“We had a lot of great athletes, but he was able to instill discipline in us, which allowed us to play at any level. We took that discipline to college and, for those of us fortunate enough, to the NFL. He kept us humble, me in particular. I was a starter for three years, but didn’t catch many balls until my senior year. He kept us humble and patient and then when the time came, he helped us take advantage of the opportunity. He made sure we were in school. Actually, he made us come to school early to watch film so we were there even before the school day started. It is a place that is blessed with athletic talent, kids who are willing to sacrifice, a community that supports the program and good people at the top.”

The only school that has more current NFL players than Carol City? DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville Maryland. No offense to the private school scholars, but we’re more impressed by the ascent of our hard-scrabble Miamians. And more NFLers call our city their hometown- 31- than any other in the country. As a state, Florida ranked third for current NFL players produced, with a whopping 176.

The beleaguered receiver, perched squarely on the roster bubble, came up big in his final preseason showcase Thursday night, catching two passes for 35 yards, both of which went for touchdowns. That helped jump-start a revived passing offense that was outstanding early before fizzling late, as the Giants lost their preseason finale to the New England Patriots, 38-27.

However, it might not have been a loss for the 25-year-old Moss. Maybe he finally showed the coaches he deserves to stick around.

“I really wish I did,” Moss said. “I wish I did prove that when my number is called I’m able to go out there and I’m able to make plays. When my number was called tonight, I made plays for this team.”

Even Tom Coughlin admitted Moss – who is battling Derek Hagan and David Tyree for the sixth receiver spot – “looked good, played real good and made some nice plays.” The question now is: Was it good enough to earn him a place on the Giants’ 53-man roster, which is due tomorrow at 6 p.m.?

“I really don’t know about all that,” Moss said. “I feel like I’ve been on the bubble since I’ve been here, honestly. But I’ve just been working hard, trying to stay positive about my situation, and every time I step on the field I always try to go hard and do what I have to do to make some plays and prove myself to this team.”

Moss did that by catching a 23-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning and a 12-yard touchdown pass from David Carr in the first six minutes of the game. However, his mini-explosion came against the Patriots’ third-team defense, which included a wide receiver playing at safety.

The Patriots, in fact, rested almost all of their starters – including Tom Brady and Randy Moss – which helps explain why the Giants were up 21-0 less than 10minutes in. By the middle of the second quarter, the Giants’ passing offense was perfect – Manning was 3-for-3 for 76 yards and a touchdown, and backup Carr was 6-for-6 for 153 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yard scoring strike to first-round draft pick Hakeem Nicks, who strained his hip flexor later but said he came out of the game only for precautionary reasons.

“I thought we did well,” Manning said. “We did what we wanted to do in getting off to a great start. We were efficient and effective as a first unit. That’s what you want to see in the fourth preseason game.”

However, the offense stalled after that, behind shaky performances by Andre’ Woodson (6-for-19, 98 yards, one interception) and Rhett Bomar (2-for-7, 40 yards, one interception) as the Patriots came back and then pulled away.

Despite the ending, it was still a better night for Moss than last Saturday night, when he wasn’t used until late in the third quarter of the Giants’ 27-25 loss to the Jets. Last night, the Giants turned to him early and often – throwing in his direction six times in all.

“It felt real good to get out there and have the opportunity to make some plays,” Moss said. “I felt like I did my best.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2009/09/04/2009-09-04_sinorice_moss_scores_twice.html#ixzz0QxQdwLQ4

Author: Chris Kredible

CK: What’s going on with you? How you feeling?

I’m in New Jersey, just got finish working out about a few hours ago, so I’m just home kicking back.

CK:People forget football players are regular people too.

Yeah most definitely, I consider myself the same as everyone else, just blessed with the opportunity to play football.

CK: That’s what’s up, well I hope you been training hard for this Superbowl run we (Chris is a die hard Giants fan from Harlem) about to have this year.

Man there’s no need for hoping, all I do is train hard.

CK: Alright man, I’m just saying I lost some money last year and I was upset. But you know things happen, we went 12-4 so I can’t complain.

Yeah things definitely do happen (laughs).

CK: So my first question, its always been amazing to me how a family could produce professionals athletes, not once, but twice. So how is that for you? What was football like growing up for you?

It’s good you ask that question. I went home last week and was given a picture of myself, my brother Santana and my dad. I was like 3 years old in the picture, just real small. We had suits on, looking nice. It mad me laugh, because the picture reminds me of my son and my son saw the picture thinking it was him. It just made me say wow. Who would have thought the two of us would go so far. Just one of those moments. Growing up, lots of competition around the house, Santana, myself and my younger brother Lloyd who also played football, he was by far the most athletic outta both us. Santana was always into football, wanting to play catch, and it was always an inspiration watching him do great things and knowing I had the same abilities. It worked out for both of us.

Catch must’ve been crazy between ya’ll.

Funny thing is, I used to stand Santana up all the time. I just wanted to chill sometimes and be in the house. But when we did, it was fun, played lots of throw up tackle in the house even though we got in trouble.

CK: That’s comedy, did your dad play football.

Nah, actually my mom was the athlete and played sports. He kinda gets mad at it at times, but its the truth (laughs).

CK: What’s your relationship like with your brothers?

We real close, I love them to death. But we’re so different. They like to go out to the parties, I like to stay in and kick it. I don’t drink or anything so its just not my thing. But we chill sometimes, but you all do separate things.

CK: That makes sense, you guys do seem to have different demeanors. There must be shit talking at home being that you and Santana play in the same division.

You’d be surprise we really don’t do that. Its more for us to say, “Yo bro, I hope you have a good game, I wish you the best.” Its not about who wins, we just care about each other performing at our best. The year we won the Superbowl, they beat us at home and Santana said to me “Yeah I got one!” And I wanted to say “Man that’ll be the only one you get”, but its all love I just said he got it.

I guess that’s cool, If I had a brother that was on the Redskins I would talk mad shit and tell him we gonna bust their ass.

We don’t play directly against each other though. There would probably be more trash talk if we didn’t play the same position. Like if he was on defense then I guess we would talk trash to each other. But its different, because we both play the same position so we just want the best for each other.

Do you ever get brotherly advice from Santana?

Yeah of course, that’s why I feel like I had a big advantage especially in college. I was able to see him, see how he worked, his passion, things he did right and wrong, he could watch my game and tell me what I did right and what I did wrong. I’m really hard on myself so I study what I do wrong and even when I don’t get advice from my brother, I just think about what he would do.

Santana is a great player and I think the Jets made a stupid move letting him go, but that’s neither here or there.

(Laughs) Yeah.

CK: Florida breeds football talent the way Joe Jackson breeds stars. What is it about being from Florida that translates into good football players?

That’s a great question. I feel like Florida is just blessed man. Just so many tremendous players, the same way Texas and California produces great athletes, they just do.

CK: Is in the water? (Laughs)

(Laughs) I don’t know man, I can’t touch on what it is, but I guess there’s so many guys who want to be successful and that play sports, there’s so much competition so it just makes you better. Whether its schools or your local neighborhood, you got people who are good enough to be in the NFL and whatever professional sport who just never made it for whatever reason. You play against these people all the time so when you go to practice, its nothing major. You get so good playing against all the competition

CK: How is it growing up in Florida?

You have your hard times like growing up anywhere else. You have your hoods, things you think you would never see, I had an opportunity to witness, its just apart of growing up. I grew up in Liberty City, one of the toughest cities in Miami, then moved to Carol City, around the time when it was middle class, but there was still violence all through out Miami. Fortunately I was blessed with two parents who kept us on track, kept in school and stood on us, worked 2-3 jobs to support us and stuff like that inspired me too do good.

CK: Yeah its a harsh reality many people of ethnicity have to face. You’ve been hit with the injury bug a few times. Do you feel any pressure to do good this season?

I don’t feel pressured at all. I look at it like this. You can read whatever you want to read, people write whatever on the internet. I got injured my first year and I’ve been healthy since, few nips and bruises, but I been good. People like to say oh I’m injured prone, but it hasn’t even been serious. I only got injured my rookie year. Everything else might be a sore bruise here or there, it comes with playing football. But I haven’t been injured just to clear that up (laughs)

CK: I remember that.

That’s what being a professional athlete is about. Unfortunately it was my rookie year so that was a set back for me, but I’ve been straight since then.

CK: Ok so you good? My man Q the Question ( Q is a die-hard Eagles fan from Philly) seems to think the Eagles have a shot and I’m trying to tell him we going to bust that ass.

Its good to have your own opinion about different things. If that’s how you feel the Eagles are going to do, you have the right to your own opinion. I can tell you one thing though, the New York Giants and this organization is a team that’s dedicated to winning and being successful and definitely looking for another Superbowl.

CK: Right. So you’re 5′9 right?

Yeah.

CK: So in high school you were probably even smaller?

Yeah I was small man, 5′6 maybe.

CK: That to be a challenge and obviously you got through that making it to the NFL. How did you work around that challenge?

I used my speed and talent. Me being smaller doesn’t mean anything. I have jumping ability and speed. So when I was younger, I would practice at perfecting that. I don’t think size matters.

CK: You got young players who may feel discourage to pursue football, because of their size. For younger upcoming players who are shorter, what advice would you give to them.

I’ve been doubted all my life so I just show people my capabilities. Can’t let people tell you what you can’t do. For people to make judgement on what people can’t do, or I can’t play in the NFL, you’re wrong. To the young guys growing up, you got to realize whatever you wan to do, you must put your heart into it, and do it.

CK: How do you like playing for the Giants? How do you like it?

I love NY period. If I had my choice I’d stay here my whole career. Love NY, teammates, the organization, I just love it here and I feel at home. I love the fans and it just feels good here.

CK: How is it playing for Tom Coughlin?

Man when I first started I heard different things like he’s real strict and wants you to wear certain things going to the game and away. Very hard nose. Hearing that, I was like aww man, something I got to deal with. I remember if he was walking towards me in the hall and I would turn the other way (laughs), because just that aura he has and he might of said something to you that ruined your day (laughs). So it was something I had to get used too my rookie year, but the next year he really opened up and changed. He listened to the players, joked around, and just really became a really great coach and it translated into a Superbowl that same year.

CK: Coughlin gets criticized a lot for his decision making, but I don’t get it because we’ve been successful since he’s been here, we got a Superbowl and went 12-4 last year.

I feel like its unfair to blame coach Coughlin for everything. It comes with the territory, because he’s the head coach, and even Eli. But its on us. Its our job to make plays, its unfair to blame the coaches when very seldomly its their fault.

CK: What’s playing with Eli Manning like?

Me and him are similiar. Both have older brothers who are successful. I remember when Eli was getting bashed and he’s not a leader and this and that. He leads by example, he’s one of the best QB’s in this league, but doesn’t get much recognition. He will never be Peyton, and vice versa. He works really hard. When we won the Superbowl and he was the greatest. Its just unfair how people bashed him and he needs his recognition he deserves.

CK: What are some of the challenges Giants face this season?

Its really hard to say, because we haven’t even started training yet. Once we train I’ll be able to answer that question better.

CK: What are some things you think the Giants could work on, including yourself?

Coming together as a team and staying consistent. Staying on top of our craft, making sure we perform and staying with the same motivation we have when we win games and just making sure that stays with us week in and week out.

CK: Alright I’m not trying to lose money this season.

(Laughs).

CK: The NFC East is not a cornball division, probably if not the best, one of the best divisions in the NFL. All the teams in the division could be potential playoff contenders. How is it playing in that division?

Its a tough division. Every one of those teams could potentially make it to the Superbowl. The Eagles have a great team, the Cowboys can be a really dominant team and if the Redskins get their shit together, lord knows what they can do, their very capable of winning. I really love playing in this division, I get to play against my bro twice and just overall just such a good division.

CK: What can you tell people about the NFL that we wouldn’t know?

Its not just what you see on Sundays. A lot of people look at it as you play football. Its our job, our life. We work Monday through Sunday. I put my heart into this. We work so we can perform. We also do lots of charity outside of football, its not all about playing football.

CK: How do you feel about the whole Plexico situation?

Its a tough situation. He’s a great friend, great competitor, great football player. Wherever he lands he will fit right in, he just that type of guy. He has that “it” factor. Can’t stop him. Now with the whole situation, things happen that we can’t explain, and I wish him all the best. He working out, he’s healthy so he should be straight.

CK: Do you think it is fair the way they treated Plexico?

Man people never realize that playing in the NFL you have a bull’s eye on you, no matter where you go. A lot of guys feel very unsafe because they travel back to their cities and hoods. When you go back, you may think you still have friends there, but there’s lots of jealous people who want what you have and willing to do a lot to get it. Not all your friends are really your friends. There’s lots of people who don’t see that because they don’t have to go through with that. One of the reasons why the whole situation with Plexico went down was, our teammate Steve Smith was robbed at gunpoint a few days before. I think it was Amani “Who said until you had a gun pointed at your head and a light flash in front of you in the matter of seconds you would think you were dead, you would never understand.” I think its sad that professional athletes need to carry around weapons, because I’m regular just like everyone else, but that’s not the reality we live in. As a professional athlete, we’re targets.

CK: What do you like to do outside of football?

I love to sing. Actually own my own independent record label, me and my best friend Jesse Boykins run it, he had an album out on Itunes now. I’m an aspiring actor, I want to do small films and sitcoms. I just got sent a script to look over, and I’m getting ready to knock out a role I got for a small film right before training camp. I’m a home body, love to go to the movies, broadway shows, love being with my family and being with my two year old son. If I could spend all my free time with him, I would, he’s my heart. I would give him the world if I could.

How long you’ve been singing?

All my life, probably really started around 3rd grade.

CK: Did you sing in the choir?

Nah, but I was always singing in church with my cousins. My mom could sing too, she would sing around the house. I wouldn’t go as far as getting signed or anything, I would rather play the background or something.

CK: So its just for the love?

I just love music man. All types of music, alternative, rock, pop, country, r&b, neo-soul, rap. I don’t knock any genre, because it takes so much to do music, so I just really respect it, its hard work to put out an album so I try to listen to anything.

CK: What’s some of your favorite albums? What’s do you listen to consistently?

Aww man, I have so much music. I put my Ipod on shuffle a lot and just jam to whatever comes out the speakers. From Jay-Z to Nas, Common to Mos Def, MC Lyte to Queen Latifah, I got it all, Jodeci to Chris Brown to Ne-Yo. Right now I got Chrisette Michelle playing in the background.

CK: What’s your favorite sport outside of football.

Track and Field, but I also like baseball too. I didn’t have the opportunity to play it when I was younger because down in Miami, Track and Field was always during the baseball season. So I just stuck with track.

CK: What do you watch?

I watch basketball the most, I tend to catch the playoffs more than anything else, but yeah I watch baseball, and sometimes hockey.

CK: You watch sitcoms?

Yeah of course I’m a homebody (laughs).

CK: What’s your favorite shows?

Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, TLC.

CK: That’s definitely a homebody answer.

(Laughs) yeah man, of course ESPN. I love “King of Queens”, “House of Payne”, “Meet the Browns”, I watch “CSI Miami”, “Law & Order”, I was a Criminology major when I went to school so I like to try to figure out cases before the show does (laughs).

CK: Lots of athletes don’t talk about their college experiences, so you went to school for Criminology?

Yeah graduated from University of Miami, December ‘05.

So that’s something you wanted to do if you wasn’t playing football?

Yeah, something I will look into if I wasn’t playing football. I wanted to go to school for architecture but that was too much. But yeah Miami is filled with crime and crooked cops so it was just important for me to get into that. I wouldn’t want to be a police officer but more of a detective or person behind the scenes.

CK: Is it fair to say you would be doing that if you weren’t playing football?

Yeah, well I would really want to be in a sitcom (laughs), but if it came down to that, then yeah.

Q&A courtesy of qthequestion

Among the most impressive players at the first practice of camp today were spring sensation Sinorice Moss and last year’s camp darling Kenny Phillips. Moss, the small-but-speedy receiver continued to burn the Giants’ defensive backs on nearly every play he ran. And Phillips, who dazzled us all last summer with his big plays and big hits, opened camp with two interceptions.

As for everyone else … well, let’s just say practice wasn’t good. On the second play, RT Kareem McKenzie false started. On the third play, DT Jay Alford jumped off sides. Eli Manning’s first pass was a wobbly duck as ugly as any he threw in the playoffs last year that ended up dying in front of his deep receiver in triple coverage. And there were too many botched center-quarterback exchanges to count.

“Like I told the players,” Tom Coughlin said after it was all over, “it’s a process.”

Yes it is. Here are a few highlights of the start of that process:

Moss’ first time getting behind the defense was really a gimmie. Someone must have blown the coverage because LBs Bryan Kehl and Antonio Pierce were giving chase and S Michael Johnson was late coming over. Moss still made the catch, though he had to hold up for the underthrown pass from QB David Carr…

Full Story: NY Daily News

Slowed down by bumps and bruises in his first three years in the league, 2009 may be the year the explosive receiver breaks out with huge numbers. The loses of longtime Giant Armani Toomer and 6’6 playmaker Plaxico Burress have left a big void in the team’s receiving corps which Moss & Co. will attempt to fill as they try to return to the Super Bowl glory of their 2007 season. That said Moss is dedicated to the cause as the New York press reported he was the most impressive receiver at mini camp this June.

Even with all the pressures of being a professional football player in New York, Moss has also managed to create his own independent music label, NomaDic Music. The label’s only artist to date is neo-soul singer Jesse Boykins III. Via the label, they have put out two albums that have been fairly successful. Moss would love to one day garner a major distribution deal for the label, but for now he is focused on his job between the hedges.

The wideout recently took some time out after his training regiment to chat it up with Scribe Culture. Among the topics he discussed were the upcoming 2009 season, NomaDic Music, and racing his sibling – unfortunately not Santana. Check it out and peep game.

SC: You are entering your 4th year in the NFL, and unfortunately, you’ve been slowed by injures during your first three. However, without the wily vet Armani Toomer and playmaker Plaxico Burress this year your role on the team will be magnified. How have you prepared yourself this offseason, as perhaps, opposed to other seasons to meet the challenge and opportunity you face this year?
Sinorice Moss: Well first off let me clear everything up. I got injured my first year, it’s the only time I’ve been injured since I got here. I had nicks and bruises every other year but that didn’t stop me from playing. I was still healthy and I’ve been healthy. I haven’t had an injury plagued season or career in the NFL – everybody has nicks, everybody has bruises. So to get that out the way I want to say that.

Secondly, I’ve been approaching this year like I approach every other year: being positive, working hard, doing what I have to make plays and when given the opportunity go out there and make plays and do what I have to do. Not having Plax here any more, not having Armani here any more it’s going to be different. There are a lot of young guys here. Dominex Hixon and Steve Smith are your new leaders – we drafted two young guys. David Tyree is here, he’s the vet now. There’s a lot of opportunity for us to step up and make some plays, and that’s really what I’m looking forward to man. I’m really looking forward to having the great opportunity to step out here and make some plays, win some football games and doing what I have to do to be successful.

SC: I hear that, sounds good. Do you feel any added pressure to perform up to their level without having the two vets to lean on?
Sinorice Moss: There’s going to be pressure, there is always going to be pressure period playing this game of football. No matter what situation you’re in there is going to be pressure – there’s pressure for you to do well and there’s pressure for you to win games. There’s going to be a lot of pressure on us, extremely a lot of pressure on us being young wide receivers because we don’t have those vets any more – we don’t have Plax, we don’t have Armani so they’re going to look at this team and say it’s going to be up to these guys at the receiver spot to make plays for this team.

It’s not going to be up to the quarterback, it’s not going to be up to the running backs, it’s not going to be up to the defense but it’s going be up to these wide receivers to step up and make plays, so there is going to be pressure on us. I feel like all we have to do is accept that, do what we have to do, work day in and day out, go out there and make football plays and prove people wrong because there are a lot of doubters out there and a lot of naysayers. That’s why we’re professionals, that’s why we practice every week, so with that said we have to take the challenge.

SC: Yeah, there was definitely an onus put on you guys last year after the Plax situation; everybody kind of put that burden on the receiving corps so we’re definitely looking forward to you guys showing-and-proving. In your estimate what do the 2009 New York Giants have to do to return to championship form?
Sinorice Moss: Just stay focus, stay on top of ourselves. We can’t worry about anybody else and what they’re saying and what their predictions are. We just have to focus on ourselves and better ourselves throughout the week and games. Just go out there and win football games – that’s what we have to do.

They don’t have a lot of respect for us as the New York Giants. They didn’t have respect for us when we won the Super Bowl, they didn’t have respect for us last year and I’m sure they’re not going to have respect for us this year. I like it because we can go out and prove everybody wrong. We can go out there and win football games every week so it’s just about us going out there and winning and proving everybody wrong.

SC: Before I change the page and talk about your music I have a question. Obviously you must dislike the Cowboys, Eagles, and Redskins immensely considering they are the Giants’ biggest rivals. Which team do you hate the most and why?
Sinorice Moss: Hate the most, I wouldn’t say that I hate a team – I just don’t think it’s that serious to hate a team. I mean a team that I really dislike and really want to defeat them because I know they really come with it and bring that challenge – our division as a whole is a very very tough division, we have the Cowboys, we have the Eagles, we have the Redskins – and I feel like the Eagles are a really good, established team that is going to come out each week and really put up some numbers and make it difficult, not only for ourselves, but for other teams to come out and flat out beat these guys. So I don’t hate the Eagles organization, I think it’s a great organization and team but that’s the team I dislike playing against and we have to play them twice. Seeing them once they pick up on things so playing them again that second time there are a lot of things they can key on and there are a lot of things we can key on about them but that’s the only team I feel like is a challenge for us.

SC: Alright, I know you have a strong passion for music, and you even sing a bit. Is it something you plan on doing professionally any time soon or in the future?
Sinorice Moss: Actually there are a lot of things that I’m doing outside of football and music is definitely a strong point. I grew up singing all day, all night and my best friend is an artist. We came together a couple years ago and started our own independent music label. We have two albums out right now that are on iTunes. His name is Jesse Boykins III, and I am executive producer of the albums. Right now we’re trying to get him out there and push him – he’s out there a lot traveling and performing with a lot of different people, really doing his thing.

SC: Your label is called NomaDic MuSic, correct? What other artists do you have on the label?
Sinorice Moss: We don’t have any other artists on the label right now. We’re an independent label so we’re starting off slow and learning as we go. We’re really trying to get [Jesse] out there first, and then maybe in the near future we can really start looking for other artists.

Right now we are focused on Jesse. He has two albums out right now; he has videos that are on BET J. A lot of people love his music, he has a nice neo-soul tone, and he’s out there doing a lot of great things.

SC: With that being said would you like to partner up with a major music label at any point and have larger distribution?
Sinorice Moss: I would love to. That would be something that I would love to do; collaborate with a major label and maybe do other things. I like to be more in the background working on producing – I mean I can hold a note but I don’t think it’s something I would truly want to do professionally. My passion is with football and that’s what I really want to do but football is going to open up a lot of doors for other things so if the opportunity is there then, hey I’m there to take it.

SC: So if you could produce a track for two artists whose music you enjoy who would they be?
Sinorice Moss: Well I’m more of an R&B guys, I’m not really big on rap but I do listen to it. But I would say John Legend and Brian McKnight. Those are two artists I listen to a lot, especially Brian McKnight – I’ve listened to him all my life. I’d say those two guys.

SC: Before I let you go, you’re pretty fast and I’ve seen your brother Santana toast the Giants before so I want to know who is faster you or Santana?
Sinorice Moss: That’s a question we’ve been asked all our lives and we’ve never raced. We probably will never race – it’s just something we don’t do.

Santana was a lot older than us. I remember when we were younger we used to run outside so we could line up yards and yards back and have me and my little brother be like that rabbit in the chase but we never lined up and raced each other. There really isn’t a point, he’s fast, I’m fast – there really isn’t a point for us to race against each other.

SC: Well I’m faster than my brothers. I don’t have your speed but I’m a little shifty for a fat guy. Last question, will the New York Giants hold up the Vince Lombardi Trophy at year’s end?
Sinorice Moss: That’s definitely the goal for us as an organization, as a team to have the opportunity to hold that trophy at the end of the year. It’s the definite goal for everybody. Right now that’s what we are working towards. That’s why we have off-season training, OTAs, all those different things during mini camp and training camp to work towards that goal. To progress and to do the things that we have to do to set us up to win another championship so that’s definitely the goal. It was a dream come true when we were in the Super Bowl. I would love to do it a second time.

SC: So no guarantees huh?
Sinorice Moss: There are definitely no guarantees in the game of football. It’s a week in and week out situation, you have to go out there and you have to fight. You never know, the best team doesn’t always come out on top. I know it’s a hard working game and the guys are working hard and teams are working hard to win that ultimate prize and that’s the Super Bowl, and that’s what we are working towards.

Interview courtesy of Scribe Culture

Adam Bernard: Everybody’s talking about how the Giants need a #1 wide receiver with Plaxico Burress gone. As one of the current crop of wideouts already on the team, does this irk you in any way?

Sinorice Moss: It gets under my skin a little bit because we did lose Plax, we did lose Amani (Toomer), but a lot of people look at it as though we don’t have anyone on the team that can contribute and step up and make plays. We have a lot of young guys that are on the team now and a lot of guys that are willing and very eager to step on the field and make some big plays for this team.

Adam Bernard: Burress’ arrest happening in the middle of the season obviously affected the team last year. How do you think the team’s play will change this season knowing going in you’ll be without him?

Sinorice Moss: That’s why we practice every day. That’s why we put in new players while we work on different things because we have a group of young guys that can be utilized in so many different ways so it’s good for our offensive coordinator and for the coaches to sit down with us and go through different things that we can use during the season so we can really shine the light on some of these guys.

Adam Bernard: Now, for the record, when you go clubbin do you do it WITHOUT firearms?

Sinorice Moss: Actually, I really don’t go to clubs much. I only attend clubs when I’m asked to, or I’m getting paid for an appearance, but I’m not a big club guy at all. I’d rather go to the movies.

Adam Bernard: The Giants have made some key acquisitions on defense this off-season, but haven’t really made a splash on offense. Do you think this is a silent vote of confidence in the O?

Sinorice Moss: Yeah, you could say that, that it was kind of a confidence of saying OK, we have guys here that we know can contribute. I guess the big question mark was the wide receivers. That was the big thing and that’s gonna be the big thing this whole year because we lost Plaxico and Amani, so everybody had their opinions of who we should bring in, who should play this role, should we grab this guy from this team. We don’t need that. For the past three years I was learning from the best, from two guys that have been in the NFL for a while, so it’s not that we necessarily need a veteran receiver to be on this team to show us the ropes or to motivate us, we had those guys there and it’s now our time to step up and make some plays.

Adam Bernard: Are you worried about the loss of some of the coaching staff?

Sinorice Moss: Nah, it really hasn’t been a problem from what I’ve seen so far. OTA’s (Organized Team Activities) went well. The defense is flying around, very exciting, making plays. The offense is doing the same thing.

Adam Bernard: And Osi (Umenyiora) is lookin healthy?

Sinorice Moss: Yes he is. He’s flying around competin with guys like always. Osi’s lookin real good.

Adam Bernard: Good, cuz the only time we got to see him last season was in those 5-Hour Energy commercials. It was very disappointing. That stuff’s no joke, though.

Sinorice Moss: {laughs} I’ve never tried it. I’m not a big supplement guy. I don’t really mess with that stuff.

Adam Bernard: Speaking of supplements, there’s a pretty big illegal one going around in sports today – steroids. In football it seems to matter a little less since the suspension for performance enhancing drugs is only four games and, in the case some people, you can still be an All-Pro the same season you’re caught. Why aren’t steroids taken as seriously in football as they are in baseball, or are they?

Sinorice Moss: I have no idea. I’m not really for steroids. I don’t know who does it or why they do it. It’s not a smart choice, but it’s out there, it definitely is.

Adam Bernard: OK, switching gears a bit, as a wide receiver making the big catch is obviously what you hope for, but when you see a guy like Hines Ward totally jack up a defensive player is that another, perhaps hidden, joy for everyone who plays the position?

Sinorice Moss: Yes. It’s good for us as wide receivers to also be aggressive, so watching Hines Ward and seeing how aggressive he is as a receiver and the shots that he takes on some of those guys, that’s pretty much letting them know “I’m not a pushover, you’re not gonna come in this game and just do whatever to me or knock me around, I play wide receiver, but you’re gonna respect me.” It’s more of a respect factor, so I really get excited when I see Hines Ward do things like that.

Adam Bernard: So can we expect to see you jack a few people up in the 2009 season?

Sinorice Moss: I’m not gonna cheap shot anybody, but if I have to go in and make a block I’m gonna do my job.

Adam Bernard: The New York press can be brutal. You would know this just as well as anyone as they’ve thrown the “underachiever” tag on you. How do you deal with the NY press and do you feel that “underachiever” tag is fair?

Sinorice Moss: They can call me whatever they want to call me, but you can’t label somebody as an underachiever just because he hasn’t been given the opportunity to do stuff on the field. Maybe I haven’t got a thousand yards yet and done all the things that people want me to do as a receiver, but that time hasn’t come yet. I’m working towards it. So I can be whatever they want to label me as, but I’m gonna continue to stay positive and continue to keep working hard. I have a big opportunity this year and I’m gonna go out there and make some plays.

Adam Bernard: What are your joys outside of football?

Sinorice Moss: I love movies. I sing a little bit. I love music. I’m an aspiring actor. I’m working on a lot of things outside of football and just really trying to be successful.

Adam Bernard: OK, one acting question – who would you want playing the romantic lead opposite you in a film?

Sinorice Moss: {whistles} There’s a lot of nice young women out there. Everybody’s choice would obviously be Halle Berry. You also have Nia Long, Gabrielle Union… I could sit here and name them forever.

You can read Adam Bernard’s blog here

Sinorice Moss (3:11 PM) – What’s up everybody? Let’s start!

Steven (NJ) – Who do you think will be the starters at WR now that we lost Toomer and Burres.

Sinorice Moss (3:12 PM) – Right now it’s open for anybody. We are competing as a group and they will make that decision at the end of training camp.

Josh W (NYC) – Hey Sinorice…what have you done differently this offseason to make sure you stay healthy throughout the season?

Sinorice Moss (3:13 PM) – I’ve been stretching a lot and I’ve taken up yoga which really helps.

Matt H (North Carolina) – How do you think Tar Heel Hakeem Nicks is going to help you and the Giants this year? Do you think by having him you can get more catches?

Sinorice Moss (3:14 PM) – He’s a young player so right now he is in the learning process. There are a bunch of things that he needs to learn before he’s able to make plays for this team.

Danny Bong (Queens, NY) – Can we see two 1,000yds rushers again this year?

Sinorice Moss (3:14 PM) – I think we can. We have a great group of running backs.

Larry (Montreal, Canada) – Who runs the fastest 40-time amongst NYG receivers?

Sinorice Moss (3:15 PM) – I’m not sure. All I know is that I run a 4.3 flat but I’m not sure about anybody else.

Danny Bong (Queens, NY) – Can we expect GREAT things from Eli?

Sinorice Moss (3:15 PM) – YES WE CAN! Eli is really looking good.

Will (NYC) – How’s the hammy? What are your personal goals for the coming season?

Sinorice Moss (3:16 PM) – The hammy is great. I want to stay consistent, healthy, and become the best that I can be for this team.

Mel (VT) – Is the U going to be back this year?

Sinorice Moss (3:17 PM) – They definitely are!

Sammy (Miami, FL) – Whose faster, your or Santana?

Sinorice Moss (3:17 PM) – We never race so we really don’t know who’s the fastest.

KJF (Queens,NY) – Will we see you returning kick off or punts?

Sinorice Moss (3:18 PM) – Yes, I did it a lot this offseason at OTA’s and mini camps.

Daniel (Virginia) – Hey Sinorice, do you try to beat out your brother every game against him?

Sinorice Moss (3:18 PM) – Of cousre! He’s only beat me once since I’ve been in the NFL.

David (Montville (NJ) – Hey Sinorice, I was wondering what your favorite route to run is. Personally I thought you were unguardable when you worked the ten yard come back.

Sinorice Moss (3:18 PM) – I like running the 10 yard comeback.

sergio (fort worth Tx) – Who do you think has the biggest opportunity to be this years deep threat in the Giants

Sinorice Moss (3:19 PM) – I feel like we all do. As a group we have a great opportunity to be deep threats.

New York Giants 24/7 (New York, New York) – You Twitter a lot. Will you be twittering on the sidelines this year?

Sinorice Moss (3:20 PM) – No, no way! That’s nothing that I would like to do anyway.

Marcos Miranda (Miami, FL) – What do you miss the most about playing at the “U”? good luck and rep the “U”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sinorice Moss (3:20 PM) – Playing in Orange Bowl Stadium.

Michael Umbria (Brooklyn, NY) – How are you liking the new Timex training facility?

Sinorice Moss (3:21 PM) – It’s beautiful and a great place to train.

Sean (Hackensack, NJ) – Is Ramses Barden as big as they say?

Sinorice Moss (3:22 PM) – Yes, he’s a big dude!

Danny Bong (NY) – Does Brandon Jacobs perfer his Hot Dog plain or with ketchup?

Sinorice Moss (3:23 PM) – (Laughing) I have no idea.

Tim (NYC) – Are the G-Men going back to the Super Bowl this year? Two out of three?

Sinorice Moss (3:23 PM) – That’s definitely the plan.

Michael Umbria (Brooklyn, NY) – How much if at all do you think Twitter will change sports? Love following you by the way

Sinorice Moss (3:24 PM) – I think it will change it as far as fans being able to interact with their favorite players. You can ask them questions whenever you what and they will answer you. It will bring the fans and players closer.

Danny Bong (NY) – Do you believe you will be in the rotation? Consistently?

Sinorice Moss (3:26 PM) – Yes I believe that I will be in the rotation this season.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama) – Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Sinorice Moss (3:26 PM) – Put my i-pod on shuffle and let it flow.

chauncey (teaneck) – what is your twitter account?

Sinorice Moss (3:27 PM) – @humble83 is my twitter account.

Eric (NJ) – How many sacks do you think Umenyiora and Tuck will get this year? That’s quite a duo of DEs

Sinorice Moss (3:30 PM) – JT had 12 1/2 last season by himself so with Osi back I think they will have at least 12 apiece if not more and with the help of Mathias Kiwanuka they could be unstoppable .

Jonathan (Conshohocken, PA) – Sinorice – did you or Santana make it back to the U to train this offseason? I know a lot of old U players do that

Sinorice Moss (3:31 PM) – Yes, I go back every year. That’s something all us University of Miami guys do every year.

Danny Bong (NY) – Who is your favorite player besides yourself on the team? the whole nfl?

Sinorice Moss (3:32 PM) – My favorite player in the league is Santana Moss. My favorite player on the Giants is Justin Tuck.

Sinorice Moss (3:33 PM) – Thanks everybody for the great questions. (in the NJ voice) Peace Out!

Moss, after three nondescript seasons, is hoping for a fourth and surely will get it if he performs like this. Twice in the morning he sprinted past the coverage for long completions and all of a sudden he was back in school at Miami, making plays, no longer a bystander saddled with the burden of unfulfilled expectations.

“I look at it as another year for me to go out here and show myself, show my teammates and show the world what I can do,” Moss said. “I have a lot of nay-sayers. People say I can’t do this, I can’t do that. I’ve been hearing that all my life. I’ve been hearing guys tell me I wasn’t going to make it to the NFL. I can’t worry what those guys say, but it does bother you, people telling you what you can’t do. You’re not me, so you can’t tell me what I can’t do.”

There’s been a whole lot of “what he can’t do” around Moss during his time with the Giants. He’s a 5-foot-8 target with speed, but in three years has only 38 catches, nothing longer than 27 yards. A thigh injury short-circuited much of his rookie year and ever since he’s spent more time watching than playing.

Even with the departures of Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, a line has formed in front of Moss. Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith are the replacement starters. Second-year player Mario Manningham and rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, barring injuries, are roster locks. That’s five spots filled at a position where keeping six is usually the norm. Despite the presence of veteran David Tyree, Moss is the favorite to hold on.

“His confidence has to be buoyed by what he has done this spring,” coach Tom Coughlin said.

That confidence was on display as the team gathered on the first day of a mandatory mini-camp. Moss got a step on cornerback Terrell Thomas, made a wonderful adjustment on a David Carr lob and completed an over-the-shoulder catch in stride for what would have been about a 40-yard gain.

A bit later, working in a 7-on-7 drill, Moss again clicked deep, this time with Eli Manning on the left sideline as he escaped solid coverage by cornerback Rashad Barksdale.

“It’s very exciting,” Moss said. “I had a positive attitude to go out there and make plays for this team and show these coaches why I’m here on this team.”

In the afternoon, Moss dove somewhat awkwardly for a reception and came up with a strained hamstring, bringing to mind the ever-present need for him to stay healthy if he wants to stick around.

It may not be that way in September, of course, but Sinorice Moss, the Giants’ forgotten, 5-foot-8, 185-pound receiver, has clearly been the breakout star of May and June. The former second-round pick (2006) has dazzled everyone the last few weeks with his blazing speed and spectacular catches.

It’s what Moss knew he was capable of doing all along.

“I feel like I can do so many things with the ball in my hands,” Moss said after the first practice of the Giants’ mandatory, three-day minicamp. “It’s just about me getting the opportunity to show that.”

That opportunity didn’t come often during Moss’ first three seasons in the NFL. Injuries ruined his rookie year, and then inconsistency in practice kept him buried on the depth chart. He was so far down that offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride thought last year was Moss’ best, by far. Yet he caught only 12 passes for 153 yards and was inactive for six games.
While many wrote Moss off, his coaches didn’t. They loved his attitude, his passion and the fact that despite a tough situation he kept working and never complained.

“It was never for me to come in and pout, complain, argue, or be mad at my coaches,” said Moss, who strained a hamstring late in yesterday’s second practice, but seemed fine as he walked off the field. “Things happen for a reason. That’s how I look at it. But I continued each and every day to go out there and perform, and I showed these coaches why they drafted me, why they had me on the field, and why I’m here.”

The reason Moss is here is his speed, which he flashed twice yesterday, burning cornerbacks downfield to make spectacular, over-the-shoulder catches. “He’s gotten behind the secondary a few times this spring,” said Tom Coughlin. “And he has obviously created some excitement on our part in watching him do that.”

If Moss can continue to do that all summer long, there’s a huge opportunity waiting for him in September. Burress and Amani Toomer are gone, and the race for the starting receiver jobs is wide open. Moss, 25, has already been anointed the No. 3 receiver by Gilbride. But he’s been performing like a No. 1, which will come as a huge surprise to a lot of his doubters.

“I have a lot of naysayers,” Moss said. “People say I can’t do this, I can’t do that. I’ve been hearing that all my life. It does bother you when people tell me what I can’t do. That’s why when I step out on the field every day I have that attitude of just making plays so my coaches can know ‘Hey, when it’s time to play in the game, give this guy the ball.’”