Antrel Rolle's $7 million salary a problem? Not if you ask the Giants safety

Coming off perhaps the best season of his accomplished career, Giants safety Antrel Rolle was puzzled by a reporter's question about the team needing to talk with him about his $7 million salary and $9.25 million salary cap figure for next season.

Rolle, snubbed for the Pro Bowl last week despite a strong season, believes he's lived up to the terms of his contract with his play on the field. He finished with 98 tackles, 2.0 sacks, six interceptions, a forced and recovered fumble.

“I don’t think there is anything to talk about. I still have one year left on my deal,” Rolle said. “I don’t think there is anything to talk about.”

It doesn’t mean if the Giants came to the veteran safety he’d be standoffish. Rolle would talk with the organization and be willing to add years to his current deal, especially if it made finishing his career with the Giants a possibility.

“Whatever the Giants want to do – you know I’m a professional and I handle my business in a professional manner – if that’s what they want to do, I’ll be all for it,” Rolle said.

“I definitely want to retire a Giant. I just want to be here. I’m just worried about the 2014 season, being here and making a run [at the Super Bowl].”

Rolle, 31, says he has at least four more years left where he can play at an “elite” level. It’s hard to argue considering he showed no signs of slowing down this season.

In fact, Rolle played a bigger role with the Giants this year than in the past. His versatility was key in defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s defense, and his responsibilities in the locker room and huddle increased.

Rolle was a Giants captain for the first time in his four years with the team. He played an integral part in keeping the team together and resurrecting a defense that started the year poorly but finished a respectable eighth in total defense. Rolle was one of the players who put together an impromptu Week 6 meeting with Fewell that reversed the defense’s fortunes. Those are the actions of the kind of player the Giants would seemingly like to keep around for a long time.

“That’s definitely the ultimate goal, to get an extension and add more years to my deal, and be able to be a part of this organization throughout the rest of my seasons,” Rolle said. “I’m not a guy that wants to play 14 or 15 years. I’ve never been that kind of guy.

“I just like to play and be effective while I’m here in this league. I know I easily have four more years to play at an elite level.”


(nj.com)