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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Giants upset with 'cheap' shot


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck injured his shoulder after being tripped by Dallas lineman Flozell Adams on Sunday.

SHARON ELLMAN | Associated Press

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The New York Giants are a little miffed at Dallas Cowboys' offensive tackle Flozell Adams.

Adams stuck out his leg and tripped Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck in the first half of Sunday night's game, causing Tuck to suffer an injury to his left shoulder. It knocked him out of the nationally televised contest.

Adams was penalized for tripping on the play, but that didn't stop Tuck from calling the kick a "bush" move.

"It's something he always does and he gets away with it and he continues to do it," Tuck said.

Fellow defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said a lot of the Giants players were talking about it yesterday.

"From being out there and seeing the quick replays, it looked like a pretty bad play," Kiwanuka said. "Guys get beat and they have to do anything to save their quarterback, but that is not an excuse."

Kiwanuka is sensitive about what he considers dirty plays. He hurt his ankle in the season opener last season when Washington tackle Chris Samuels fell on the back of it after being beaten on a pass rush on the final play of the game.

Kiwanuka didn't hesitate to call that a dirty play, and he cut Adams no slack yesterday.

"This is the NFL," Kiwanuka said. "People put their careers on the line everyday, in every practice, in every game. You don't want to risk somebody getting hurt off something cheap like that. You understand that they have a job to protect their quarterback, but there are rules in a game for a reason."

Tuck underwent tests on his shoulder yesterday. Coach Tom Coughlin did not have the results when he spoke to the media.

Tuck said he expects to play this weekend when the Giants travel to Tampa, Fla., to play the Buccaneers.

Adams downplayed the incident, asking what does "bush" mean?

"I never heard of that before. I'm curious. What is it?" Adams said.

When told that bush is slang for a dirty play, Adams said he did not know that Tuck was hurt.

"A shoulder injury?" Adams said. "From a supposed kick? Tell him to stay up. It ain't my fault."

SEAHAWKS

QB HASSELBECK HOPES TO PLAY DESPITE BROKEN RIB

Seattle is preparing to play without Matt Hasselbeck on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, though the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback is hoping to start despite a broken rib.

Seattle coach Jim Mora confirmed yesterday that Hasselbeck has a fractured rib from a hard hit in the back by 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis while the quarterback dived for the goal line late in the first half of San Francisco's 23-10 win on Sunday.

Asked if he had to plan to face the Bears without Hasselbeck, Mora said, "Right now, we'll probably do that — unless we get word otherwise."

Hasselbeck said: "I'm absolutely hoping to play. ... I think it's one of those things you just got to suck it up."

Backup Seneca Wallace would make his 13th career start if Hasselbeck can't go.

FALCONS

FIRST-ROUND PICK JERRY TO MISS REST OF SEASON

Atlanta has a big hole to fill on the defensive line after first-round pick Peria Jerry sustained a season-ending knee injury in a victory over Carolina.

The rookie defensive tackle tore up his left knee in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 28-20 victory. He was placed on injured reserve yesterday.

"It's very unfortunate for Peria," coach Mike Smith said. "It's a very, very violent game on the offensive and defensive lines."

Thomas Johnson will move up to start alongside Jonathan Babineaux, and seventh-round pick Vance Walker was signed off the practice squad.

RAIDERS

RIGHT GUARD GALLERY BREAKS BONE IN LEG

Oakland right guard Robert Gallery is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken bone in his left leg.

Gallery was injured in the second half of Oakland's 13-10 victory in Kansas City on Sunday. Coach Tom Cable says the operation was performed yesterday.

Cable says he has not decided who will replace Gallery. In Sunday's game, he moved center Chris Morris to guard and used Samson Satele, a Kailua High and University of Hawai'i alum, at center. Cable says he will look at starting Khalif Barnes, Erik Pears or Paul McQuistan at guard as well.

ELSEWHERE

Law and order: Two 16-year-old boys will avoid criminal charges for spray-painting an obscenity on the front lawn of Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin's home following the team's season-opening loss last week against New England.

Instead they will perform 120 hours of community service.

Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita said yesterday that McKelvin told investigators he did not want to see the boys prosecuted after they admitted being the vandals.

McKelvin was partly blamed for the loss after fumbling a late kickoff.

Cowboys: Dallas running back Marion Barber has a left thigh injury and his availability is uncertain. Coach Wade Phillips said Barber had an MRI yesterday, a day after he was hurt on a 35-yard run in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' 33-31 loss to the Giants.

Rams: St. Louis offensive tackle Jason Smith, the second overall pick in this year's draft, sprained his left knee against Washington, and will be listed as doubtful for Sunday's home game against Green Bay.

Jaguars: Jacksonville wide receiver Troy Williamson could be done for the season because of a right shoulder injury. Williamson may have torn his labrum during Sunday's 31-17 loss to Arizona.

Panthers: Carolina defensive tackle Louis Leonard broke his left ankle on the final defensive play at Atlanta. He's out for several weeks, if not the season.

Lions: Detroit linebacker Ernie Sims will miss some time with a "fairly significant" right shoulder injury, coach Jim Schwartz said. Sims has made 14 tackles this season. He was injured in Sunday's loss to Minnesota.