UpdatedAug 24, 2011 7:38 PM ETEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)While New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross won't admit there isa chip Youth New England Patriots Jerseys on his shoulder, it's there.Ross came to training camp as the somewhat forgotten man amongthe cornerbacks.Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas were the returning starters andgeneral manager Jerry Reese didn't hesitate to take PrinceAmukamara in the first round when the Nebraska cornerback wasavailable with the 19th pick overall.It left Ross in no man's land. The Giants' first-round pick in2007 was down on the depth chart and fighting the stigma of beinginjury-prone the past two seasons. He missed a good part of 2009with hamstring issues and battled a painful foot injury most oflast season.Three weeks into training camp, though, Ross is no longer anafterthought.
UpdatedAug 24, 2011 7:32 PM ETEDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)Marcus Sherels is listed at 5-foot-10 on the Minnesota Vikingsroster. He's probably closer to 5-8. On his tiptoes.He didn't start playing cornerback until halfway through hiscollege career and played on one of the worst defenses in thenation as a senior at the University of Minnesota.So his resume didn't exactly scream ''NFL prospect'' when heshowed up for a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings, alongside dozensof other hopefuls and wannabes about a year and a half ago.But every time Sherels seems ready to be counted out, he finds away to make it impossible for the Vikings to let him go.In a defensive backfield full of question marks, Sherels hasbeen making enough plays this preseason to make the coaches forgetabout his mistakes and give him serious consideration for a spot onthe 53-man roster.''He Men New England Patriots Jerseys seems to be one of those guys,'' defensive backs coach JoeWoods said of Sherels' knack for being around the ball. ''Everycouple of years I'll get a guy like that and right now he's thatguy.''With so many players to evaluate in such Patriots Jersey Womens a short period of time,one little mistake can be the difference between making the teamand getting cut. Sherels dug himself a hole on Saturday night inSeattle when he lost a fumble on a punt return in the first half,earning him an earful from special teams coordinator MikePriefer.''The great thing about him, he came off the sideline and I wastalking to him, he was looking me in the eye,'' Priefer said. ''Hedidn't put his head down and feel sorry for himself. He knew hemade a mistake and I was giving him a friendly reminder of what heneeded to do, not to do that again.''It didn't take Sherels long to get back into everyone's goodgraces. On the very next series, he intercepted a pass and raced 64yards for a touchdown in the 20-7 victory, a play that stands asthe Vikings only touchdown in two preseason games so far.''You have to come prepared like you're going to be on the 53,day-in and day-out,'' Sherels said.That he is even in position to think about making the roster ofan NFL team is an accomplishment in itself. Sherels came to theGolden Gophers from Rochester, Minn., as a receiver and spent hisfirst two seasons at the position. The coaching staff then askedhim to make the drastic move of switching to defense.''I was a little skeptical at first,'' Sherels said. ''But itwas a natural adjustment. Patriots Jersey I figured out that I like cornerback alot better than receiver.''The Gophers were one of the worst teams in the country duringSherels' final two years in maroon and gold, so it was no surprisethat an undersized cornerback who had only been playing theposition for two years went undrafted in 2010.Like his brother Mike, who played linebacker for the Gophers,Marcus got an offer to tryout with Kids New England Patriots Jerseys the Vikings. He did enough toimpress the coaches that he earned a roster spot for training campbefore spending most of last season on the practice squad.With a year of practice, and watching fellow small guy AntoineWinfield excel in a big man's game, Sherels has been even moreimpressive this year with his ball skills, timing and knowledge ofthe defense.''He doesn't talk at all. I've probably heard him talk openly ina meeting a hand full of times,'' Woods said. ''But he's alwaysinto it. We give those guys tests, just in terms of ourinformation, coverage-wise, offensive ID. He scores higher thaneverybody. He just studies it.''Coach Leslie Frazier said Sherels showed up for training campwith an extra 10 pounds of muscle to help him battle the receiversthat dwarf Womens New England Patriots Jerseys him across the line of scrimmage. The quiet kid has alsobeen carrying himself with a little more swagger.''A combination of the two has probably contributed to the wayhe's playing,'' Frazier said. ''He's performing well for us andlooking forward to see how he does in these next two ball games,but he's really done a good job.''With Cedric Griffin and Chris Cook both coming off of kneeinjuries and Asher Allen missing a lot of time in the preseasonwith a toe injury, the opportunity is there for Sherels. Hisability to return punts - and hold on to the ball - may be thedifference in him making Patriots Jersey Youth the team or not.''It was disappointing what happened to him last week but Istill have a lot of faith in what he can accomplish for us,''Priefer said. ''Hopefully, he'll do well with hisopportunities.''NOTES: The Vikings waived WR Dominique Johnson and signed LBKyle O'Donnell, a rookie from Liberty to help add depth at theposition. LBs Kenny Onatolu, Heath Farwell and Jasper Brinkley haveall missed time with injuries early in the preseason.---Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter:/APkrawczynski.
NFL New England Patriots Jerseys