EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.(AP) -- Riding a three-game losing streak,
the New York Giants decided Friday to insert Aaron Rouse into
the starting lineup at safety for Sunday's game against the San
Diego Chargers.
Rouse will replace beleaguered veteran C.C. Brown, who has been
beaten twice on deep passes for touchdowns during the losing
streak.
Brown missed a defensive audible in last Sunday's 40-17 loss to
the Philadelphia Eagles, allowing DeSean Jackson to score on a
54-yard pass play late in the first half.
"This is the NFL, pressure comes week in and week out," Rouse
said. "As a team and as a member of this team, everybody has to
be prepared to play whether you are a starter or not. We look at
it as if you are first- or second-string you are going to be a
starter because it only takes one play for you to come up in
that starting 11. Regardless whether or not I was starting this
week, that is how I practice. I'm looking forward to the
opportunity."
In making the switch, coach Tom Coughlin said Rouse plays the
ball better in the air than Brown, so he will be paired with
Michael Johnson.
"We have three guys, they all play a lot," Coughlin said. "The
third safety played 26 snaps the other day. So we are just going
to try to maneuver around a little bit and defend the deep ball
better, that's all."
Rouse was awarded to the Giants on waivers in September after
Kenny Phillips was lost with a season-ending knee injury that
required surgery.
Rouse was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round in
2007. He played in 27 games with 11 starts before being waived
in September.
The highlight of Rouse's Green Bay career was a 99-yard
interception return for a touchdown in 2008 against Peyton
Manning. It was the longest interception return in Lambeau Field
history.
Coughlin said defensive tackle Chris Canty and linebacker
Michael Boley took 50 percent of the snaps Friday and will be
listed as questionable for Sunday's game. Canty has been
sidelined since the opening game of the season with a calf
injury and Boley had surgery on his right knee a month ago.
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