In a locker room that features guys who are never shy about speaking their mind like Justin Tuck and Brandon Jacobs, Antrel Rolle has somehow emerged as the voice of the New York Giants over the past couple of months. Although I can’t stand guarantees because players and coaches have nothing to gain and everything to lose when making them, Rolle was right when he promised the Giants would make the playoffs. He also called out his teammates for not practicing through injuries after a week 15 loss to the Redskins, and New York hasn’t lost a game since.
Perhaps the Giants listen when Rolle speaks. He may come across as just another blowhard to people like us, but it looks like he has at least some influence over the locker room. If that’s true, Eli Manning should be feeling pretty confident heading into the NFC Championship game.
“Something that I realized being a teammate as opposed to being an opponent of Eli Manning, I never knew how mentally tough he is,” Rolle said during an interview with XTRA 910 in Phoenix. “This guy, man, he has that look on his face sometimes and it makes some people question him. That’s just a look. He’s extremely confident. He’s that dude. He’s the one that I consider that dude.”
What more can Eli ask for? He’s that dude. The really interesting part about this quote for me is that we all know the exact look Rolle is talking about. Manning has that flustered, frustrated look on his face almost all the time. Judging by some of the throws he’s made this season and some of the comebacks he’s led, it’s safe to say he doesn’t get flustered all that easily.
