Loading ...If you haven't heard the latest round of "Antrel Rolle says something silly," we're not going to bother rehashing it here. We just want to take this opportunity to make a few observations about how the New York Giants do, and don't do, business.
If you missed it, Mike Garafolo had the original story, with Rolle's silly comment about football players being treated like soldiers, and an "unprompted" apology moments later. At the bottom there is an update with Rolle's team issued apology (in which he finally seemed to get it fully right).
Mike Florio from Profootballtalk.com had a pretty good take on the situation, as well.
We're not going to hammer Rolle to the wall just for, again, saying something off base. We just want to point out that the guy seems to carry around a sense of entitlement that is mostly unorthodox around the Giants operation.
Starting with the Mara and Tisch families at the top, the Giants strive to be a classy organization. Particularly at that top level, the organization is generally successful with it (PSL's aside). The first–class professionalism trickles down the line from there: Jerry Reese is the pinnacle of class; Tom Coughlin, in his own gruff way, is a pretty class act himself; even team pitbull Pat Hanlon does a pretty good job of not crossing the line.
And despite some notable exceptions –Jeremy Shockey comes to mind– the Giants do a pretty good job of developing young men into pretty classy football players. As G101 pointed out earlier in the week, young guys like Terrell Thomas come across as first rate professionals. Go to Giants.com and watch an interview with, say, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Barry Cofield, Steve Smith or Ahmad Bradshaw, or just about any offensive lineman, among others. Even emotional guys (Brandon Jacobs, for example) and guys who are clearly uncomfortable in dealing with the media (like Mario Manningham), do a pretty good job of implementing the coaching of the Giants media people.
But Rolle's misguided sound bytes point to the fact that he doesn't really get that part of New York Giants football.
Look, we get it. The guy has every right to be proud of himself as a football player. He's got a Pro Bowl selection and a $37 Million contract to back it all up, and you won't find very many complaints about his on–field performance around these parts.
But it seems that Rolle's appreciation for himself as a football player has filled him with a sense of entitlement that borders on disrespect. He pontificates on topics that he shouldn't really be touching, publicly at least, and all but said the fans are lucky to have him.
- The early season scheduling complaints may have very well been valid, but left even some other Giants players scratching their heads at the fact that Rolle's outlet for that frustration was a radio show, not a coach or team leader.
- Saying the fans don't have a right to boo…seriously, dude? You can hate it, you can tell us it makes you furious, we don't expect you to like it. But fans have the inalienable right to boo. Whenever they feel like it. Rolle could use some advice from Osi Umenyiora, who this writer has criticized more than once for what I've perceived as a "me–first" attitude, but who also nailed this issue:
“They have every right to be like that. They’re paying $120 a ticket to come watch us play; you can’t go out there and stink it up like that, especially not in New York. As long as they’re paying to watch us play they can boo, they can do whatever they want to do.’’ NY Post
- The silliness in saying that football players, since they put their bodies on the line, should be treated like soldiers speaks for itself. But even in his initial apology, despite being generally apologetic, he seemed to casually deflect responsibility.
“But some people, I’m sure they’re going to take that and run and say, ‘Oh my God, Antrel is comparing himself to troops in Iraq.’ No I’m not comparing myself to troops in Iraq,” Rolle said. Garafolo
“It’s not Antrel comparing himself. I’m just going to clear that up so you know that. It’s not that at all.” PFT
Actually, Antrel, that is exactly what you did. In the third person, no less!
And it's an eerily similar fauxpology to the one he offered on the whole booing incident in the first place, in which he shed blame for the hysteria on the media. Sometimes blaming the media for stirring up nonsense is fair, but in this case it makes you wonder not if the New York media is too hard, but if maybe the Arizona media was too soft.
Again, we're not trying to demonize this guy, but his whole pattern of spouting off at the mouth rubs us the wrong way for two reasons:
Firstly, much of it happens on radio shows or at press sessions during the week, not in an emotionally charged locker room, making it harder for us to let him slide. Secondly, well, he took a shot at the fans (hey, that's us!). Not only was he wrong, but he was way wrong. Just ask Osi, who realizes that, essentially, our devotion pays your salary.
At the end of the day, Rolle is not guilty of any great crime. We would just hope that from here on out he would be a tad more gracious, and understand that classiness of the New York Giants is a solid part of what makes being a Giants fan different from being an Arizona Cardinals fan, and everyone who takes a paycheck from the team accepts that responsibility.
Reaching the height of one's profession brings entitlement, for sure, but responsibility comes in equal balance. Especially when you wear Big Blue.
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If anyone is doubting that the refs are determining the outcome of NFL games at an alarming pace this year: the Eagles O line has been called for 15 holding calls in TOTAL. Watching the game last night, I really shouldn’t have been amazed at what they were allowed to get away with, and yet I am.
I couldnt agree more..They are allowing them to hold almost every play on a weekly basis..They got away with a lot of PI on the Texans WR’s last night too
I actually have no problem with Rolle’s mouth so far. I disagree with his comments, but I think it’s pretty unfair for him to be getting this kind of stuff. By this kind of stuff, I mean articles precisely like this one (no offense intended Simon) that are being written by everybody now.
All of those “classy” players you listed are the same roster of names that couldn’t produce a single leader among them last year. Not a single one among them did ANYTHING to respond to adversity last year. Couldn’t muster a single ounce of pride among their teammates and all got together and collectively laid down for an entire half season without so much as a thrown helmet.
Antrel Rolle was brought here SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF HIS ATTITUDE. He was told up front by the classy Misters Reese & Coughlin that he was signed here as much for his attitude and leadership as he was for his performance on the field.
They even went so far as to declare him a team leader who would bring “swagger” and “attitude” to a bunch of walking zombies before he ever stepped foot on the practice field for this team.
Now, every time somebody disagrees with his view or thinks he spoke in haste, he’s supposed to take a hint from the very people he was brought here with explicit instructions to whip into shape?
I disagree with Rolle’s statements. I disagreed with several of his earlier comments.
However, I even more strongly disagree with the assertion he shouldn’t be saying whatever the hell he feels the need to say at any particular moment. The Giants asked him to come here BECAUSE of his mouth. It’s BS to ask him to close it now.
Yeah, he was brought in to bring swagger and attitude to the field. By all means, pretty sure I gave him credit for doing as much.
But a guy who says stupid things on the radio that cause a pain in the neck for himself, the team, and other players when they have to answer questions about him (and correct him), that’s not exactly what I would call a leader.
You can’t ask him to be himself for 3 hours a day and be somebody else the rest of the time. If he was a cool, calm, level headed guy who didn’t let his mouth run faster than his brain, then he would be a different person.
There may be other guys who lead in a different way, but we didn’t bring them here. We brought Antrel Rolle here. We asked him to be here because of who is he is.
They didn’t bring him here and say “hey, we’re bringing you here because of how you play safety on the field, but we want you to tone down your mouth a bit, can you do that?”. They screamed from the top of the mountain “We signed ANTREL ROLLE! He’s going to bring HIS attitude to this team, which is something WE NEED.”
If they didn’t want this guy (not some fictitious other person who shares all of his positive traits and none of his negative ones), then they shouldn’t have done that.
All I’m asking is that he not say stupid things, really. Not running your mouth on Tuesday and playing a game on Sunday shouldn’t be inextricably linked.
That was one of my problems with his idiotic sayings actually, is that he claims it’s much ado about nothing, and people are targeting him because he’s not PC.
It’s not that being not PC is the problem, the problem is that the things he says are inherently stupid. I have no problem with him running his mouth, but people who are perennially wrong shouldn’t do it…
Again, there are other guys who will fit your mold. If that’s what the Giants wanted, they should have signed one of them instead of Antrel Rolle.
They didn’t bring him here in spite of his attitude. They brought him here specifically BECAUSE of it. Here it is. You get what you wish for.
You can’t say, “Gee, Mr. Taylor…we really appreciate that you just played an entire game with a dislocated shoulder and saved our season, but we really wish you’d stop hopping yourself up on dope so you can’t feel the pain.”
Sorry brother, we’re just going to have to disagree on this one. Ray Lewis has swagger, Antonio Pierce has swagger, and neither was PC…but when they speak their minds, at least when they do so they do it with some tangible shred of truth or insight.
When Rolle speaks, it’s all about him, him, him.
I’m not disagreeing with what you are saying there. Those are facts.
What I’m disagreeing with is the assertion that Rolle should somehow become a different person NOW. AFTER we brought him here specifically because of who he is.
It’s fine if you don’t like Rolle and would prefer he not be a Giant. Reese and Coughlin disagree (or at least one of them does and the other agreed to tow the company line). They asked THIS man to come here, not some other player who is more intelligent, has more media savvy, or polices their own comments.
Other players may be capable of being a leader without letting every stupid thought that formulates in their head jump out their mouth. Rolle is not one of them.
The Giants signed up for this.
I haven’t agreed with everything Rolle has said, or the way he’s said it, but I’m not too concerned about it. He does show the attitude and leadership qualities that have been in short supply on the Giants, and he’s been backing it up on the field for the most part. You’re right about Pierce, Simon; but I really wouldn’t bring up Ray Lewis as a role model for anything.
This is exact stuff that was written about Andrews for the past two years in Philly:
LT Shawn Andrews missed another day of practice with a back injury that hasn’t been specifically explained publicly. In fact today was the first time Tom Coughlin admitted Andrews’ injury is “more than muscle.” Though that’s not exactly a stunning revelation considering Andrews spent two days in the hospital last week, it is an indication that the ailments are likely related to the problems that held Andrews out of much of his final two seasons with the Eagles.
“It’s a concern,” Coughlin said.
Three years with back problems and not a SINGLE time has anyone, including Andrews himself, disclosed even the slightest hint as to what the nature of said back issues are.
jfunk is right, these stories are absurd. Arguably, what he said, wasn’t all that bad when taken in context. Christ, in essence he said that IN HIS OPINION, people shouldn’t boo people they support when they’re fighting for a cause. Who cares! Get over it.
I figured Vacchiano would sweet 100 times on the subject as the sensationalist he is. Near did I expect this site to come out with such fighting words.
But, ah, the irony, it’s ok for you but not for a football player.
Simon, nice piece here! Good read.
That said, I think this is much to say about nothing. I dont think he meant it literally.
I also get upset when people boo. The Giants weren’t getting blown out, they had a bad first half. Fans boo in NY when you don’t score on every single possession. I was watching the game with my friends and they were like “well, there goes the season”… It’s a 4 quarter game.
Fact is this, fans in NY will boo you one second and cheer you the next. Ask A-Rod And Eli all about it. They’ll be glad to tell you. Personally i don’t agree with it, and will only boo Kevin Gilbride when he calls his shotgun draws on 3 and 1 from the 1 yd line.
I’ve never been one to boo, and don’t really like it when Giants fans boo the Giants. But it comes with the territory, and they’ve certainly got the right. The player don’t have to enjoy it — I wouldn’t — but they should be thick-skinned enough to take it. Especially when they’re playing as they did in the first half last week.
*players
jfunk– Well argued, and a good point. He does rub me the wrong way, but I’m not really asserting that he shouldn’t be a Giant. Simply, that he should toe the line a bit, since he already is.
Dirt– Sorry. Guy just rubs me the wrong way. And besides, we have far more of a right to rag on them than they do to speak down to us.
Agreed. I think we covered both sides pretty thoroughly there.
I didn’t mean to imply that you didn’t want him to be a Giant there either, sorry. I was meaning to say that it’s fine to not like him all the way up to and including wanting him off the team (not just for you, but for anyone).
And don’t get me wrong, I personally would like Antrel more and enjoy his presence on the team more if he were more media savvy and/or intelligent (I don’t really know if he’s actually stupid or is just kind of a jerk…it could be either or a combination of both, doesn’t really matter).
I just accept the fact that this is who he is and thus far, he’s doing exactly what we all hoped he would do for us. We may disagree with his methods, but this is a results oriented business and it’s hard to argue with his results.
A squad that couldn’t muster an ounce of emotion last year is now throwing helmets, having half time screaming matches, and approaching damn near dominant status as a defense. Mission accomplished, Mr Rolle.
Great post, Simon. This is dead on:
“Sometimes blaming the media for stirring up nonsense is fair, but in this case it makes you wonder not if the New York media is too hard, but if maybe the Arizona media was too soft.”
Excusing every bit of stupidity as part of the “attitude” is way off. Rolle got the big bucks to deal with the New York limelight… And we’ve had plenty of guys with “attitude” (most recently Strahan) who’ve had no problem with that.
“And we’ve had plenty of guys with ‘attitude’ (most recently Strahan) who’ve had no problem with that.”
Exactly.
I don’t have a problem with him running his mouth. I just wish stupid things didn’t keep coming out of it.
Simon, that’s the problem. He’ll continue to say stupid things then retract them later.
Sometimes i don’t think certain players think before they speak publicly, and let their emotions get the best of them. Then they go on and rant nonsense.
What are you gonna do?
However, I enjoyed this article. well done. Gave us something to take our mind (and nerves) off the upcoming game!
I mean we’re totally used to players retracting things they shouldn’t have said, or said in anger. But Rolle either sticks to his guns, or rationalizes, or even misrepresents what he says in the first place…exacerbation at its finest.
no doubt about it. And as i’ve stated, I think when he speaks he speaks with emotion rather then being rational and thinking about what he says. This will lead to the media getting on his **** for things like this.
Boy oh boy, did I know this was going to be controversial.
I like how open and available Rolle makes himself to his fans and our media, but he does sometimes say things he really should put a cap on. That said, if he goes out and performs well, it’s moot. If he goes out there and plays like trash, everyone here defending him would be all over him.
Yeah, I almost wrote in the post that he’s lucky he’s playing well, or else he’d be a pariah by now…
That’s one of the nice things about opinion pieces, there can be a lot to discuss.
Even when people agree, there can be 20 different angles by which to arrive at the conclusion.
First of all I said last night and I’ll say it again. They pay this guy a ton of money to play football not to shoot of his mouth and say offensive things.
I don’t hate him and I root for him because I root for the Giants, but if he was still a Cardinal would you still feel the same way.
The guys at Fan pay him because they know he will eventually drop bomb, which he did. There is no excuse for stupid.