feeding internet from broadband to router

[Michael Havens]

preface:
router- linksys broadband g router
desktop- old computer built in 97 running Linux
laptop- windows xp

I SOOOOO want to dump COX and Verizon so I got a magicjack and a sprint 
broadband card. Guess what! It works like a champ:) Now I need to get my 
linux box back online before i cancel things (thank goodness for the rebate 
and return checks). I figured it would be an easy thing! Just move the 
ethernet cord that runs from the router to the modem to run from the laptop 
to the router. Guess I was wrng. Darn!

Here is what happens:
When I disconnect the cord from the router to the modem from the modem the 
internet light on the router goes out. Then, after I connect said end to the 
laptop the internet light goes on but it will not load any pages on the 
desktop and it will not ping www.google.com so I suppose this means I have no 
connectivity. Hmmmmmmm.... I wonder! Is it set only to recieve? If that is 
the problem how do I set it to send?

Thanks for any help you are willing to provide.