Antrel Rolle: Slumping Giants need to respect no one and be more nasty

For whatever reason, the New York Giants seem to fall asleep in the month of November and into early December every season. Fortunately, they tend to turn things on at the end of the regular season and during the playoffs. After losing three out of their last four — including a game to the Washington Redskins that has made the NFC East race incredibly tight — Tom Coughlin will need his players to be their usual selves in December.

Safety Antrel Rolle believes one of New York’s biggest problems has been its attitude.

“I think we just need to get back to being a little nasty, having a nasty attitude,” Rolle told WFAN’s Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts. “Like I said, 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.”

December also happens to be the month when Rolle turns into a quote machine, but that’s an entirely separate discussion. The Giants are now only one game up on the Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys, and both teams have shown signs of coming as of late. Uninspired play could be to blame for New York’s recent rough stretch, but it should also be noted that their schedule has been brutal with seven straight games against teams that are now .500 and above.

And it doesn’t get much easier. The Giants close out the season against the Saints, Falcons, Ravens and Eagles. They could very well need to win three of those games to win the NFC East. Getting a little more nasty would be a solid place to start.