Kenny Phillips at various points this season has said he expects to play and ends up on the sideline or back at home when the Giants are on the road. This time, Phillips isn’t hedging his words. Saying “It’s either now or never.’’
Phillips yesterday on ESPN Radio said he is “100 percent confident I’ll be on the field this week’’ when the Giants face the Ravens Sunday in Baltimore.
Phillips missed the past two games after he aggravated a strained MCL against the Redskins, a knee injury that kept him out of six straight games earlier this season.
“Whatever they allow me to do, I’m going to go out there and give 100 percent and try to be that spark for our defense these last few weeks,’’ said Phillips, who did not practice at all the past two weeks.
Phillips has watched more than he has played this season and did not make the trip to Atlanta for the 34-0 loss to the Falcons. From far and near, he sees a Giants team that is wildly inconsistent.
“We can’t figure out why one week we come out, we have that fire in our eyes and the next week no so much,’’ he said. “For some reason, since I’ve been here the last over four or five years, that’s just how it’s been. Up and down, up and down. I hate to say it, I think a lot of the guys have gotten used to it. And we win when we have to. When we don’t have to, we kind of just go out there flat.”
* DE Osi Umenyiora said the way the Giants have played “doesn’t make any sense’’ but added “I just have a feeling we’re going to find a way to get it done,’’ in an interview on ESPN Radio. “We’ve been through this too many times not to know this can be fixed and fixed fast.’’
A brutally honest Antrel Rolle said on his weekly WFAN spot he was “absolutely horrified’’ with the way he played in Atlanta.
“I think I played probably one of my worst games ever. Was I myself? Absolutely not. Will I be myself this coming Sunday? We’ll see. I’m damn sure going to try.’’
Rolle hears the criticism and is not ducking it.
“Whatever’s being said about us right now, do we deserve it? Absolutely,’’ he said. “But you know what? We’re never out of the fight. I don’t care what anyone says. We still got this thing and we’re gonna go out there and fight and we will give it our all this coming Sunday.’’
In a sign the coaching staff is optimistic CB Prince Amukamara will be able to return this week from a strained hamstring, the Giants waived CB Terrence Frederick and re-signed OL Selvish Capers. Frederick was signed off the practice squad on Saturday because Amukamara did not play vs. the Falcons.
* RB Ahmad Bradshaw reiterated what he said in front of his locker on Monday, stating on ESPN, “I’m playing’’ vs. the Ravens.