiver before and would be happy to do it again.

“You know, I’m no stranger to the cornerback position,” Rolle said. “I have handled DeSean Jackson one-on-one before, and I don’t see why I can’t handle him again.”

The comments didn't seem overly controversial, but Jackson's teammate, Jeremy Maclin, apparently took them to heart and fired back at Rolle and the New York Giants today.

"When you talk, you're either insecure or scared. And he's talking," Maclin said. "They have no business talking, because they haven’t done anything the last six times."

If we're talking about relevant history, well…the Eagles have never done anything. But that's neither here nor there.

Defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka also joined the trash talking party, saying the following about Eagles quarterback Michael Vick:

"I want to be able to go there & throw the knockout punch while the ref and the other guy are looking," Kiwi said.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

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(giants101.com)

NEW YORK (WFAN) – Bring on DeSean Jackson.

Even Michael Vick, if he’s healthy enough to go. Giants safety Antrel Rolle is ready to take care of the Eagles.

While many Giants fans are hoping the Eagles sit their banged-up quarterback in Week 3, Rolle is rooting for No. 7 to recover in time from the concussion he suffered Sunday against the Falcons.

“You’re asking me, I think you already know the answer to that. I want the best of the best. He is the best,” Rolle told WFAN’s Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Tuesday. “I hope Michael Vick plays, because at the end of the day I don’t want any excuses, you know, when we go down to Philly and put it to them the way we will.”

New York is 1-1 and coming off a sloppy 28-16 win at home against the St. Louis Rams. But there’s no shortage of optimism in Rolle’s game plan.

“We can beat anyone,” said Rolle. “That’s my mindset. If I didn’t think that we could play in this game, I’d put my shoulder pads on the rack and tell them, ‘You know, I don’t want to play anymore.’”

The biggest challenge for the Giants’ depleted secondary will be covering Jackson. Who could forget how he burned the Giants with a punt return to seal Philadelphia’s shocking comeback in East Rutherford last December?

Giants fans have to be wary considering the state of their cornerbacks. Terrell Thomas is done for the season. Prince Amukamara is still rehabbing. Aaron Ross was benched for a short time after he gave up a couple big plays last night.

According to Rolle, Ross will be fine. Heck, the Giants’ safety will even cover Jackson if need be.

“You know, I’m no stranger to the cornerback position,” Rolle said. “I have handled DeSean Jackson one-on-one before, and I don’t see why I can’t handle him again.”

And if something should go awry with Eli Manning and backup quarterback David Carr? Yeah, Rolle’s got that covered, too.

“I’ll go out there and make things happen,” he said. “I’d find a way to make it happen.”

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(newyork.cbslocal.com)

The New York Giants’ starting safeties have been fined a total of $30,000 for a pair of hits in Sunday’s 28-14 loss to the Washington Redskins.
Antrel Rolle was fined $20,000 for spearing, while Kenny Phillips was fined $10,000 for striking an opponent in the head and neck area.

Rolle was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a hit on Redskins tight end Fred Davis, and spearing is one of the infractions the NFL takes very seriously: $20,000 is the minimum fine. Rolle’s penalty was even costlier for the Giants than it was for him personally, as it gave the Redskins an automatic first down just as the Giants’ defense had stopped them on third down. The Redskins led 21-14 at the time, but instead of punting to the Giants and giving them a chance to tie the score, the Redskins scored a touchdown after Rolle’s penalty to seal the victory.

Phillips was not flagged at any point in the game, and the NFL hasn’t said exactly what he did to earn a fine, but it was reportedly also a hit on Davis. Phillips said today that he plans to appeal.

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(nbcsports.com)

Antrel Rolle admits that the New York Giants defense has a lot of work to do after the Redskins won the season opener. But the safety believes that if the two NFC East rivals played each other 100 times, New York would prevail at least 95 times.

"As a team and organization, we know that the Washington Redskins is not a better team than us," Rolle said in his weekly spot on WFAN radio. "We know that hands down. If we played them 100 times, they might win five. They won that day. It never leaves a good taste in your mouth when you lose to an opponent that you know you are better than."

When asked by WFAN hosts Joe and Evan if he was impressed by Rex Grossman or thought the Redskins were better than he thought, Rolle replied, "No, not at all."

"We'll definitely prove that next time around," Rolle said. "He is going to feel the Giants come the next time around. We will take care of that when the time comes."

Grossman completed 21-of-35 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday to lead the Redskins to a 28-14 win over the Giants at FedEx Field. Playing without defensive captain Justin Tuck and with a depleted secondary, the Giants defense failed to rattle Grossman and had a six-game winning streak against Washington snapped. The Giants had won 9-of-10 meetings between the teams prior to Sunday.

Rolle finished with six tackles but was flagged for a costly 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth quarter after the Giants defense should have gotten a stop. On a third-and-9 at the Washington 45, Grossman hit tight end Fred Davis for a 7-yard gain but Rolle's penalty gave the Redskins a first down at the Giants' 33 before they eventually scored to make it a 14-point lead with 5:04 remaining.

The Giants, who face the Redskins again on Dec. 18 at MetLife Stadium, now have to bounce back against former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and the Rams on Monday night.

They hope to have Tuck back this week from a neck injury that kept him out of the season opener.

"I definitely feel there is a lot of work to be done," Rolle said of the defense. "We have a lot of guys playing different positions we have to fill in for some key areas. We still haven't found that chemistry yet. It is getting close."

"We understood where things went wrong," Rolle added. "I don't think we played a good game as a team. I don't think we played good on special teams, on defense or on offense. The Giants will come out there and we will show the world what we are all about and we will come play."

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(espn.com)

Both Tom Coughlin and Antrel Rolle felt referees were wrong to penalize Rolle for unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter.

Rolle banged helmets with Redskins tight end Fred Davis when Davis was on the ground, untouched, following a seven-yard reception.

Had Davis been stopped where he caught the ball, he would have been short of the first down.

But referees whistled Rolle for the 15-yard unnecessary roughness because he hit Davis helmet to helmet.

The flag gave the Redskins a first down on a drive they'd eventually score on to build a two-touchdown lead.

"I definitely didn't think it was helmet-to-helmet," Rolle said. "I definitely didn't lead with my helmet. I've never led with my helmet. At the end of the day, there's nothing I can do about it - the call was made."

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(espn.com)

It really doesn't matter today whether the Giants or the Jets are the best team in New York. Their preseason game on Monday night, a 17-3 Jets win, has little significance in the big picture. However, which team reigns supreme when they meet again on Christmas Eve will be vastly important.

By then it will be Game 15 for the Giants, and they will be deep into-at least as it stands right now on paper-one of the most treacherous stretches seen by any team in football. The seeming difficulty of the Giants' schedule in the second half of the season increases the urgency for them to get off to a strong start.

Logic says the Giants must be at least 5-3 to conclude the first half if they are going to make the playoffs. A critical component to that necessity is safety Antrel Rolle. His value to the team's success has increased exponentially over the past several weeks, resulting from myriad serious injuries to the Giants' defensive backfield.

The most prominent, all incurred by cornerbacks, are a season-ending torn ACL sustained by Terrell Thomas, a broken foot that will sideline No. 1 draft pick Prince Amukamara for several more weeks and a ruptured Achilles by Bruce Johnson that has ended his season.

"It's extremely important," Rolle said of his increased responsibility to be a high impact player. "We have a lot going on, a lot of guys playing several positions, trying to learn things on the run...It is a midstream adjustment. As a veteran, I have to take it upon myself to help our defense."

The 28-year-old Rolle is beginning his seventh season in the NFL and second season with the Giants. They signed him to a five-year, $37 million free agent contract in March 2010, at the time making Rolle the highest paid safety in history. Rolle's versatility-he began his career as a cornerback-enables the Giants to utilize him at multiple spots in the secondary to compensate for the losses.

With only one more preseason game remaining before the Sept. 11 regular season opener, Rolle maintains the Giants' revamped secondary has much room for improvement. "We have a long ways to go," he said after the loss to the Jets. "We're making strides, and that's the most important thing.

"We understand where we have to be and where we're trying to get to."

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(amsterdamnews.com)

NEW YORK — The Giants decided against moving Antrel Rolle to cornerback after Terrell Thomas suffered a season-ending knee injury. That doesn’t mean Rolle won’t play cornerback this season.

During practice this week, Rolle lined up as the slot cornerback in nickel situations. Deon Grant entered at safety. Rolle confirmed yesterday that, as it stands now, the nickel cornerback is his spot in that formation.

“I don’t know what to expect this season, but I know as of right now, that’s the plan,” Rolle said at a fan festival for MetLife Stadium. “I have no problem doing that. It’s something I’m very comfortable with pretty much my entire career.”

This will be different than the three-safety formation the Giants employed last season because Rolle will take the responsibilities of a cornerback. He said he plans on dropping from 206 pounds to 200 pounds to get quicker.

Rolle came into the NFL as a cornerback in 2005. He switched to safety with the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. In 2010, the Giants made Rolle the highest-paid safety in the NFL. He was productive last season, although he expected an even better 2011 after getting used to the “mental gymnastics of the position.” He does not expect this change to require much adjustment.

“There’s a lot of carry over from last year, so it’s not like everything’s going to be new to me,” Rolle said. “I pretty much know what to expect and I know how to play my teammates.”

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(nj.com)

I know what you’re going to ask…..why would the Giants’ move Antrel Rolle, who made the Pro Bowl at safety last year, to cornerback?

Well, many reasons. They don’t have enough depth at corner right now and may need Rolle to fill in at some point. He currently is taking reps at corner as well as safety in practice and – you never know – they may need him there at some juncture this season.

The way cornerbacks are dropping on this roster, the Giants need to explore all options and that appears to be what they are doing. The signing of Brian Williams will help depth-wise, but the 32-year-old cannot be expected to face-off against the Dez Bryants, Santana Mosses and DeSean Jacksons of the world. The Giants need a better player to do that and Rolle may be the one they call on.

The Giants do not feel comfortable even after signing Williams.  Their depth chart at CB after Aaron Ross and Corey Webster is littered with inexperienced players. Until they get Prince Amukamara back in late October, the Giants will have Webster, Ross, Williams, Michael Coe, Joe Burnett and Darnell Burks as their corners. In this pass-happy league we live in, that is not going to cut it.

Unless the Giants want to bring in another veteran – someone in the line of a Lito Sheppard – who worked out for the Giants along with Williams, or Dre’ Bly who was here last year for a tryout, the Giants will throw Coe or one of the others into the mix.

Coe appears to be ready for the challenge.  He was drafted by the Colts in 2007, but blew out his knee and missed all of 2008. He likes the way DC Perry Fewell uses the corners in the defense and feels he can succeed, especially now that he is getting more reps in game situations.

“We play a lot of man-to-man, which is what I played at Arkansas,” Coe told reporters yesterday. “We do a lot of pressing. When I went to Alabama State for my last year we did the same thing. Me being a taller (6’0″, 185lb), faster corner, those are the things I do well and feel comfortable doing.”

If he can’t, Rolle will be there to pick up the slack. Who will fill in at safety for Rolle in those situations? Deon Grant, for one. Or even rookie Tyler Sash if he is ready. One thing at a time, folks…

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(giantsfootballblog.com)

Anyone who saw safety Antrel Rolle after Monday night’s preseason victory over the Bears could see he was shaken up about the loss of cornerback Terrell Thomas, who went down with torn knee ligaments and is out for the entire season.

A day later, Rolle didn’t sound as if he had overcome any of his disappointment.

“I had a huge comfort level [on the field] with Terrell Thomas,’’ Rolle said Tuesday on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio channel. “We worked a lot together, we talked a lot, because our roles were similar in a lot of ways. That’s why it hurts me a lot to see him go down, it really did. Honestly, I don’t know what to do. I still don’t know how to handle it at this point but I’m going to have to try to find a way. I have to. We have to as a defense.’’

Thomas was emerging as a star cornerback, and Rolle said his loss cannot be minimized.

“That’s going to have a huge impact on our season and most of all on our hearts, you know, as players,’’ Rolle said. “He’s a great football player but most of all he’s a great guy and it’s very unfortunate for a situation like that to happen to someone of his caliber.

"You know, you can’t question what the guy above does, his plan is always different than what you may think it is, and I think it’s only going to make T2 stronger. I think it’s going to make him a better person, which is hard to believe, I don’t see how you can become any better than what he already is but, you know, there’s always a way. And, you know he’s going to be fine. We’re just gonna make sure we keep his spirits uplifted and just make sure he comes back to us better than he was when he left.”

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nypost.com)

Giants safety Antrel Rolle allegedly received a $7,500 watch, thousands of dollars of cash gifts and paid trips to nightclubs and strip clubs from a University of Miami booster while a standout cornerback for the Hurricanes, according to a Yahoo! Sports investigation released on Tuesday.

The benefits came from Nevin Shapiro, who is in prison for his role in a $930 million Ponzi scheme. All would violate NCAA rules. Provided an opportunity today, Rolle neither confirmed nor denied the allegations against him.

"To me it doesn’t matter what’s true or what’s not true," Rolle said today.

"There’s nothing for me to comment on this guy. Obviously he’s on a rampage to cause havoc, and I’m just going to let him do his talking. Because right now, to me, it’s irrelevant. It don’t concern me at this point. I’ll deal with it when the right time comes."

The report indicated that Rolle also received $1,000 for shutting down Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson in a 27-3 win over Georgia Tech on Oct. 2, 2004 and $500 for a game-sealing interception in a 41-38 victory over Louisville on Oct. 14, 2004. It also accused Rolle of accepting $40,000 from an agent who was Shapiro’s former business partner.

Rolle was one of 72 athletes named in the report. The report also included fellow Giants safety Kenny Phillips, who allegedly accepted food, drink and entertainment at Shapiro’s home and yacht, and meals at restaurants in the Miami area. Phillips was not available for comment today.

"You get 20 years in prison, certain things like that happen, you’re going to find something to take it on, right?" Rolle said. "I guess we have to bite that bullet."

Rolle said he and other Miami players are not frustrated by the report because "we understood our place, and we also understand what he’s trying to do."

However, Rolle expressed concern about the possible ramifications on Miami’s football program, which could be in line for significant sanctions if the NCAA finds the allegations are true.

"I think this is bringing unnecessary drama to the program that doesn’t need to be," Rolle said. "I’m a Miami guy at heart and I always will be a Miami guy at heart. I just want those guys to have the same fortunate career as I had and other people ha, and right now there’s a lot of drama going on at that school. And it’s all caused by one guy."

Busy in training camp, Rolle has not yet read the report. However, he’s received messages from those who have. He said his mother called after seeing a photo of Shapiro wearing Rolle’s No. 6 college jersey.

"I’m like ... I didn’t give him the jersey’," Rolle said. "When I saw him, he switched up jerseys each and every week. It just happened to be the jersey he had on in the Florida State game. He represented me. I played ball down there, he should have represented the No. 6 jersey."

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nj.com)

With the NFLPA website now up and active, a few contracts have changed and it looks like Corey Webster and Antrel Rolle both restructured their deals to help the Giants’ cap situation.

Webster was slated to make $8 million but that number has been reduced to $5 million this season in base salary. Rolle also has a base number of $1.25 million compared to the $5.25 million he was scheduled to make originally.

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(giants101.com)

Not to suggest that NFL fans shouldn’t believe that the work stoppage may finally be lifted by July 21st as the new target date, but we have been told for three months that the lockout will finally end. Both sides of the current labor dispute know the fans do not care about what happens in June and July, but rather that football will be back in time for training camp in August for the start of the regular season in September. We are inching closer-and-closer to August and the time period where training camp would be set to start under a normal off-season and both sides seem to want to get this new collective bargaining agreement done already.

Antrel Rolle made a few headlines last year in his first season with the New York Giants by saying he wasn’t scared of playing against Peyton Manning and has made an impact early on for Big Blue after signing a 5-year, $37 million dollar deal in March of 2010. Rolle contends that he wants the lockout to end when both the owners and players get their fair share and that most players like himself are in good shape during this lockout dispute. The real problem at hand is are these current NFL players during the lockout in football shape? Rolle believes it shouldn’t be an issue once the players finally take the field again.

Antrel Rolle joined WQAM in Miami on The Gino Torretta Show with Steve White to discuss what he has been doing this off-season during the NFL lockout, the players being sick of the work stoppage and how they’re just ready to get back to work officially, how long it will take him to get back into playing shape once the lockout is finally lifted, his comfort level regard playing in exhibition preseason games if the lockout were to end next week, and how good he thinks the 2011 New York Giants can be.

We saw you have been training down at the University of Miami and with your New York Giants teammates. What have you been up to this off-season?
“I have been working out at UM [University of Miami] most of the time and been doing some work here on my own.”

Are you guys as players over the lockout so we can get this thing over with and just play football?
“I am a guy who believes in what’s fair is fair. I think it has to work in hand for both the owners as well as for the players and until it reaches that point I’m all for the mediations and things of that nature, so we can get on the same page at the same time. Let it be 50-50 and no 60-40 or 70-30.”

How long will it take once the lockout is over to get you into playing shape where you could play in an exhibition game?
“I’m in great shape right now. I wouldn’t say I’m in great football shape, but I’m in great shape. The only thing that is going to prepare you to get into football shape is actually playing football, so once you get out there with the guys and run around and do a couple of drills and have a little contact. You know what I mean? We have been playing this sport of football for a long time. It’s not going to take to long to get back into football shape and maybe a week and a half, two weeks maximum.”

The reports say that July 21st, 2011 may be the day the lockout ends. Do you guys feel comfortable once the lockout ends if that were to happen in the next week or two?
“To be honest with you I have been hearing that it is going to get done in a week, two weeks, ever since the beginning of March, so I’m at the point right now that whenever it happens I’ll be ready and whenever I get that call I’ll be ready. That’s the only thing I’m looking forward to right now.”

How good do you think this New York Giants team will be this season?
“The sky is the limit for us. I think we have control of our own destiny. I think all we have to do is finish games. We have a great team. I have never been around a team that has as much talent at each and every position. We just have to get on the same page at the same time and be a better football Giants team. We’re already good, but need to be great.”

Listen to Antrel Rolle on WQAM in Miami here

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(sportsradiointerviews.com)

(hurricanesports.com)

Let's call this Antrel Rolle Version 2.0. The New York Giants Pro Bowl safety, whose January comments about coach Tom Coughlin landed him in a hailstorm of controversy, sounded like a player determined to avoid such missteps in 2011 during an appearance Monday on ESPN Radio New York with Ian O'Connor.

"The only thing I'm gonna focus on is being a better number 26," Rolle told O'Connor. "That's all I can do. If I work on being a better safety that's going to trickle down, that's going to help other players. It's going to help my team. I'm not doing it for my own selfish reasons, I'm doing it for the betterment of my team.

"That's going to be my only focus this year. There isn't going to be any problems, there aren't going to be any things said about Coach Coughlin."

O'Connor pressed Rolle on the Coughlin topic, as he should have, asking him directly "Do you like him as a head coach?"

"I like him ... Coach Coughlin knows how I feel about him. … I never said he was a bad guy, I never said anything remotely close to that," Rolle said. "I made one comment and everyone wants to take it like ‘oh my God, Antrel doesn’t like Coach Coughlin, he hates being with the Giants, which is not true at all. I love being with the Giants and Coach Coughlin and myself, we talk on a daily basis.

"I tell everyone all the time I like Coach Coughlin as a coach, and I’m sure he likes me as a player. You’re both men, men are not always going to agree. It was my fault to voice that, I should have just kept quiet about it which I will do from now on."

Rolle said coming to New York from Arizona was "a bit of a shocker," and that he needs to handle the change better.

"It was a bit of a shocker. I was unaware of how things are run with the Giants organization. I love the organization, it's definitely been great to me, but it was a bit of a shocker," Rolle said.

"That's part of being a man and that's part of being a professional. I have to adapt and take things as they come, not Coach Coughlin."

Rolle, of course, was a member of the Arizona Cardinals before coming to the Giants as a richly-rewarded free agent. He was part of a Cardinal team that went to the Super Bowl in 2008 and went 10-6 in 2009 before losing to New Orleans in the divisional round. He said, though, that this Giants team is the most talented he has ever been on despite having missed the playoffs last season.

"We need to come together and finish games. As far as talent-wise I've never seen anything like it. I've never been a part of such a dynamic group and such a special group with as much talent at each and every position," Rolle said. "We just need to learn how to close out games."

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(bigblueview.com)

Friendly Disclaimer: The following list is influenced largely -– but not strictly -– by film study of all 32 teams from the 2010 season. Stats weren’t acknowledged, but players with poor numbers generally don’t make top 10 lists anyway. Vague enough for you? Criteria for top 10 lists tend to be. That’s why most of you will have no trouble finding some disagreement with what you’re about to read.
(Last year’s ranking of safeties in parentheses.)

10. O.J. Atogwe, Redskins (NR)
Solid role player, but not a big-time creator.

9. Roman Harper, Saints (7)
Stupendous in the box but not so much in space. Save for the wild-card disaster in Seattle, that’s been just fine in New Orleans’s scheme.

8. Jim Leonhard, Jets (NR)
A Swiss Army Knife in Rex Ryan’s pocket.

7. Malcolm Jenkins, Saints (NR)
Superb natural talent who can cover the slot man-to-man and make rangy plays from centerfield. If he can learn to harness his aggressive instincts, he’ll be elite.

6. Eric Berry, Chiefs (not in league)
Physical young whiz who eats up a lot of ground in a hurry. The writing on the wall is in all caps: FUTURE SUPERSTAR.

5. Nick Collins, Packers (5)
Classic rangy free safety. Understands angles and route combinations. 4. Antoine Bethea, Colts (6)
About as flashy as a Tuesday afternoon in Lubbock, Tex., but there’s something to be said for calendar-like consistency. Indy’s secondary has survived injuries over the years because its centerfielder does everything well.

3. Antrel Rolle, Giants (8)
Played the role of Charles Woodson for the Giants last season. All-around versatility is a huge asset.

2. Ed Reed, Ravens (2)
Nothing new to report here.

1. Troy Polamalu, Steelers (1)
A future first ballot Hall of Famer. Great as he is, just for fun as an aside, let’s ponder this question: What would his reputation be if he didn’t have long hair?

On the cusp:
Kenny Phillips, Giants; Brian Dawkins, Broncos; Michael Griffin, Titans

Dropped from list:
Darren Sharper, Saints (3)
Brian Dawkins, Broncos (4)
Brandon Meriweather, Patriots (9)
Adrian Wilson, Cardinals (10)
Sharper and Dawkins are long in the tooth. Meriweather, for some reason, stopped listening to his coaches early last year (he rebounded down the stretch). Wilson’s severe limitations in coverage make him a de facto linebacker.


(nytimes.com)

Pat Kirwan from NFL.com ranks the top 30 safeties in the NFL. 3 proCanes made the list.

Each player listed has either an (^) for players on the rise and has room for growth, (>) for players maintaining their status and playing at their peak level or (v) for those who can't sustain their level of play and are on the decline.

4. Ed Reed, Ravens (>): A free safety with special ball-hawking skills. He has missed 10 games in the past three years and still has 11 interceptions in his last 22 games. Reed is a Hall of Fame player and the best deep middle player in the NFL. He's forced 32 turnovers (interceptions and forced fumbles) the last four years.

18. Antrel Rolle, Giants (>): The Cardinals' defense suffered when Rolle left in free agency last year. He had one interception for the Giants in 2010 after recording 10 interceptions during the three previous seasons. A free safety who does a solid job in the deep middle of the field, or in the deep half in the Cover 2.

24. Brandon Meriweather, Patriots (>): Made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2010. He has had some issues off the field, but on the field finds the football with 12 interceptions and 24 passes defended the last three seasons.

Click here to see the full rankings.

Click here to order Ed Reed’s or Antrel Rolle’s or Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)