New York Giants' Moss knows it's time to make an impression

Sinorice Moss claims he wasn't breathing any easier after he came down with the ball on a 46-yard pass from Anthony Wright against the Lions on Thursday. If anything, he was probably breathing heavily after sprinting down the field and leaping to make the catch.

"It's a sigh of relief just to be in the game and make some big plays for this team," Moss said. "That's what I'm supposed to do. That's why they put me out there."

And that's why the Giants traded up to draft him in the second round in 2006. Between then and Thursday, Moss hadn't made any of those big plays he's supposed to make. In fact, before he streaked past cornerback Dovonte Edwards in Detroit, Moss' longest catch in a Giants uniform was a 20-yarder with a little more than five minutes to play in last year's blowout loss to the Vikings.

So three years into an injury-riddled NFL career, players are still talking about Moss' untapped potential.

"What he did," Wright said of the catch, "was an example of some of the things he can do."

Moss had better continue doing all of those things because there's some serious competition at his position. In addition to Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and Steve Smith, there's David Tyree and rookie Mario Manningham. Plus, Domenik Hixon, claimed off waivers early last season, has had an excellent camp so far, while Brandon London, last year's undrafted free agent and practice-squad member, is much improved.

Heck, even Craphonso Thorpe, who was the last receiver added to the roster before camp, caught the team's only touchdown against Detroit. Undrafted free agent D.J. Hall has had a quiet camp. That's 10 guys for six spots, which means Moss isn't a lock to make the team.

Even if Thorpe and London are cut, there's still the question of whether or not the team would cut Tyree, the Super Bowl hero who's still on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury. If Tyree can get healthy before the start of the regular season, he would force the Giants to make a very difficult decision: cut one more player or keep an extra receiver and risk being dangerously thin at another position.

But Moss can't worry about numbers right now. He just has to keep making plays and gaining confidence.

"It was encouraging to know I'm making progress," Moss said of his catch. "And when the opportunity comes again, try to go up there and make a play again."

Moss made Thursday's play with speed and tremendous leaping ability, which helps compensate for his 5-8 frame. After running past Edwards, who was inside Moss and started with his back to him, Moss looked back and saw the ball coming his way. He then sneaked a peek at safety Greg Blue closing in on the play from his spot in the middle of the field.

Moss then turned back to the ball to see it wasn't sailing as far as it should have.

"Slightly underthrown," he said with a smile. "But hey, things happen. When the ball is up in the air, you have to go up and get it."

Not only that, but Moss had to then stick out the bottom part of his body while leaping to shield Edwards from the ball. Edwards had closed the gap when Moss slowed down to compensate for the underthrown pass. (Edwards unwisely reached up with both hands for an interception instead of knocking the ball away with one).

It was reminiscent of a play Moss made early in camp when he had to adjust to catch a ball from Eli Manning that didn't have as much on it as it should have.

"He held off the defender a little bit by jumping up to catch the ball," Wright said. "It was a good job by him to do what he did."

Oh, and then Moss had to hold onto the ball while getting drilled by Blue as he came down. Moss' reaction? No trash talk, no finger pointing and no signaling first down. Just an underhanded spiral flip to the official and a walk back to the huddle.

Yesterday he was just as nonchalant about the catch.

"It's my job, man. I'm really not impressed with it," he said. "That's what I'm supposed to do, actually. It's really behind me now. That was the other night. I'm not worried about that right now. I have to press on for this week and get ready for next week's game."

Moss has always been pretty understated, but he seems to have become even more composed after the struggles of his first few seasons. It was only two years ago he missed almost all of camp and much of the regular season with a quadriceps injury that just wouldn't heal. Last year he hurt his hamstring late in the season and was a healthy member of the inactives for the postseason.

Now, it's Manningham who's been sidelined with an equally mysterious quad injury. Though Manningham is his competition, Moss has been there to give him advice.

"I spoke to him because it's tough," Moss said. "To know he has a similar injury that I had when I first got here, that's tough, man. It's going to be hard for him. He just has to keep fighting through it every day and rehab so he can get himself back."

(nj.com)