NFL

Walter Thurmond: Giants’ secondary can better Seattle’s

The confetti has barely stopped falling on the Seahawks and Walter Thurmond, the cornerback who played a part in forming the Legion of Boom defensive backfield that dominated opponents and led to Seattle’s first Super Bowl title.

Now Thurmond thinks what he’s surrounded by with the Giants can exceed what he left behind.

“We have the potential to be the best in the league,’’ Thurmond said Tuesday, only his second day in his new surroundings, speaking of the Giants cornerbacks.

As good as the Seahawks?

“Most definitely, if not better,’’ Thurmond said.

What else would you expect from someone who learned at the heels of Richard Sherman, the trash-talking cornerback who never met a sound-bite he didn’t like. The Giants have a long way to go before they can look at their defensive backfield and compare it favorably with what the Seahawks put together, but there’s no doubt there’s been some serious Big Blue upgrading.

Thurmond figured to be the big free-agent addition at cornerback until the blockbuster signing of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. More veterans — a safety, Quintin Demps, and another corner, Zack Bowman — were also signed to mix together with key holdovers Antrel Rolle, Prince Amukamara and Stevie Brown (re-signed as an unrestricted free agent). Even with the looming suspension of safety Will Hill, there appears to be plenty of firepower along the back end of the defense.

“I love what they’ve done,’’ Rolle said. “Made some great moves, some explosive moves, guys that can come in and contribute right away and help this team win.

“I think it can be a dynamic group. We all know: No matter who you have in your unit, if you don’t gel, you don’t have that chemistry, you’re not on that same page at the same time, it can be a disaster. That’s why we’re here right now.’’

Thurmond might have thought he was coming aboard to move into a starting role at an outside cornerback spot, but that was before the Giants handed Rodgers-Cromartie a five-year, $35 million contract.

No matter. Thurmond says, “I’m the best slot corner in the league, I’ll say that for sure.’’

If he lives up to that self-analysis, the Giants will have all their bases covered at cornerback.

Amukamara says his goal every year is to be the best cornerback on the team, but that designation now falls to Rodgers-Cromartie, whom coach Tom Coughlin has said will match up with the best opposing receiver.

“No, I’m not insulted at all,’’ Amukamara said. “Of course it’s a challenge. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie isn’t my standard. He isn’t the standard I have to get to. I’m my standard. I’m always trying to be the best corner I can be. Gosh, I like that answer.’’

Rolle was once a teammate of Rogers-Cromartie with the Cardinals, and he believes he knows exactly what the Giants are getting in DRC, who spent last season with the Broncos.

“I think he can be the best corner in the league, hands down,’’ Rolle said. “He’s a phenomenal talent, one of the most gifted corners I’ve ever played against and I’ve ever seen. The sky’s the limit for DRC. He can be as great as he wants to be.

“Right now with him entering his seventh year, I think his maturity level is where it needs to be, I think his work ethic is where it needs to be and more importantly he wants to win. He’s been to two Super Bowls, he’s lost them both — one I was a teammate of his — so he’s hungry.’’