Giants linebacker Bulluck doesn't have backup plan

ALBANY - Keith Bulluck has been very generous with advice for the Giants' young linebackers. His latest words of wisdom for them?

Here I come!

Bulluck, who played 10 seasons for the Titans at an All-Pro level and was signed by the Giants a week before training camp started and seven months after surgery to repair a torn ACL, was asked Tuesday if penciled-in starter Jonathan Goff should be looking over his shoulder.

"Absolutely," he said. "Jonathan Goff is a good football player. He's young and I have experience. I may be a little more savvy. I would definitely be looking over my shoulder."

The main issue for Bulluck at this camp has nothing to do with shoulders but with his knee. He said even he is surprised at how that part is working out.

"It's scary how good it feels," Bulluck said. "I see myself out there, maybe inches away from making plays that I normally make. But I'm only seven months and two weeks out of surgery. I know I'm only going to keep getting better."

Bulluck said he never thought about retiring when he missed the last two games of 2009 with the knee injury and then was not re-signed by Tennessee. He had to rehab the injury without the guidance of an NFL medical staff, which he said put him in a better position for this comeback. He certainly is hungry to regain his form and made it clear that he didn't work all those months to be a backup.

"I've had people write me off for the last six or seven months," he said. "You look at my career, I've been nothing but at the top of my position. I wouldn't come back if I didn't plan on playing the same way."

Bulluck is still being used in a limited capacity by the Giants, working once a day and sticking with the second unit behind Goff and ahead of rookie Phillip Dillard. Tom Coughlin has said he likes the way Bulluck works with the younger players at the position, but he's also pointed out that Bulluck is showing something of himself on the field.

"I can tell you that he is very mindful of putting himself in the right positions and he is gaining confidence all the time," Coughlin said.

Bulluck said he's seen situations in the past where veterans would not mentor younger players. He said that's not his style.

"It's not one of those things where I will withhold information from him just so I can get an upper hand," he said. "I don't feel like I can do that."

No, if Bulluck is going to win the job, it will be fair and square. Most people figure he'll eventually start playing with the starters, whether it is by the time the regular season kicks off or shortly afterward. Bulluck didn't put a timetable on that move, but he did note how highly he thinks of the competition.

"He's going to be a good football player for this football team," he said of Goff. "But of course I would say that he's got to look over his shoulder."