Mark Cannizzaro

Mark Cannizzaro

NBA

Antrel Rolle’s leadership giving Giants hope

On the far end of the Giants locker room, two stalls stand between where Eli Manning puts his uniform on and where Antrel Rolle does.

Manning is the most important Giants player on the field. Rolle is the team’s most important player off of it.

Manning has been the franchise player and MVP linchpin to the Giants’ two Super Bowl titles since 2008. Rolle has been the glue that has kept the Giants players from fracturing under the excruciating pressure of the team’s 0-6 start, a critical component to getting the Giants into this week’s bye with hope at 2-6.

Manning is the Giants leader, but is not a vocal, stand-on-a-chair or throw-a-chair-across-the-room kind of leader. He leads quietly with his play on the field. Rolle, the Giants safety, is the team’s emotional, vocal leader, its heartbeat.

Make no mistake: Rolle is not some gasbag who likes to hear himself talk and pretties himself up when he sees a camera come his way. When he stands before his locker — win or lose — and answers questions with his trademark passion, there is a method to his madness.

Rolle does not only serve as a spokesman for the team off the field, he performs on the field — as evidenced by the interceptions he has made in each of the last two games.

“As far as intensity, love for the game and love for your teammates, I think Antrel encompasses all of that, and we need that, because our leader is Eli Manning, but Eli innately is not an outspoken person. He’s a lead-by-example type of guy,’’ punter Steve Weatherford said. “I think every locker room needs that intense competitor like Antrel as a leader in the locker room. I’ve been blessed to play with him for three years and I’ve never played with anyone that has more ferocity for game day than Antrel.

“He’s really helped us get to where we are right now as far as staying together in the locker room, staying positive and staying intense, because a lot of teams could shut it down after going 0-6. But there’s a lot of fight in this locker room.’’

There might not be a more tenacious, tone-setting fighter on the team than Rolle.

“Antrel takes his captaincy very seriously and he has complete ownership,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said. “He’s a very energetic individual. He’s very positive. He’s very uplifting. He’s upbeat all the time. He’s not afraid of reality, so there definitely has been an impact by his personality alone on our team and it’s a very good thing.’’

Veteran defensive end Justin Tuck, who has known Rolle since he was in high school, called his Giants teammate of four years “very infectious to be around,’’ calling his “role’’ in keeping the locker room united during difficult times this year “huge.’’

“Whatever he says, I guarantee there are 52 other guys in this locker room that are going to step up and try to back him up,’’ Tuck said. “He’s one of those guys that we put a lot of pressure on to go out there and play well for us, not only on the football but we put a lot of pressure on him to be in that leadership role that he’s in.’’

Rolle modestly said this of his role as the vocal team leader: “I don’t know if it’s leading. I don’t know what you call it. I’m just being me. This is who I am. If I see something , I’m going go to call it out. I’m never going to say anything the coaches don’t see or that the players can’t see for themselves.’’

After games — particularly losses — Rolle’s locker is a must-listen interview. There isn’t a better place in the room to accurately gage the team’s heartbeat.

Sometimes you wonder if his raw honesty might rub teammates the wrong way.

“You have to know yourself,’’ Rolle said. “I know who I am. I think the players in here in this locker room know who I am. I know how Eli is going to look at me. I know how Coach Coughlin is going to look at me. I know how Justin Tuck is going to look at me.’’

Rolle takes his role as a team leader and captain as seriously as he does making tackles and interceptions.

“I know how influential I am to this locker room, so if these guys see me fold, if they see me tuck my head, what is it going to do for the rest of us?’’ Rolle said.

That influence has been powerful. It’s possible it has saved the Giants 2013 season.