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NFL New York Giants

New York Giants Must Re-Sign Antrel Rolle

By @mturnerny

Antrel Rolle New York Giants

John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the New York Giants’ defense having a down year, that doesn’t mean each player has been having a bad year. Defensive captain Antrel Rolle has generally been playing at his usual level and is one of the most vocal leaders on the team. He also has an expiring contract at the end of the season, leaving the Giants with the option of re-signing him or letting him walk.

If they’re smart, they bring Rolle back. In every statistical category, Rolle is already on par or on pace to match to his career averages. He has three interceptions, five passes defended, a fumble recovery and 44 tackles this season. With the exception of 2014, Rolle averages 2.55 picks per year and 67.11 tackles per season. He’s surpassed his interception average and he’s on pace for 66 solo tackles.

However, there have been several plays Rolle has missed, including a couple of easy picks that he’s dropped. Even if you give him the benefit of the doubt, he should have at least five takeaways this season.

On a struggling defense, Rolle is one of the few players you can continuously count on to play hard and well. He’s a great team leader and is never hurt. In his nearly five years with the Giants, he has started all 75 games he’s played in. His strong play with the Giants has earned him two Pro Bowl appearances and two AP All-Pro honors. If the Giants were to let him walk, they would be losing an integral part of their defense.

It’s true that Rolle is getting older. He’ll be 32 years old by the start of next year. That’s why the Giants need to offer him a shorter contract than the five-year deal they originally signed him for. Perhaps a two- or three-year deal with a couple of team options would be enough to bring Rolle back. Under his current contract, Rolle makes $7.42 million per year on average. That’s far too great of a cap hit for an aging safety, so a contract worth $3-5 million a year could be good enough for both parties to be happy.

The Giants would be paying him in part for what he’s done, and in part for what he still has left.

Letting such a valuable member of the defense walk would be a huge mistake for the Giants. If they part with defensive coordinator Perry Fewell at the end of the season, having a veteran leader on the team while they transition from one coach to another would be very beneficial.

The Giants are in a process of rebuilding that they started in the 2013 draft and have been making big strides through this previous offseason. They may want to make a change at safety, but it shouldn’t be at strong safety where Rolle spends most of his time. Come this off-season, resigning Rolle should be among the Giants’ top priorities.

Matt Turner is a New York Mets writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @MturnerNY, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.

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