Pierre-Paul Concurs With Rolle's Assessment Of Giants, Calls The Defense 'Soft'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Giants safety Antrel Rolle wasn't pleased following Big Blue's loss to the Redskins this past Monday.

In fact, he was downright agitated.

Following the game, in which the Giants let a fourth-quarter lead slip away, Rolle sent a message to his teammates: Drop the good-guy stuff. It's time for a "dog mentality."

What does that mean, exactly? Well, no praising opponents before games, for starters.

"Personally, that's not anything I've been too fond of," Rolle told WFAN co-hosts Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Tuesday in his weekly spot. "Do I respect my opponents? I respect them. You know, I'll give credit when credit's due. But I'm not gonna kiss anyone's butt before the game. That's something that I'm never, ever gonna do as long as I'm playing the game of football."

The two-time Pro Bowler insisted that the Giants need to get their edge back.

"I think we just need to get back to being a little nasty, having a nasty attitude," said Rolle. "Like I said, don't do anything that's out of the line of football, but have a little nasty attitude, get a little bit more dog in us, and go out there and play the game. Play the game physical, play the game tough, play the game hard."

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul wholeheartedly agrees with his teammate.

"I'm behind Rolle a 100 percent," Pierre-Paul said. "I think we're a little soft. We haven't played our best game this year. As a defense, we have to make a statement."

That time to make a statement is now, as the Giants are clinging to a one-game lead over the Cowboys and Redskins in the NFC East. With only four games left in the regular season, New York can't afford to let its guard down.

"I don't see enough dog out there on the field," Rolle said. "I don't see enough dog. I don't see enough manhandling out there on the field, and I don't see us putting opponents away when we know we could."

The defending Super Bowl champions don't have it particularly easy the rest of the way.

They take on the always-dangerous Saints on Sunday before hitting the road for two brutally difficult contests against the Falcons and Ravens. The Giants will conclude their regular season at MetLife Stadium against the division-rival Eagles.

"We know who we can be as Giants," Rolle said. "We know how we play the game of football, and we know how dominant we can be. We just need to get back to being that."

Do you agree? Is the Giants' defense playing too soft, and will it cost them the division? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...