Rolle Courts Free Agent-To-Be Finley For Giants' Passing Attack
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Not too long ago, Antrel Rolle told WFAN he would do whatever is necessary to help the Giants return to the playoffs in 2014.
Speaking with Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts back on Dec. 31, Rolle said the Giants need an infusion of new blood. He also said that he wasn't too worried about the fact that his salary will count $9.25 million against the cap next season, making him a possible target for release or a request for a contract restructuring to provide Big Blue with needed financial relief.
Rolle said those issues will take care of themselves in due time. In the interim, Rolle has been true to his word as he's hit the recruiting trail.
The Giants' safety was honored at the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan on Tuesday and told reporters he watched Super Bowl XLVIII with Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley. The conversation turned to free agency, which Finley will soon test, and Rolle admitted he busted out his Big Blue pom-pons in an attempt to persuade his friend to become a big target for quarterback Eli Manning in 2014.
"Yeah I did," Rolle told the Daily News. "Actually we were recruiting each other, because he said he would love to be a part of the Giants. Going up against this guy for a number of years now, I said I would love for him to be a part of the Giants so I wouldn't have to face him. He's an extreme talent. He's an exceptional guy and more importantly I know he's a fiery guy. I think that's something we can definitely use on the offensive side of the ball."
Finley, when healthy, has proven to be one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the NFL, but he's missed 21 games over the last four seasons. The 6-foot-5, 247-pounder out of the University of Texas underwent single-fusion spinal surgery on his C-3 and C-4 vertebrae in November. However, he reportedly should be cleared for contact in the next month.
As for Rolle's contract situation, he has one year left on his deal and said he's not too concerned about his future, adding he expects to remain with the Giants for years.
"I've never been a kind of guy to worry about contract issues and so forth," he said. "In my eyes, I'm still under contract. I still have a year left to go. If the Giants want to do something, they'll come to me. They're a very professional organization, I'm professional about my business and whatever happens, it won't be in the media until they reveal it because I never speak about contract issues or situations. So we'll see what happens."
Rolle, 31, had 98 tackles, 6 interceptions and 2 sacks for the Giants in 2013.
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