He has made numerous television appearances and been asked hundreds of times to pose with a football perched against his head, imitating the 32-yard reception he made on the Giants' game-winning drive against the New England Patriots.
David Tyree
Wide Receiver
New York Giants
Profile
2007 Season StatsRecYdsTDAvgLongYAC43508.82427He even has a book coming out, "More Than Just a Catch," that will chronicle his off-field personal struggles.
What the Super Bowl hero doesn't have right now is a guaranteed roster spot.
The sixth-year pro out of Syracuse had arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason, which prevented him from participating in Tuesday's Giants workout.
With starters Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer entrenched in their roles and youngsters Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss and rookie Mario Manningham available, there might be a battle at wide receiver that could leave Tyree on the outside looking in. "This is the first time in my career I've ever had any kind of injury, so I don't know how to handle it," Tyree said Tuesday. "It's unfortunate that it kept me out. I should be back out there in about two or three weeks.
"I look at it for what it is," he added. "I don't make the decisions whether I'm on the roster or not. My job is just to go out there and do the best I can when I have the opportunity."
Tyree made three catches in the Super Bowl, one for a 5-yard touchdown in the opening stages of the fourth quarter and the dramatic grab against his helmet that will go down as one of the most spectacular plays in Super Bowl history.
But Tyree would be the first to point out that he's done other things. He only caught four passes during the regular season last year, but has made his mark as a premier special teams player, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2005.
"I have no reason to really worry," he said. "I've proven myself when I've been given the opportunity. I'm not that concerned. It's not that big of a deal to me. I just have to get back to being healthy and do the things that I can do.
"Making the catch was a great opportunity, but I can't rest on it. I have to work hard. There's always something to prove. You always have to have the competitive edge."
Toomer, the Giants' all-time leader in receptions (620), receiving yardage (8,917) and touchdown catches (50), knows a little about Tyree's position.
"I think it all comes down to how mentally tough you are," Toomer said. "It's about how much you believe in yourself and how you handle the internal pressure. What everyone then says about you doesn't matter. As a veteran receiver, you have to get on that mental roll."
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