Giants receiver Sinorice Moss trying to grow from injury woes

Aug/03/08 10:02 PM Filed in: Sinorice Moss
SinoriceMoss
ALBANY - Sinorice Moss is as disappointed as anyone by the way his first two NFL seasons have gone. But he's not ready to give up on himself yet. And neither are the Giants.

That's why the speedy 5-8 receiver is still at training camp at the University at Albany, despite the wealth of talent the Giants seem to have at his position. A 2006 second-round pick out of Miami, Moss is at best fourth on the depth chart, and feeling pressure from behind him.

He knows this might be his last chance to earn a spot on the team.

"It's been very frustrating," Moss said. "I wanted to go out there and help the team: contribute and perform, but injuries have slowed me down. My opportunity is here now and it's time for me to show up."

Injuries have been Moss' biggest issue. He missed much of his rookie season with a lingering quad issue, then was knocked out of the end of last season and the Giants' entire playoff run with a hip problem.

But coaches also have been frustrated by Moss' struggles to learn the offense and his inconsistency in practice. It doesn't help that the team has veterans Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, and two other promising young receivers in Mario Manningham and Steve Smith. Moss also could have less value than Dominek Hixon and David Tyree because he's failed to make his mark on special teams.

Throw in first-year pro Brandon London, who's having an excellent camp, and the situation becomes even tougher for Moss.

But he doesn't have to look far to find an example of receivers who struggle early in their careers, only to eventually put it all together. Toomer is the Giants' all-time leader in many receiving categories. But in his first two seasons, Toomer, a second-rounder in 1996, caught only 17 passes for 275 yards in 23 games.

Moss' two-year totals, in just 19 games, are 26 catches for 250 yards.

"It's a very similar story," Toomer said. "But I think he has a lot of potential, and I think that he's working real hard. Personally, I think that he is going to pan out."

"I've spoke to a couple of guys who've had problems in their early years when they first got into the NFL," Moss added. "Everything takes time. Some guys it doesn't. Some guys it does. I'll keep the same positive attitude I've had since I got here, and I'll continue to work hard, because hard work pays off."

(nydailynews.com)