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Giants' Phifer Brings Pedigree of a Champion
By JOHN BRANCH

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 20 - Four years and three Super Bowls later, Ernie Accorsi has signed his man.

And the Giants hope that whatever linebacker Roman Phifer may have lost to age and injury, he has made up with in experience.

"We tried to get him four years ago," Accorsi, the Giants' general manager, said Tuesday. "He wanted to come, but the coaches didn't want him. We couldn't get him past the coaches. So he goes to New England and wins three Super Bowls."

Two weeks ago, the Giants signed the 34-year-old cornerback Terrell Buckley, who played with Phifer on the 2001 Patriots team that won the first of the franchise's Super Bowls.

No one else on the Giants roster has won a Super Bowl. Championships are so foreign to this roster that only six players remain from the Giants team that went to Super Bowl XXXV five years ago and lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

Now the Giants (10-4) are on the brink of their first East division title since 2000, and they believe they are as good as any team in the National Football Conference.

"In today's world of professional football, you've got to go for it," said Accorsi, who wanted to add a dash of championship experience to the team. "When you have a chance to make a run, you take it."

The question is how much did the Giants improve by signing Phifer? He is an aged castoff, a football player with an impressive r�sum� but no recent work experience.

There was, however, a hole to fill at linebacker, and with the trade deadline long expired, the Giants had little to lose and much to gain.

"He is a clutch player, a class athlete, he's great in the clubhouse and he has three Super Bowl rings," Accorsi said. "He just adds stature to your team."

But he is 37 years old, and until Monday an ex-player by most definitions. Phifer had been out of football since February, when the Patriots cut him. He had shoulder surgery and received no training-camp invitations. He had been sorting through his post-football life in Los Angeles when the Giants called him last week.

"I was kind of moving on with my life, but at the same time working out, hoping to get a call," Phifer said.

He could have been one of the few players able to say that his final game was a Super Bowl victory. But that exit did not seem right. Little persuasion was needed to have Phifer come out of retirement, fly across the country and stand in front of a stall in the Giants' locker room, preparing to don a No. 55 jersey.

"It didn't take much, just a phone call," Phifer said with a laugh.

The Giants had a need, on the field and off. Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce sprained his ankle two Sundays ago against Philadelphia and is expected to miss Saturday's game in Washington. Outside linebacker Carlos Emmons's sore pectoral muscle flared up just before last Saturday's victory over Kansas City. The absence of the two linebackers against the Chiefs forced the Giants to give the rookie Chase Blackburn his first N.F.L. start.

If Phifer shows in practice that he is ready, he could see plenty of playing time against the Redskins.

"That is why he is here," Coach Tom Coughlin said. "I am expecting that he will learn a position and that he will also be able to play on third downs."

Phifer spent eight seasons with the Rams and two with the Jets before signing with New England. Over four seasons with the Patriots, moving to inside linebacker for the first time in his career in 2003, he trailed only Tedy Bruschi on the team in tackles and was considered adept at covering running backs and tight ends on pass routes.

When asked why the Giants added Phifer, Coughlin, like Accorsi, did not focus on what Phifer could do, but on what he has done.

"He has played on some very successful teams," Coughlin said. "He knows how to win. He has been around that. He is a veteran player. I like his style. He is a class guy that can be solid in the locker room. I think he can help with our young linebacker corps."

But Phifer was not introduced as a championship guru. "It's not like he's bringing magic dust or whatever to sprinkle on us," linebacker Nick Greisen said.

What Phifer carries is something that no one else on the roster, except Buckley, has: the feeling of winning an N.F.L. championship.

The Giants only hope some of that carries over to his new teammates.

EXTRA POINTS

Left tackle Luke Petitgout (back) practiced Tuesday, but right tackle Kareem McKenzie (hamstring) did not. ... Before practice, the Giants cast their Pro Bowl ballots. Pro Bowl rosters will be announced Wednesday.

hatsOFF2gibbs wrote:Supposedly Rogers has a torn bicep with bleeding. He was listed as probable and then questionable last week. I don't know what he is now but he'll probably be "questionable" again. JGibbs said it'll be "down to the wire" on his decision of playing. Other than Randy Thomas, I think all our guys are good.

spudstr04 wrote:Gregg Williams said in today's interview that Lavar Arrington and Shawn Springs were "ready to go" for the Giants game. He also said that Carlos Rogers and Matt Bowen are game-time decisions. Lavar is a big plus and a healthy Springs will help the secondary who looked good against the Cowgirls.

fredp45 wrote:Any current news on whether Rodgers or Levar will play tomorrow?

December 23, 2005
Suddenly, Giants Are Vulnerable to the Run
By DAVID PICKER

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 22 - The Giants have been brimming with excitement this week. They are one victory away from winning the National Football Conference East title, and five Giants were named to the Pro Bowl team Wednesday. But concerns linger as the regular season draws to a close. Eli Manning's accuracy remains shaky, and the number of injuries has become alarming.

Now there is another reason to wonder if the Giants have the tools to advance deep into the playoffs. Their run defense, a source of pride earlier in the season, has become a liability.

"This time of year, you really have to be able to stop the run," defensive end Michael Strahan said Wednesday. "So it's going to be key for us to get back to where we were."

The Giants held seven of their first nine opponents to under 100 yards rushing, including the Minnesota Vikings, who gained 12 yards in Game 9. But in their five games since then, they have allowed more than 100 yards four times.

On Dec. 11, the Philadelphia Eagles rookie backup, Ryan Moats, torched the Giants for 114 yards on 11 carries. Last Saturday, Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs treated the Giants' linemen like bowling pins, running 31 times for 167 yards.

The Giants also allowed a combined four rushing touchdowns to Philadelphia and Kansas City, as many as they had given up in their previous nine games.

They must find a way to reverse course Saturday at Washington. The Redskins (8-6) have won three straight games. In each of those victories, Clinton Portis rushed for at least 105 yards.

"We're going to really see if we have this thing worked out," Strahan said before turning his thoughts to Portis. "Because if we don't, he's going to gain a lot of yards."

Playing aggressively and filling gaps should lead to better results, Strahan said. But the Giants' medical staff will also play a crucial role.

Linebacker Antonio Pierce, who is tied for the team lead in tackles, has not played since spraining his ankle against Philadelphia; William Joseph, a run stopper at defensive tackle, has injuries to his elbow and ankle and has missed all but one series during the last five games; and linebacker Carlos Emmons watched from the sideline against Kansas City after aggravating an injury to his pectoral muscle.

Pierce has been ruled out for Saturday, and Joseph and Emmons are listed as doubtful.

Their backups, including the rookie Chase Blackburn at middle linebacker and Fred Robbins at defensive tackle, have played admirably, but teams have still been able to run to the outside against the Giants. During the second quarter, Johnson did this on three consecutive snaps, gaining 23 yards.

Coach Tom Coughlin admitted in a conference call Sunday that the defense's inability to clog outside running lanes had become obvious.

"Everybody that perhaps doesn't feature the outside run will certainly feature it now," Coughlin said.

When the Giants beat the Redskins, 36-0, on Oct. 30, they took an early lead that nullified Washington's running game. The Redskins finished with 38 yards on 13 carries.

The Redskins have undergone a personality change since then, and they trounced the Dallas Cowboys, 35-7, last Sunday. "Totally different football team," defensive end Osi Umenyiora said. "They're much better, much more physical."

The Giants' personality has also changed since their first meeting with Washington. Their run defense had improved to sixth in the N.F.L. as recently as three weeks ago; it is now 11th.

At least one thing has not changed. Confidence continues to trump concern within the Giants' locker room.

"This is going to be the game that determines everything for us, in my opinion," Strahan said. "And everybody has to play that way. They are a tough team and they are going to play tough, especially after last week. We just have to be ready for it - the crowd noise and the emotion of it."

EXTRA POINTS

Running back Tiki Barber gave each of his offensive linemen a stereo system. It was partly a Christmas present but mostly a thank-you gift for their contributions to his Pro Bowl season. Fullback Jim Finn received a watch from Barber. ... Left tackle Luke Petitgout is expected to start Saturday at Washington.