Giants' Ross listed as doubtful but wants to play

Cornerback Aaron Ross has moved way past the wishing- and-hoping stage when it comes to the game-time decision the Giants' coaches and trainers must make on his playing status for Sunday's opener against Carolina.

"I'm praying I can play," Ross said after participating in the Giants' full practice Friday.

But the official injury report still lists Ross as doubtful with a painful case of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Coming on the heels of the hamstring injury that prevented him from playing in all but four games last season, Ross naturally is anxious to get back on the field. Some might say it's better to err on the side of caution and take an extra week to get ready, but Ross has a different view.

"I've never been a cautious guy,'' he said with a smile. "I missed all of last year, so I'm really anxious to play. I love the game, and I'm willing to play with a little pain as long as it doesn't hurt the team.''

The problem with Ross' injury is that it involves a lot of pain. Quarterback Eli Manning managed to play with a similar injury last year, but the demands on the foot of a cornerback are much more difficult with all the stops, starts, cutting and high-speed running.

"In the beginning, it was really difficult,'' Ross said. "I couldn't put my heel down, I couldn't plant. But this week, I've been doing a lot day by day - 50 percent the first practice, 75 percent the second and the whole practice [Friday]. I felt really good. I still have two more days, so don't count me out . . . I went through everything in practice. It's not sore.''

The Giants aren't sure what caused the injury. Ross had problems with his tape job on the foot in the second quarter of the second preseason game against Pittsburgh. When he cut the tape off, he realized his heel hurt.

After his physical struggles last season, his latest injury was a real downer, but Ross said: "It's nothing compared to the hamstring. With the hamstring, I was sitting and pouting the whole time. At least I can practice.''

Other than Ross, things look good for the Giants on the injury front. Only rookie linebacker Phillip Dillard (hamstring) is listed as out, and Corey Webster (groin), the other starting cornerback, pronounced himself "100 percent.''

With the Giants coming off an 8-8 season that led to the hiring of new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and facing a Carolina team that trounced them, 41-9, in their final appearance at Giants Stadium, there's plenty of emotion for the opener.

"I think everybody is flying around to the ball, and we're doing a great job of running to tipped balls and getting our hands on balls,'' Webster said. "Coach [Fewell] preaches, 'Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.' We've done a good job in practice trying to make those into great habits. Hopefully, when the season starts, we're going to be excited and get back to playing defense like Big Blue used to.''