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Cullen Jenkins officially signed with the New York Giants on Monday. The veteran defensive tackle, who has competed against the Giants with the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, said he knows exactly what he is getting into.
"I look at it as a big challenge, because you see the level of play that they play with, especially being in Philadelphia the last two years," he said. "You see the intensity they play with, the skill - I look at it as a challenge to come in and help them out and be a part of it - not just hide behind, but help them out in any way I can and help the line and the whole defense to be better."
Jenkins, 32, said he knows the Super Bowl is the goal with the Giants.
"They had a taste of it two times in five years and the fans expect it. It's not going to come just because you have a team with good players. It has to be something you earn. It's going to take a lot of work, especially on my part, to come in and make sure I'm fitting in with the team. I have to be willing to do whatever they ask of me and help out the best I can," he said.
Giants' defensive captain Justin Tuck sounded excited to have Jenkins as a teammate."You're talking about a guy who brings a lot of diversity to the D-line, because he can play pretty much anywhere along the line," said Tuck. "It gives us the opportunity to continue to give teams different looks. He's a big, strong, athletic guy who knows the ropes and knows what it takes to be successful in this league.
"I had the opportunity to talk to him and he's hungry and wants to get back to the top of his game and with his team, as well. After losing Chris, we knew we had to step up and fill that void and I think we did. With the loss of Chris, who was very successful in our scheme, helped us win a championship and played very well for us, obviously, that's a huge hole to fill. Like always, Jerry Reese goes out and he scouts players and he knows what the best fit for our team is. He found another good fit for us."
Coach Tom Coughlin also spoke about the newest Giants.
"He has earned the respect of our players, having played against us when he was in Green Bay and against us when he was in Philadelphia. He's a very versatile performer. He can play inside and outside," Coughlin said. "The challenge first and foremost is to stop the run and he's well aware of that - I've spoken to him about it. He also demonstrated outstanding pass rush ability, whether you play him inside or outside. He's a very versatile player that can play in all circumstances and situations. He's athletic, he's quick, he's powerful, he plays with good effort. We're looking forward to having him in a Giant uniform."
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