New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle has taken several opportunities to express confidence that his team will win Super Bowl XLVI. But it wasn't that long ago that Rolle was looking for a way off a team that seemed to be going nowhere.
"He kept telling us he wanted out," safeties coach David Merritt told the Star-Ledger, recounting Rolle's frustrations with the Giants' struggles in December.
Rolle had been chafing about -- among other things -- that he was being used as a nickel back. But Merritt and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell helped Rolle see things in a different light and turn his attitude around.
"Dave Merritt has helped me a lot," Rolle said. "We've had a lot of 1-on-1 personal conversations, not anything about football, but about life in general. And he's also a huge reason why I was able to buy into playing my role as a nickel (cornerback)."
Rolle also had a conversation with Fewell that helped change his mind-set.
"He said, 'Trel, you have to think about it this way: You and (safety) Deon (Grant) are tight, right?' I said, 'Yeah,' " Rolle told the Star-Ledger. "He said, 'Y'all are like brothers. How many more opportunities do you think he's going to get to actually reach a Super Bowl?' And when I thought about that, it actually brought tears to my eyes."
Now, Rolle said, "It really doesn't matter to me if I play another down at safety again as a Giant. As long as we have a 'W,' at the end of the day, I'm good with that."
With Rolle fitting in his new role, the Giants are chasing one final "W."
