Bulluck has fan in Lions coach Schwartz
New Giants linebacker Keith Bulluck chases down a ball carrier during a scrimmage at Giants training camp in Albany, N.Y. (Aug. 2, 2010) Credit: Jon Winslow
Keith Bulluck and Jim Schwartz were close when they were together in Tennessee and have remained that way. Schwartz called Bulluck "one of the most reliable players that I've ever been around" and Bulluck said one of the first messages he received when he injured his knee late last year came from Schwartz, in his first year as the Lions' coach. "The respect is always there," Bulluck said.
So why isn't he playing for the Lions this year?
"When I was going through my [rehabilitation] process, my eyes were forward," Bulluck said from the Giants' locker room Thursday. "I didn't reach out to anyone. I know my agent did and there was interest there, but we did what we did."
Bulluck, O'Hara could go
The Giants' two oldest players could be ready Sunday. Bulluck, who has missed the last two games with turf toe, said he practiced more Thursday than he had since suffering the injury and is confident he can face the Lions. And center Shaun O'Hara, who has missed three straight games with an ankle/Achilles injury, said he did everything asked of him in practice and, more importantly, felt good after Wednesday's practice. Both 33-year-olds were listed as "limited" on the practice report.
Jacobs same, but better
Earlier in the week, Brandon Jacobs spoke about understanding his role a little better. Has offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride sensed that change?
"It isn't going from a scatback to a power back," Gilbride said. "It's the same guy. I think what he's doing, he's being a little bit more trusting of his reads and of his decisions, and when he does that and he turns himself north-south with the correct read, he's a special guy. I think right now he's been making good decisions and that, coupled with his determination and his size, has made him effective for us."
