**
Head Coach Tom CoughlinQ: What have you seen from Brandon Mosley?**
A: He's worked hard. He's a hard working young kid. He's nice and thick, O-line type and hopefully he'll play well.
Q: JPP not playing this week, is he probably not going to play next week either?
A: The doctor won't clear him unless certain things happen and so far, they haven't.
Q: Obviously we talked to you before we got the official word on Cruz, your thoughts on that?
A: Very unfortunate. Victor was having a good year. It would have been great to have him for these last two games. We're very confident that the swiftness with which the procedure was done should give him an outstanding opportunity in the offseason to be stronger than ever.
Q: Is this a good opportunity for Rueben Randle?
A: It's a good opportunity for a lot of guys. (Julian) Talley's got a chance. He'll contribute. Yeah, it's a good opportunity. That's the only way to look at it, too. Be positive about it. I'm sure if Victor was right here with us, he'd tell you the same thing. Go get them. Get those other guys and let them play.
Q: What have you seen from Michael Cox this week with the increased reps?
A: Same kind of guy, works very hard. He's a serious minded kid, so he'll be ready to go. He's got good energy and good endurance.
Q: Contract year or not for Hakeem Nicks, is it important for him to…
A: It's important for everybody, every game. Every game is important, regardless of what the status is or their circumstance. Every game is an important game in this league.
Q: Do you think the young guys realize that even though you're not in playoff contention that this is going on film?
A: They certainly are aware of it. We've talked about it.
Q: With the injuries, do you have to make an extra effort to make sure these guys stay positive?
A: We have some good people in place, good character guys who are very focused and want to do well very badly. I think they help with the younger guys. The coaches are very cognizant and aware of where the players are mentally and if a guy needs a little boost or kick in the rear end, then they are ready to do that.
Q: With David Diehl right now, is the issue flexibility?
A: Right now he is just not able to go out there and practice the way that we would like him to. We'll see. Maybe another day will help. We thought today would be a day he would be able to do some work and he actually came out and did some things, but we just didn't put him in our practice. **
FB John Conner **
Basically I've just got to make sure I'm on my assignments and make my blocks and sustain my blocks. They've got guys that can move around and I've just got to be flexible and just get out to my blocks and help the running back get loose.
Q: With the two defensive tackles, what is the biggest problem they pose? Is it their size, their strength, their speed, their knowledge, their technique? What is it?
A: Everything. They've got great size, great strength, you see them pushing guys back on film and getting in the backfield, just causing problems. We've just got to stop that and get our jobs done.
Q: How difficult is it knowing that the backfield is already thin? Obviously no Brandon Jacobs for a while, now no Peyton Hillis. It's going to be a long day for you guys. You guys are going to have to put in marathon work.
A: Yeah, it's definitely going to be tough but that's what we're here for. We've just got to execute. We've been dealt a tough… but we've just got to get through it as a team and fight through.
Q: How ready are you to carry the ball?
A: I'd be happy for that. I wouldn't mind that too much.
Q: Do you expect to get any extra time in the backfield? Solo even?
A: I don't know, I don't know yet. Honestly, I'm just playing fullback right now. If my name gets called for that, I'll be ready.
Q: How comfortable are you catching passes out of the backfield?
A: I'm very comfortable. That's always been a strong asset of mine, catching the ball out of the backfield.
WR Rueben Randle
Q: How do you feel like you played this season?
A: Just alright. I would have liked to have done a lot more, but you know, you've just got to try to get better and just finish out the season strong. Try to make some more plays, end on a good note and look forward to next year.
Q: You have to be happy with the touchdown total though. A; I guess so. It was more than I had, so I guess it's an improvement but I could definitely do more, so I'm not going to say I'm fine with it. But it's okay by me.
Q: Do you feel like you're making steady progress?
A: Yeah, yeah, definitely. That's the whole key, to try to get better and make progress. Like I said, just become a better player each and every week.
Q: Do you feel like next year's going to be even better?
A: I hope so. I can't tell the future but I'm looking forward to it.
Q: Do you hope that these final two games can be big games that can propel you into next year kind of like that last game against Philadelphia last year?
A: Yeah, I wouldn't mind having that impact…I just want to end on a good note and look forward to having a better year next year.
Q: That big finish last year against Philadelphia, what did that do for you going into the offseason?
A: Just boosted my confidence a little bit. Just let the coaches know what I could do, prove to those guys, prove to my teammates that that's the kind of player I am, so I'm just trying to get more opportunities. As a receiver, you have to go out there and make plays to get yourself those opportunities.
Q: Do you think you've kind of already shown them what you can do, you know Hakeem's future is kind of up in the air for next year, that you could fill those shoes if they needed you to?
A: I'm trying. I don't know if I have or not but that's definitely the case that I'm trying to prove.
