Giants' Bulluck back but might see limited action

Keith Bulluck is back. But where does the veteran linebacker fit in on the Giants' defense?

When the team stumbled on to the three-safety look it has used to much success the last three games, it was mostly because of Bulluck's absence with a turf toe injury. They needed someone to come down to the box to stop the run and decided to use Deon Grant and a little bit of Antrel Rolle to do that.

Now that Bulluck is recovered from his injury, can the Giants go away from the system that has been working so well?

Even Bulluck isn't sure about that. "I'm a believer in 'if it's not broken, don't fix it,' " Bulluck said Friday. "What we're doing works, so that's what's up."

That means Bulluck will be marginalized. For now, anyway. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said having Bulluck is a boon to the unit.

"Veteran leadership, physical presence, knowledge and know-how with how to play the game," Fewell said of Bulluck's best attributes. "That's a big plus for us when he comes back."

But Fewell also said Bulluck's return will not diminish the Giants' ability to play with three safeties against a Dallas Cowboys team with many passing weapons, making secondary depth a priority.

As for his turf toe, which has kept him out of three games this season after he missed only three games in his first 10 years with Tennessee, Bulluck said it feels good on the field but is still sore after workouts. "It's been fine to break and burst and do the things that I need to do to be effective on the football field," he said.

How much time he spends there will have a lot more to do with the Cowboys than his toe this week. As Bulluck said: "They have a lot going on on offense. They have weapons all over the place."

One of those weapons (although underused this season) is bruising running back Marion Barber. If the Cowboys lean on the run, the Giants could lean on Bulluck.

He noted that the Dallas offense is balanced, generally 50-50 between run and pass, but can go 75-25 in either direction.

"Let's just hope that it's 75 with the run," Bulluck said. "That seems to be my package."

Bulluck is remaining patient. He knows the Giants eventually will need him.

"That time will come, that time will come," he said. "As long as I'm healthy, I feel I'm still one of the best in this game. It's been proven that the only thing that can slow me down is an injury. It's still Week 7, this team is playing very good on both sides of the ball, and I'll fit in somewhere before the season is over."

Bulluck has 10 tackles this season, but he's spent more time on the sideline than on the field. Has anyone yet seen what Bulluck can do for this team?

"No," Fewell said confidently. "You haven't seen that."

Notes & quotes: DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) was limited after not practicing Thursday. FB Madison Hedgecock (hamstring) was limited Thursday and did not practice Friday. DE Justin Tuck (ankle) and WR Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) did not practice . . . Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (ankle) was limited Friday.