It could be easy for New
York Giants wide receiver Sinorice Moss
to feel the pressure.
With two talented veterans, Plaxico
Burress and Amani Toomer and a num
ber of talented young guys at the posi
tion, figuring out who will remain with
the team can get a little complicated.
"I don't feel any pressure at all,"
said
Moss, Thursday at training camp at the
University at Albany. "I feel confident
and very positive about the situation I'm
in. I'm going out there every day to com
pete and to make some plays for this
team."
With Burress, Super Bowl hero David
Tyree and Toomer slowed by some
injuries and second round pick Mario
Manningham missing some time, it may
actually be the perfect time for Moss to
make an impact.
Moss has been slowed in his first two
professional seasons by injury - a quad
in 2006 and hip problems in 2007 - and
he is happy to be back and healthy for
camp.
"It's been very frustrating, wanting to
go out there and help the team, con
tribute and perform,"
Moss said. "My
opportunity is here and now and it's
time for me to show up."
Moss, who made some nice catches
during Thursday's afternoon practice on
University Field, knows that just being
back with the team proves the coaching
staff believes he can get the job done.
"I think it's a blessing to still be here
and have an opportunity to play foot
ball,"
Moss said.
At 5-foot-8, Moss is also going up
against some taller receivers, who have
that advantage, but it's a disadvantage
that Moss has always been able to over
come.
"I just have to be consistent,"
Moss
said. "Keep the same mind frame I've had
since I've walked into the organization,
stay positive and be consistent, go out
there and make plays day in and day out."
Fighting for receiver positions along
with Moss are Manningham (5-foot-11),
Domenik Hixon (6-2), Brandon London
(6-4), DJ Hall (6-2), Michael Jennings
(5-11) and Craphonso Thorpe (6-0).
"It's a talented group of guys,"
Moss
said. "You see it all around, in the guys
that are practicing and the guys that
aren't."
Moss just says he has to keep a posi
tive mindset, like he has since he joined
the Giants. That and hard work, he
hopes will pay off.
Moss also takes solace in talking to
different receivers about how they came
up through the NFL, dealt with injuries
and persevered, including older brother
Sanatana, who is a receiver with the
Washington Redskins.
"I talk to my brother about a lot of dif
ferent things,"
Moss said. "Having
Plax(ico) and Amani here, you can talk
to so many guys about many different
situations because they all started off in
the NFL so differently."
It's still early in his career, but Moss
knows just as younger guys are starting to step up in other positions for the
Giants, he must as well to continue
maturing as a pro.
"When you step in, you're not a
young guy anymore, you have to come
out and play football,"
Moss said. "No
matter what age you are or what year
you came in, when you get the opportu
nity you have to step up."
