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Ross continued to practice at full speed Thursday, his third practice since returning to action. While the coaching staff has not made any determination about Ross' playing status or whether he will be in the starting lineup, Ross just wants to be playing again.

“I'm happy to be out there and I feel real good,” said Ross, the third-year defensive back out of Texas. “I'm very excited. Whatever the coaches want me to do, I'm ready. I have about three months saved up in me, so I'm ready.

“The plan is that if I'm healthy all the way to Sunday, then I'll be out there and playing,” Ross said.

Coach Tom Coughlin said he's being a little cautious with Ross.

“We are just going to go and watch him practice, let him put a few practices together,” Coughlin said, adding that Ross did “about less than half” of the regular practice regimen.

Ross made his return to the practice field for one day during the bye week and then began practicing regularly and at full speed in preparation for facing the Falcons.

“Last Wednesday, I felt really rusty,” Ross said. “Monday, I felt pretty good and now I feel really good. I have no idea where and when I'm going to play and how they're going to work me in. But if they call No. 31 [Ross' jersey number], then I'm going to be ready.”

Ross said the training staff worked hard to get him back into playing shape.

“The trainers did a great job of holding me back,” Ross said. “Before I could go out there again, I had to strengthen my legs.”

He also went to see a trainer from Switzerland who has helped his fiancee, world-class sprinter Sanya Richards, in the past. Richards is currently the No. 1-ranked runner in the world in the 400-meter dash.

“I don't know his name or how to spell it, but it's probably the reason why I'm doing better now,” Ross said. “It's really helped.”

More than likely, the Giants will stay with Terrell Thomas and Corey Webster starting at cornerback, with Ross perhaps getting chances in nickel and dime formations. But after missing so much time with what was first diagnosed as a hamstring strain that was day to day since training camp, Ross is chomping to be back out there playing.

“I'm rested and my legs are strengthened,” said Ross, who was jumping up and down in the locker room to prove he was healthy. “It's really been an emotional roller coaster. I worked hard in the offseason to get ready for training camp and then I get hurt to start off. I never would have thought it would hold me out for three months. It's been extremely frustrating.

“But now, I know I'm back. I don't want to think about it. I don't want to think I have any limitations. I just want to play,” he said.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

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The pressure is never greater than it is for New York sports. Whether you play for the Knicks, the Giants, the Yankees, or any of the other professional sports franchises in the Big Apple, the pressure to win and be successful is on. Being good is not enough; it's about championships and looking good.

With the Rangers, they took some big strides last season in getting back to the playoffs and getting to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But in the land of New York, that is simply not enough. The Rangers need to win; so a big spending offseason ensued. Where do the Rangers sit now? Are they at the cusp of a championship or have they once again thrown around money in futile efforts to improve this team?

New York Rangers
2006 Record (W-L-OTL-PTS): 42-30-10-94; 3rd in Atlantic Division
2006 Postseason (if applicable): Lost in Eastern Conf. Semis (4-2 to Buffalo)
Coach Name (record w/team): Tom Renney; 91-71-0 (22 ties; .561)
Key Additions: C Chris Drury (Buffalo); C Scott Gomez (New Jersey); D Andrew Hutchinson
Key Subtractions: G Kevin Weekes (New Jersey); C Michael Nylander (Washington); C Matt Cullen (Carolina)

Offense: The team brought in some names I am sure you've heard of before if you are a big NHL fan: Scott Gomez from division rival New Jersey and Chris Drury from Buffalo. With the addition of those two players, the offensive burden shifts a bit to their shoulders. The Rangers did watch Michael Nylander leave for Washington, so the tandem of Nylander and Jaromir Jagr is no more in Madison Square Garden.

Can either one of these guys, Drury or Gomez, jump in and establish a chemistry with Jagr and help get him the puck? Even with this question mark, there is plenty for the Rangers to be excited about on offense. With either Drury or Gomez, the other offensive players on the team will see immediate results in increased scoring chances and ability to make plays.

Veterans like Brendan Shanahan, Petr Prucha, and Martin Straka will all benefit from the addition of these players. Shanahan was especially effective on offense for the special teams and the new centers could be a boon to him in regular situations. The Rangers have enough talent to throw two legitimate top lines at you and a third line that could be a top line for some of the other teams in the NHL. From the blue line the Rangers have some playmakers but the scoring goals will be difficult from the back line.

Michal Rozsival had 30 assists last season; other defenders like Marek Malik could get some opportunities to see increases with their point production. Teams will have to account for everyone pushing forward and the opportunities for the defenders to make plays will open up. The team should have the ability to put goals on the board in bunches.
Grade: A

Defense: This defense lacks a real top defender to lean on and eat up ice time. Instead, the Rangers will rely on getting the pairings shuffling on and off the ice and finding the right rotation to keep their defenders fresh and working hard. Their top guy is Michal Rozsival; he led the defenders in ice time a season ago and will more than likely do so again. He's able to give the Rangers production offensively while playing solid in front of their net. There will be a platoon of guys coming in to try and eat up ice time and provide bodies in front of opposing attacks.

Names like Marek Malik and Paul Mara will see their fair share of ice time for the Rangers alongside Rozsival. Then the team wants to see the successful recovery of young defender Fedor Tyutin. He is considered to be one of the defenders that the Rangers could lean on in the future and his recovery from injury could prove to be pivotal to his status with the team.
Grade: B+

Goaltending: After having a slow start last season, second-year netminder Henrik Lundqvist showed the talent and ability that everyone seemed to lean on during his first season with the club. There is still a bit of inconsistency, but with the added offensive prowess that the Rangers have should take some of the pressure off Lundqvist. There is no competition behind him, which could be considered a bad thing if something happens to him or he needs rest, but the Rangers are fairly comfortable in putting all of their eggs in one basket. For the second consecutive season, Lundquist was a Vezina candidate and nothing should stop him from having another solid season.
Grade: A

Coaching: Tom Renney has been the coach of the Rangers since 2004 and he has steadily brought this team back to the cusp of the contention in the Eastern Conference. With the people that he has around him and the talent that the franchise has provided him, Renney's biggest problem was getting enough time for everyone on the team and making the right combinations. He struck gold with Michael Nylander and Jaromir Jagr, but Nylander is now gone and Renney will need to find a new catalyst to add to Jagr to keep him optimally productive. Renney will also need to get the defensive unit playing well in front of Lundquist because the offense should provide ample goal support for the team.
Grade: B+

Bold Predictions
Points/Conference Standing: 95 – 110 pts; top of Eastern Conference (1st – 4th in conference)
Team MVP: Henrik Lundqvist
Prediction Notes: This is the year that the Rangers and the Devils go down to the wire; they seem to be close in terms of talent, and the edge on offense will probably be with the Rangers. The offense will have the opportunity to put big numbers up on most of the teams in the Eastern Conference and their goaltending is top-notch with Lundqvist. The biggest question mark is the defense and if they can be solid enough to stop the onslaught of other teams. They should be among the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

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Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

Some games on the NHL schedule hardly register a blip, and then there are games like Thursday nights tilt between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins, an instant classic.

The Flyers and Bruins share a rich history, one that has seen these two teams play more than 165 games; each one of them, memorable in their own way.

Thursday night's game served as a preview to the NHL’s Winter Classic that will see the Flyers and Bruins go at it at Boston's Fenway Park. Coming into the game, the Bruins had several injuries that they would have to overcome, including the loss of Marc Savard and Milan Lucic, two of the Bruins biggest contributors.

The Flyers came out quickly in this match, establishing their physical game early and getting out to a 1-0 lead at the 12:03 mark of the first period, when a a booming slap shot from Chris Pronger beat Bruins starting goaltender Tukka Rask.

Not to be outdone, the Bruins earned themselves a power play opportunity and did not disappoint their loyal fans, as Bruins defenseman Derek Morris beat Flyers goaltender Ray Emery with a great slap shot of his own, tying the game 1-1 at the 17:26 mark.

The Bruins were lucky to escape the first period tied at ones. The Flyers dominated the Bruins by registering 12 shots to the Bruins six and, for the most part, took their game to the Bruins. Fortunately for the Bruins, Rask was excellent in net and would be for the entire game.

The second period saw the Bruins come out hitting. They were rewarded for their efforts when the Bruins Matt Hunwick tipped a shot past Emery for his third goal of the season. Advantage Bruins, but how long would it last?

As it turns out, not very long. Surrendering the lead caused the Flyers to wake up. They took a page out of the Bruins early second period success, started hitting everything that moved and, at 8:41 of the second period, the Flyers were rewarded with a goal from little known Darroll Powe, his second of the year, a beauty of a wrist shot.

The Flyers continued to bring the pain, coincidently resulting in tough-guy Arron Asham burying a slap shot past Rask at 13:06 of the second period, for his second goal of the year.

To their credit, the Bruins fought back and were rewarded for their hard work with what would amount to the tying goal at 16:26 of the second period, a wrist shot off the stick of Steve Begin, which eluded Emery.

The Flyers dominated the shot clock in the second, but, once again, were stymied by the Bruins starting goaltender Tukka Rask for the second straight period. The Flyers had outworked and out shot the Bruins through two and all they had to show for it was a 3-3 tie—not what they were hoping for.

With all the momentum seemingly on the Bruins side, the Flyers opened the third period with a couple of big hits from Daniel Carcillo and Braydon Coburn. The Flyers and Bruins continued to exchange scoring chances and hits alike. It was a hard fought period, one in which both teams were giving their all.

The Bruins earned a final chance at the full comeback when Flyers forward Simon Gagne took a hooking penalty on the Bruins Patrice Bergeron at 18:23 of the third period. The resulting power play saw Bruins forward Marco Strum get a decent shot on Ray Emery, but the Flyers were able to hang tough and even had a shorthanded chance when Jeff Carter broke in on a shorthanded breakaway. But it was not to be, as Rask made a huge save to preserve the tie.

Once again, the Flyers outshot the Bruins by a 10-8 margin, but the Bruins played a good third period and deserved to be in overtime with the Flyers.

Overtime would solve nothing, so the teams would have to go to the shoot out to determine a winner.

The Flyers sent out Danny Briere, Mike Richards, and Claude Giroux. The Bruins sent out Blake Wheeler, Patrice Bergeron, and Michael Ryder. The only player to score in the shoot out on this night would be Claude Giroux and, on this night, he became a hero to his teammates and the Flyers fans alike.

Some numbers to note. Flyers defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen had two assists on the night earning him first star honors, while Bruins defensemen Andrew Ferrence and Mark Stuart each netted a minus three rating on the night.

Going forward, the Flyers now sit at 4-2-1 on the season and face the Florida Panthers, a team that beat the Flyers by a score of 4-2 in their last meeting, at home on Saturday night. For the Bruins, they now sit at 4-4-1 on the season and face an energized Ottawa Senators team on Saturday night in Ottawa.

It may not be winter and the game was played indoors, but, for the most part, this was another in a long line of classic tilts between the Flyers and Bruins. Let’s hope the Winter Classic is just as entertaining.

Until next time,

Peace!

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It's been a decade since I first started watching the Indianapolis Colts play football. I started watching just one year after Peyton Manning took the now franchise record breaking position of quarterback. When I first started watching the Colts I immediately became obsessed with the way they played under Peyton's control. Sundays have always been entertaining since I began watching the Indianapolis spectacle. Week in and week out the Colts' story has been like a soap opera, a fight on the road to the Super Bowl, and until their Super Bowl appearance every season was a nail biter. Now that Manning and the Colts have achieved the ultimate goal, what comes next?

Well, with Peyton being the sure fire Hall of Famer that he already is, things should get even more exciting. The 2009 season seems to have a different feel to it. Two up and coming rookies in Austin Collie and Donald Brown seem to be causing a ruckus for Colts fans everywhere. I know I have noticed the talent these two rookies have shown.

Austin Collie has been strong thus far in the season, showing his sure hands and great runs after the catch.

When the ball has been in Donald Brown's hands we have all witnessed the long runs he can break off, if given the opportunity.

2009 almost undoubtedly proves to be a great season for the Colts, but what astonishes me more is the efficiency of the Indianapolis defense this year. With the exception of the Miami game, the Colts have looked stellar on the defensive side of the ball this year. Freeney and Mathis are juggernauts once again and seem to be playing a game this year; Who Can Get To The QB First, not a game Indy fans mind watching.

First year head coach Jim Caldwell has taken the reigns from the elite former head coach Tony Dungy and seems to have given the Colts a new spark; a much needed spark. Every aspect of the 2009 Colts seem to be in perfect order, running like a well oil machine.

2009, in my opinion, is going to be a stunning year for the Colts. Already off to a 6-0 start and being past that pesky bye-week things only look brighter for the Colts.

As I mentioned the two rookies have been great difference makers, but let us not forget that Reggie Wayne lines up on that field as well. What a powerhouse this team has become, surely to be talked about one day along with the 80's and 90's Cowboys and 49ers.

Even though the Colts once walked in the shadows of the New England Patriots, times have changed and the Colts look stronger than ever. I cannot wait for the Pats and Colts game this year, sure to be a nail biter. I predict the Colts will prevail and show the world that they mean business in 2009.

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Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner dismissed Browns general manager George Kokinis on Monday after the Browns were embarrassed by the Bears on Sunday. Whether or not that was the correct decision is irrelevant at this point as Kokinis has already been shown the door. The Browns and the most loyal/punished fans in the NFL must now look ahead to what's going to be another rough couple of years. There are some steps the Cleveland Browns can take in order to hopefully begin a new era. Here are the things I would do as Browns GM/head coach before Cleveland faces Baltimore on November 12.

Step 1 for the Cleveland Browns: Cut Derek Anderson

Here's the deal with the quarterback situation in Cleveland. Neither Anderson nor Brady Quinn is going to be a decent NFL QB when both guys know his replacement is just waiting for him to screw up. The Browns must commit to one of these quarterbacks. Derek Anderson has had more than enough chances as the Browns quarterback. In these chances, he's throw worm burners on screen passes, missed wide open receivers and dropped about a dozen snaps.

By cutting Anderson, the Browns can do what they should have done in September. Cleveland head coach Eric Mangini can sit Quinn down and tell Brady that he is Cleveland's guy, thus taking the pressure off of Quinn. Quinn throws an interception? No big thing. They can look at the tape and see how Quinn can improve. Taking the pressure off of Quinn and reminding Quinn that he has no offensive line, elite wide out or running game will allow Quinn to learn on the field without having to worry about losing his job to the horrible Derek Anderson.

Step 2 for the Cleveland Browns: Pay Josh Cribbs

Wide receiver/one of the best kick returners in the NFL Josh Cribbs has been lobbying for more money from the Cleveland Browns since the offseason. Normally, I'm not a football fan that wants to overpay for a guy who can't run a route or be anything other than a third down wide receiver (thus far in his career). In 2009, though, Cribbs has been the only offensive weapon the Browns have. He's also one of the most popular guy on the team. If nothing else, pay Josh Cribbs for the fans. Besides, with Cribbs on the team, you can…

Step 3 for the Cleveland Browns: Give Cribbs the Football

I like seeing the Browns use Cribbs in the Wildcat/option offense formation. The biggest problem is that the Browns run the same play each time Cribbs goes into the shotgun. QB draw after QB draw. That's it. If Cribbs actually handed the ball off twice in a row, opposing defenses would have to play against the hand off, opening up some holes up front. This would also create possibilities for Cribbs, the former college quarterback, to throw the football.

Step 4 for the Cleveland Browns: Play the Young Guys

This one is quite simple. If a player isn't in the long term plans for the Browns, he shouldn't be starting. Wide out Mike Furrey has a few years left in him so I have no problem with him on the field. I just want to see more Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi, Chansi Stuckey and Jerome Harrison. Jamal Lewis? Hank Fraley? Not so much. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Browns must now treat the 2009 regular season like a very long preseason. See which players will make the 2010 roster and which ones will be gone. I don't care if the Browns have to bring up a dozen guys from the practice squad. Play the youth, Cleveland, and play them now. Cleveland Browns fans have long ago realized that this season is a lost cause. The sooner the Browns accept this fact (if they haven't already), the sooner the organization can attempt to build a respectable football team.

None of these things are going to make a winner in Cleveland in 2009. Giving up on this season is the first step to making the next ten years for the new Cleveland Browns better than the first decade.

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