EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 22 — "Don't play the game like Randy Moss is inhuman — don't play scared," was Ralph Brown's advice to himself on Wednesday as he contemplated his first meeting with perhaps the most dangerous wide receiver in football.
Brown is the Giants second-stringer who has become the starting right cornerback because of the back injury to Will Peterson. Brown would normally be positioned on the opposite side of the field from Moss, who leads the National Football League with 666 receiving yards and is averaging 17.1 yards a catch. But Brown said he knows he will figure in Moss's plans on Sunday, when the Giants (2-4) visit the Minnesota Vikings (6-0).
For Brown has had only three pro starts in a career that began in 2000, his third one coming last week.
"The Eagles were trying to make the big play on me last Sunday," he said of his first start of the season. "I expected that last week. I expect it this week. They'll even have Moss come at me until I prove myself week in and week out."
The 5-foot-10 Brown will give six inches to Moss, who almost always is taller than those defending him.
"But if you notice, he doesn't catch the ball with his arms extended," Brown said. "He jumps up with his chest, which he uses to catch the ball. So he doesn't necessarily have that reach advantage."
Brown's strategy will be to jump with Moss. Many defenders are reluctant to do that, worried that if they go up too soon, Moss will come down with the ball when the defender has committed himself and is out of position to snare him.
"Don't be afraid of him," Brown said. "Don't be afraid to jump for the ball. You've got to be physical with him."
The Giants have made only three interceptions this season, and 27 teams have had more. Brown has one of those interceptions, against the Cowboys in Game 2. "I disguised what I was doing," he said. "It looked like man-to-man but we were playing zone. They threw toward Joey Galloway and didn't know where I was. I picked it up."
Moss is a game-breaking performer and has a good quarterback in Daunte Culpepper, who is averaging 8.33 yards per pass attempt. Culpepper not been intercepted in 95 passes and has thrown for seven touchdowns, six of them to Moss.
Brown has not started two straight games since his college years at Nebraska, but he is looking forward to Sunday.
"Facing great players," he said, "gives you a chance to improve yourself and make a name for yourself."
EXTRA POINTS
The Giants handed out earplugs to coaches and some of the spectators in their practice bubble on Wednesday. The noise over the speakers was almost intolerable as the Giants attempted to simulate the crowd noise they will hear Sunday in the Metrodome. . . . Tight end JEREMY SHOCKEY engaged in noncontact drills. Coach JIM FASSEL expects him to play Sunday despite a foot injury.
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