EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Just when Sinorice Moss was giving indications that he can be the receiver to replace Plaxico Burress as the New York Giants' deep threat, he felt a little twinge in his hamstring.
As he lay on the ground, Moss spiked the ball in disgust.
That was late in Tuesday afternoon's second workout at the mandatory minicamp. All Moss could do on Wednesday was stand on the sidelines and watch his teammates work. He will not participate in the final two days of the minicamp.
It was far from surprising for the receiver who is entering his fourth season. He has done little in his first three years, and now a setback just as his star appeared to be on the rise.
"I was frustrated because I have been working hard all month," Moss said Wednesday. "When I felt something in my leg, I got angry and upset. Maybe I just need to rest my legs. I don't know. I am just trying to stay positive about the situation and go out here and help my teammates."
Moss insists the injury is not serious and that he will be ready for training camp in August.
"It's unfortunate it's going to keep him out," coach Tom Coughlin said. "He was getting a lot of snaps and he was doing something with them."
The 25-year-old Moss had a spectacular morning session on Tuesday, getting behind the defense to haul in two long passes.
In his first three seasons, the former second-round draft pick had 38 catches for 403 yards and two touchdowns in 29 games. He was limited to six games in an injury-plagued rookie year and never seemed to get in the receiving rotation, making him wonder whether he would ever make it with the Giants.
"Things really sometimes didn't go my way. But I stayed at it," Moss said. "I came to practice with that same attitude. I always ran fast, I always listened to the coaches. I always did what they asked me to do, never complained. And whenever I had my opportunities in a game I stepped up and made plays. So there is no reason for me to be mad at the coaches or look down on myself. But when I am given the opportunity to go out and make the plays, I go out and do that."
Even with the release of Burress in April and the Giants' decision not to re-sign veteran Amani Toomer, Moss said he never looked at the 2009 season as a make-or-break one for him.
"I have a lot of naysayers, people say I can't do this, I can't do that," said Moss, whose brother Santana plays with the Redskins. "I have been hearing that all of my life. I have been hearing (you're) not going to make it to the NFL."
The feeling has left Moss with a chip on his shoulder. When the Giants looked ahead to this season, most people expected that Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon would be the logical contenders for the spots held by Burress and Toomer, followed by rookie draft picks Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden.
"I can't worry about what those guys say, but it does bother you when people tell me what you can't do," Moss said. "You are not me, so you can't tell me what I can't do. So that is why I step out on this field every day and I have the attitude of going out there and just making plays and helping this team. So my coaches can know, hey, when it is time to play in the game, 'Hey, give this guy the ball.'"
