Rookie Giants CB turns from goat to hero vs. Jets

08.10.2007 15:00 Sport and Travel - Source: USA Today

"I wouldn't say I was out of the game," Ross said. "I just wasn't in the game, on the field."

He was trying to say that he stayed involved mentally before he made a spectacular return with two fourth-quarter interceptions, including a 43-yard return for a touchdown with 3:15 left that sealed the Giants' come-from-behind 35-24 decision against their intracity rivals.

BOX SCORE: Giants 35, Jets 24

"That's one of the reasons coach and the whole organization drafted me, to make plays," said Ross, a first-round draft choice. "And I have to stand up to my end of the bargain."

Giants coach Tom Coughlin declined to specify why the former Texas star was disciplined.

"Aaron violated a team rule. That is between he and I," Coughlin said. "It was my call, and that is all I have to say about that."

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Coughlin defended his action by adding, "Down the road, that will be the best thing that will have happened for Aaron. He will learn from that, and he will go forward."

Veteran cornerback Sam Madison appeared to shed some light on the matter when he said, "We've just got to get him where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be there."

Ross was very much where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there in sparking the 3-2 Giants' third consecutive victory. With the Jets leading 24-21 and pressing for more with a first-and-10 opportunity at the Giants' 23-yard line, he made a momentum-shifting pickoff at the 2 as Chad Pennington tried to hit Jerricho Cotchery down the right side.

The Giants capitalized for the go-ahead touchdown with an eight-play, 98-yard drive that ended with Eli Manning's pass in the left flat to Plaxico Burress. The speedy wideout turned it into a 53-yard catch and scoring dash.

Ross, who won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top collegiate defensive back as a Texas senior, is already learning the value of extensive film study. He said that allowed him to jump the route when Pennington, who suffered three interceptions in all, looked for Cotchery on second-and-five at his 39.

"Once I saw the formation and the receiver run an out route," he said, "I was able to break on it."

He raced untouched down the left side and extended his arms once he reached the end zone in what he calls his "Superman" pose.

Pennington faulted himself for throwing behind Cotchery on his last turnover.

He also said, "A lot of times people get on defensive backs, saying the reason they aren't receivers is because they can't catch. These guys that we played (Sunday) have really good hands.

"Anytime you have a defensive back who can catch the football and not just knock it down, that is a game-changing player and a game-changing play."

Ross has endeared himself to Giants veterans with his production and energy.

"I love him to death," Madison said. "I wouldn't trade him for the world."

As for the discipline that was administered, it might have had the desired effect.

"Lesson learned," Ross said. "It will never happen again."

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