"He needs to be here just as badly as he's needed here.

That's the rationale of Keith Bulluck, the newest member of the Giants, if healthy their starting middle linebacker and a player who will never say he has been blind-sided by anything the big, bad city throws at him.

"One thing about New York, you can't BS people and I'm not about that," Bulluck said yesterday. "This is what I need for me. I need to be somewhere where there are high expectations, not just from the organization but from the fans. This is another part of my challenge."

Some athletes back away from New York, but Bulluck -- born and raised in Rockland County -- is embracing his return after 10 seasons establishing himself as a fine linebacker for the Titans. On Saturday, he signed a one-year contract that can be worth as much as $2.5 million and understands what he already has accomplished doesn't resonate much in this second chapter of his career.

"I know where I am, New York, so talk is cheap where I'm from," Bulluck said. "The only thing I can do is go out and prove it with my play. I know I have to convince the tri-state area that I am the real deal."

The Keith Bulluck who arrives this Sunday at training camp in Albany is seven months removed from reconstructive surgery (torn ACL) on his left knee. That injury, coupled with his 33 years of age, is often a toxic mix."