Game Ball: Teammates laud performance by Andre Brown

Going into Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders the New York Giants' plan seemed to be to ease running back Andre Brown, making his first appearance of the season after suffering a fractured leg, back into action.

Well, so much for that. Brandon Jacobs was inactive because of knee and hamstring injuries. Peyton Hillis coughed up a fumble without being hit in the first quarter. And there was Brown, churning out carry after carry.

Brown ended with 30 carries for 115 yards, both career highs.

"It just speaks to what he's done since he's been down as far as working to get back, to be ready," said center Jim Cordle. "I don't think that was the plan at all. Andre stepped up, it's unbelievable."

"He came back and he definitely provided a spark to this offense," said right tackle Justin Pugh. "We just got on guys up front and he made us look good. You want to get down field and you want to finish your block because you know all it's going to take is one little hole and he's going to take it and go."

"'Dre was tremendous," said wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. "Hats off to him, man. This is what he needed, a great game. He waited patiently, he worked his way back from his injury and now he's back and he showed us something."

"You could tell all week he was excited to be back to be back on the field, worked his butt off in practice all week and he ran hard today," said fullback John Conner. "We saw it ahead of time, we knew what he's capable of."

"Guys know what kind of player he is from last year," said guard Kevin Boothe. "We knew that he'd be ready to go go today. Speaks volumes of his conditioning and his preparation."

"Thirty carries is a load for anybody, but that's the type of dude he is," said linebacker Jon Beason. "He's been down, he's been a guy who stayed the course throughout his career. He went out and played well."