NY Giants' Kenny Phillips trying to take it easy (on his teammates)

ALBANY, N.Y. - Kenny Phillips really doesn't want to hurt his teammates. And he's trying not to even hit them. But at times he just can't help himself.

"It's kind of hard. I feel like I'm not doing my job if I can't finish the play," the Giants' rookie safety said today at lunch. "But I guess they see I'm capable of getting there, so that's enough."

Phillips came up and slammed into RB Reuben Droughns yesterday morning, knocking Droughns to the ground. He later walloped WR Brandon London on a leaping catch near the sideline. Last night, he would have clocked WR Sinorice Moss on one play and finally showed some restraint by putting his throwing his hands up to show the coaching staff he was there and would have made the play in a real game.

"I hate when that stuff happens because Coach Coughlin calls me over every few minutes. Every time I do something, I know he's coming (and saying), 'Try not to do...'" Phillips said. "'All right, coach. I'm sorry.' And I'm really trying not to do it, but it's part of the game."

It's part of Phillips' game now. But in college, he was more of an in-the-box guy. So he's still learning how to be the roaming safety who will get a chance to make a play on the ball or the receiver. That's scary to think he's simply relying on pure speed right now and has been in position to whack a couple of guys already.

If he gets a chance to finish these plays in games, he might start developing a nice reputation for himself.

"That's what I'm hoping for," he said. "When I go out there in the preseason, I'm definitely going to try to do what I've been doing in practice - getting in position to take someone's head off. I'm not trying to hurt them intentionally, but I'm just doing my job. If that reputation comes, then cool. I'll take it."

But he'd better be careful because that reputation also comes with a target for the folks in the league office, who will be looking to see if any of those hits are illegal.

"I'm going to try not to get any of those," Phillips said of potential fines. "But if it happens, I'll pay for it."

Not as much as the hittee will.

(nj.com)