Kenny Phillips wearing the #21 in honor of Sean Taylor

[skinsrule84]

The New York Giants rookie has decided to honor ST by wearing #21, he played for the Hurricanes aswell as ST and they even play similarly. I kinda wanted the Skins to draft this guy, he's gonna be really good. But how do you guys feel about him wearing #21? I think its great

[Jake]

Rookie Phillips grabs No. 21 in homage to Taylor
BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com
May 10, 2008

The comparisons are inevitable. They grew up in the same area, went to the same college, played the same position. Yet Kenny Phillips, the Giants' first-round draft pick from the University of Miami, never met the late Sean Taylor.

That hasn't stopped him from paying tribute to the former Redskins safety who was shot and killed in a botched burglary last year.

Phillips made three phone calls to the Giants between the time he was drafted in late April and Friday's start of rookie minicamp, hoping to be issued the No. 21 jersey that Taylor wore in his final seasons with the Redskins. When he showed up for the camp, he learned that his persistence paid off. Phillips was issued the number that most recently belonged to Tiki Barber, the recently retired all-time leading rusher in franchise history. Phillips wore No. 1 in college.

"Even in high school, I had pictures of him in my locker," Phillips said of Taylor. "I watch film on him and he was just an exceptional athlete. The plays he made were crazy. I just wanted to pay my respects by having his number and trying to live up to that."

The Giants hope he can. He stood out in Friday's practice, playing both free and strong safety. There's a chance Phillips could get an opening day start - against Taylor's old team - and Friday, the coaching staff started trying to figure out where he could fit in their schemes.

"The first thing you are trying to do is bring the guys in and take a look at them, put them on the field and just assess where you think they will fit in," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "I like the way he moves and I like the way, so far, he has grasped what we are doing."

Phillips is the latest in a line of Miami safeties who have hit the NFL, including Ed Reed, Taylor and Brandon Meriweather.

"Of course you want to live up to that tradition," he said. "I don't want to say there is any pressure because in the end, like I said, I can only be myself."

Even if he is wearing one of their numbers while doing it.

Notes & quotes: Coughlin did not make time to talk to every draft pick and free agent prior to Friday's camp, but he did speak with wide receiver Mario Manningham. "Oh yeah, we had a talk, we had a long talk," said Manningham, whose draft status dropped with revelations of failed drug tests at Michigan and an arrest for possession of Vicodin last spring. "It is behind me, it happened, and I am just ready to bring this impact in." ... Defensive end Michael Strahan was at the Stadium on Thursday working out with teammates and chatting with Coughlin. Strahan has not made a decision about retirement. "His term for it is, 'Whatever the decision I make, I know I am not going to change my mind, so therefore I want to be right,'" Coughlin said of Strahan's approach ... Second-round pick cornerback Terrell Thomas said he wants to be a starter. "I know they have some great corners," he said, "but why wouldn't I want to come in here and start? That's what they drafted me for."

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/ ... ?track=rss

[BnGhog]

Im glad to see his name remembered by other people than just Skin fans. I hope a rookie does it next year as well. Keep his name and memory out there.

[jeremyroyce]

I have alot of repsect for the guy. Thankyou for remembering Sean Taylor

[gay4pacman]

I respect him, It is hard to believe that he had never met Sean.....

[HEROHAMO]

I wish we drafted him. Anyhow I do like the guy. I just hope he does not have good games against the Skins. I have a feeling he will though.