ALBANY – A playoff collapse of similar proportion had happened only once before over 70 years. But never in a million did Matt Bryant think he wasn’t going to save the Giants regardless.

“When you go out there, you are going to make every kick and then it’s time to celebrate,” he said. “We would be sitting here with rings saying Tiki Barber, not Ronde Barber.”

Trey Junkin bounced the snap, holder Matt Allen didn’t throw the ball out of bounds, the officials ignored blatant pass interference and Mike Hollis has been signed to a 5-year, $4 million deal to kick this year for the Giants, no reflection on the guy who last season booted them into the playoffs, of course.

“Matt did well, made some big kicks,” GM Ernie Accorsi said. “We didn’t bring Hollis in because we were disappointed.

“This isn’t a showing-the-faith business, it’s a protect-the-franchise business. If there is a veteran kicker so we can sleep better, we’ll do it. Kickoffs are a consideration. We may keep two.”

Bryant should hold his breath for that about as long as he waits for Junkin to come back forgiven. After making 26 of 32 attempts during a season the Giants went through three snappers and three holders, it still isn’t his job to lose. You wonder if this would be the case had Junkin given Bryant even half the chance he had on a previous shaky snap when the Giants’ lead was down to five.

Bryant got that one off, hooked it wide, still accepts the blame.

“I either make the kick or miss it,” he said. “No matter what, I have to make adjustments.”

Obviously, so did the Giants, who operated on their Achilles by signing Ryan Kuehl to long snap and bringing in punter Jeff Feagles to hold. They’re unlikely to benefit a second-year guy who, after bouncing around the Arena and Europe Leagues, had to make some for the Giants practically off the bounce.

“I could have made all 40 and there would still be [competition] here,” he shrugged. “Experience is big for kickers in this league.”

Experience is why Bryant has a minimum contract, and Hollis, 80 per cent accurate over eight seasons, has a deal it would take a lot of exhibition misses for the Giants to eat. After seven years in Jacksonville, he made only 25 of 40 in 2002 with Buffalo, which signed Rian Lindell away from Seattle. Only the Giants offered Hollis more than a one-year deal.

“I’m pretty laid back,” he said. “My strengths are my mentality towards the position.” Meanwhile, the mentality towards the position is not football’s strength.

“It’s hard to have a lot of patience with them,” Accorsi said. “A miss takes the air out of a team because it’s the end result of a drive. It’s not the 55-yarder. The 35-yarder is the one you have make.”

Bryant missed five-of-19 last year from 30-39 yards, probably the real reason Hollis is here.

“This is a hard job, there isn’t always somebody else out there,” Hollis said. “But some coaches always think there is.”