More stupidity ...

Thomas can tackle like Rolle but has better cover skills.

There are really people who think this guy is going to make it from his car to the locker room for his first practice without getting hurt again? Half this board wants to hang our hats on him as the answer? Oh boy. 

thomas signed for the veteran minimum for a 3 year vet.. 630,000.. a win-win for both sides

Glad to get Thomas back...hopefully his bad luck with injuries ends this year....the guy was awesome when he played healthy....now it's time to get younger and FASTER at LB....please draft Te'o or Ogletree, and give the trio of Herzlich, Williams, and Rivers their shot at starting this year.

thomas signed for the veteran minimum for a 3 year vet.. 630,000.. a win-win for both sides

It's a good signing, I'm talking about the people saying we can just let Rolle walk bc we can move TT over to safety like that's got some high % chance of working out ...

     You guys are crazy... Better options? If they were to cut rolle the Giants would have one nfl caliber safety on the roster in brown... Phillips is a free agent, sash is a nobody and Thomas is a CB right now who can't even get on the field never mind stay on it.. If the giants go that route the 31st ranked defense is getting worse     

We jave been this bad with Rolle, we can't get much worse without him... if he doesn't want to redo his deal and help us out then I say ship him out... I'd rather play with a rookie or TT, or just anyone else then have a safety that isn't that great, and we be ranked 31st again and have NO flexibility to do anything in any upcoming years for FA or to keep our players that are worth keeping... 

Rolle may be overpaid, but NO, we cannot just let Rolle go just because of the money. If you want to get rid of him so badly, find a suitable (and cheaper) replacement first! And NO I do NOT want TT(what good is a guy who can't even stay on the field?) or some wide-eyed rookie starting at safety from day one because most likely that would be a disaster (I don't trust Sash either), and safety is too important of a position. How desperate can you be to jeopardize such an important position for the sake of saving some money? It looks like good business, but it isn't. it's bad in the long run because you're risking not putting the best product on the field, which is where the franchise is supposed to make its money in football. I'll be damned if we make a move that makes our secondary even WORSE than what it already is. 

I like Brown, but if we lose Phillips, what credible starting caliber safety do we have other than Brown and ROLLE. Do you wanna draft a high-priced rookie who'll play from day one and be a liability on every play until who knows when(we are contending for Superbowl for crying out loud), instead of playing a proven vet who still isn't old yet and can correct himself more easily? Who knows if the next guy we sign is as bad or worse, and no "we can't do any worse with this other guy" isn't a valid answer to me, because the whole point is to IMPROVE. Forget it, this is a lose-lose situation, just keep Rolle for now and choose a replacement more carefully.

How much better are we getting with him on the field? We were 31st in the rankings? He won't be the reason we jump back up to a top defense. I like him too, but if he isn't redoing his contract 9 million is to much. I'd understand if that was JPP, we rely on our pass rush, not on our safeties that aren't even that good in coverage to begin with... if we had lock down safeties sure, I wouldn't mind that. I don't know what the plan is, but like I said if you get a rookie or someone who is new at least they can improve at the position... rolle has hit his ceiling... maybe he isn't a cove 2 safety, and that's why he has looked  bad. But we obviously aren't changing our coach and we need a safety that plays and fits in the cover 2... which Rolle doesn't. He has been in it since Fewell has been here and we have just gotten worse and worse. We strictly rely on our front four which isn't fair to them, we need a MLB, and DB's... and how can we pay the guys we have (JPP, Nicks, Cruz) if we keep Rolle on the roster and add new blood to the mix.... we can't, not with the salary cap. It's a lose lose keeping him. We can only get better with or without him based on our defensive line play. Why keep over 9 million on the roster, doesn't make sense.

Rolle was one of the bright spots on defense last year.. To me he's part of the solution not the problem.. While I have agreed in other posts that he should restructure I certainly don't agree with cutting him if he doesn't.. I personally think they should extend him to get his cap number down the next couple years.. Bringing in a rookie or hoping Terrell Thomas can replace him isn't a viable option and ill be pissed if that happens

BOTH sides of the Antrelle Rolle issue have valid points.  That being said, here's my take: 

1) We we're 31st in defense last season; 27th in 2011.  Rolle was on both teams.  The Giants defense doesn't exactly rise and fall with this guy.  If he was that big of an impact player, why did our defense get WORSE after 2011?  He isn't exactly Steve Atwater or John Lynch.  If we lose him, what are we really losing? 
2) He isn't worth $9 million.  PERIOD.  If he won't re-structure, I must agree - let him walk. 
3) We have two promising young safeties in Stevie Brown and Will Hill.  They made big plays last year when given the chance.  There are always young, hungry safeties in the draft as well anxious to make an impact.  So, don't tell me the Giants defense can't live without Antrelle Rolle.  Let's not make the guy out to be Mel Blount. 
4) Terell Thomas to safety - I agree - dumb idea.  He's a CB.  Leave him where he's comfortable.  It's hard enough to recover from injuries.  Now, he must learn a new position?  STUPID.  Keep him at CB. 

Anyone ever heard the term "throwing the baby out with the bath water?"

The fact that our defense sucked last year isn't in itself, a reason to ditch Rolle.  To say that we haven't improved and therefore all players are expendable is crazy.  Rolle is just one player in the secondary but was maybe the best player.  It all fairness, don't come at me with Steve Brown, Will Hill or Thomas.  Brown has had an average career at best with one good year.  A year where his coverage skills were hidden behind his picks.  Will Hill, who I think could be good by the way has a lot to prove and TT has played like 2 snaps in 3 years.  None are in a position to take control of our secondary.

So if we are debating who is better for our secondary, Rolle or one of those three I will just back out know because we aren't on the same page.  Now, should Rolle, restructure?  I assume so, I'm not a cap guy but it makes sense and most players usually do

While we're choosing sides about whether Rolle is good or not good (I think good) or should stay or shouldn't stay (I think stay) or should restructure or shouldn't restructure (I think restructure), can we come to agreement that possibly a large part of the problem is that the front four didn't do their job this year and the LBs weren't much better (if at all)?  Based on the front seven having major issues, it would be hard for any secondary to look good.   Clearly the secondary has issues, but it all starts with the front four in stopping the run and putting pressure on the opposing QB.  IMO, the front four didn't do either.  Let's make them be accountable also.

I agree hobo rolle is light years ahead of those guys.. Especially Will Hill who has barely sniffed the field.. No rolle is not great but he has been solid for us.. Also agree with what nova said

We can't let Cruz go for nothing.  Regardless of what you think of him, the guy has a ton of value.  What are our options if we can't resign him?

P.S. I know I said I wasn't going to write anymore, but all the other boards are just flat out DEAD.  

Cruz is restricted so if he doesn't sign they will give him a 1st round tender... If a teams signs him to an offer sheet the gaints have the ability to match it or they'll get 1 maybe 2 first round picks for him.. If no one signs him he will play this year for about 2.8 mill... Same thing happened to Mike Wallace last year

We can't let Cruz go for nothing.  Regardless of what you think of him, the guy has a ton of value.  What are our options if we can't resign him?

This is one of the bigger reasons why i'm big on Rolle either redoing his contract or letting him go... Cruz as much as I "criticize" him, he is far more important to the team then Rolle... and as far as contracts, he deserves a big raise, but Rolle deserves a pay cut, whether you like him or not, and as Charlie said, we aren't getting better because of him, we got worse as our pass rush got worse. We rely on our pass rush, we need to build around that, not Rolle, who is arguably a top 15 safety, maybe our best safety, but he isn't in the top 10 in the league... and getting paid 9 mill, if you think you need to keep him, I don't care who you are, just bugging. I agree he is our best safety, but that isn't saying a lot, that is like saying Kolb was the Cardinals best QB, or Cassell was the Chiefs best QB... sure they chug out a bunch of them... but that doesn't mean any of them are great...

P.S. I know I said I wasn't going to write anymore, but all the other boards are just flat out DEAD.


That is why I won't let this  one die! lol

I take it we are in mostly in agreement with the idea to do what it takes to keep Rolle rather than just release him because the very reason we signed him in the first place was to fill our glaring hole at safety at all costs at the time, but that yes at 9 mil he absolutely positively needs to RESTRUCTURE or else. He isn't top ten, just the best that we have. now whether you like it or not, safety is very important to any defense, most of the time they are the ones that call the shots for the secondary as well as the more useful option than the lanky CBs are with run-stopping.

Everyone is seemingly forgetting probably the biggest issue with the defense, Perry Fewell.  It doesn't matter who we plug in at Safety if we're gonna play a soft cover-2, not blitz, and rely on our front 4 beating double teams.  Forget it, teams will pick us apart.  I don't think we should let Rolle go, I think TT is DONE.  Who has EVER came back from 2 blown ACL's in a row?  Not to mention he blew it in college as well bringing him to THREE torn ACL's.  If he comes back it would be nothing short of a miracle.

If it comes to losing Cruz than yeah, let Rolle walk.  But like someone mentioned he's restricted, so chances of that are unlikely.

Clearly the secondary has issues, but it all starts with the front four in stopping the run and putting pressure on the opposing QB.  IMO, the front four didn't do either.  Let's make them be accountable also.

Nova's correct. If the front four could stop the run and get to the QB before he throws the ball or runs for 20 yards the secondary would have looked much better. That being said, I like Rolle and must  but he must restructure or leave. He is simply making too much cabbage with his current contract. Rolle's good but not that good.

TT