It is not a stretch to suggest that if safety Kenny Phillips returns to complete health, the entire Giants defense could return to form after a dismal year for both.
Phillips missed the final 14 games last season, and the defense collapsed. He said yesterday his rehabilitation is “ahead of schedule” and added, “If I had a game tomorrow, I’d be able to play.”
Of course, there is no game tomorrow and it’s a good thing, as Phillips certainly isn’t ready to play. But his enthusiasm means he’s healing.
Two weeks ago, he was cleared to begin running, so far only straight ahead, and said his left knee is holding up just fine. He played in only two games last season before needing surgery to deal with a condition known as patellofemoral arthritis.
There were doomsday reports that his career could be jeopardized, but Phillips says doctors and trainers have assured him he’ll be as good as new.
“I’ve been feeling great ever since the surgery so there’s no worries on my end,” he said after completing a shoot for Reebok’s 2010 Sideline Apparel Campaign.
Last month, coach Tom Coughlin said Phillips was “still limited,” but that that’s to be expected. He is participating in the offseason workout program and says he’s certain he will take part in the mid-June veteran mini-camp.
“I’m not sure to what percent I’ll be doing things,” he said. “The main goal is training camp. We’re not rushing it. The season’s still a long way away. We’re taking it real slow.”
The Giants are taking nothing for granted. On the first day of free agency they signed Antrel Rolle and later added veteran Deon Grant. Both are safeties, which certainly could be viewed as concern by the Giants about Phillips’ ability to make a full recovery.
Phillips doesn’t see it that way.
“I understand it’s a business, and the way our secondary performed last year it’s only right you do something,” Phillips said. “I don’t think they’re panicking by bringing in all these guys, I don’t think I should panic. I know when I get to 100 percent it’s going to be competitive and I don’t mind competing.”
The plan is to insert Phillips and Rolle in as the starting safeties and sit back and see the University of Miami products dominate. Rolle after signing immediately proclaimed he and Phillips to be “the best in the league, hands down” when it came to ranking the top safety tandems.
Phillips isn’t using such colorful language but he is confident.
“The feeling is mutual,” Phillips said. “He’s a great player. Most teams only have one guy who can go get it like Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu. We put two guys back there who can do pretty much the same thing, both cover, both go get the ball, both ball hawks, when you have that you’re saying something about your secondary.”