”Desperate” might be the best way to describe Ron Cox`s feeling about playing Sunday against the Giants.
”I can`t deal with being on the sidelines, I`m supposed to be out there in the fight,” said the rookie linebacker who has missed the last three games with a knee injury. ”This week, I`ll give it all I`ve got. The knee isn`t swollen, just sore.”
The 242-pound pass-rushing specialist had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in July, and it has slowed him all year. He had two sacks against Denver and a season-high seven tackles playing on a sprained knee and ankle against Detroit Dec. 16, his last action.
”I`m hungry, I`m starving,” Cox said. ”I`ve been in prison for three weeks and they`ve been feeding me bread and water. I can`t take it anymore. I`ve been locked up too long. They put me in solitary.
”I`m going to be a part of this dogfight. The only way they can keep me out is tie me up.”
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On the surface: The Bears two worst losses this season have been in dome stadiums on artificial turf-41-13 to the Vikings and 38-21 to the Lions. Now it`s the Giants outdoors on a carpet.
”The surface helps certain offenses, the run-and-shoot or a back like Barry Sanders,” safety Shaun Gayle said. ”There`s a tremendous difference between natural grass and turf. But a team like the Giants, when you know they`re just going to pound the ball, pass to keep the drive alive, it doesn`t make that much of a difference.”