Tag Archives: Plaxico Burress

ESPN New York’s Stephen A. Smith writes in his latest column that Giants quarterback Eli Manning showed a lack of leadership as his team pursued wide receiver Plaxico Burress, and seems to suggest that by not publically recruiting Burress, Manning is the reason Plaxico signed with the Jets and not the Giants.

Right, Steven A. It had nothing to do with the three million guaranteed that the Jets offered Burress versus the one million guaranteed that the Giants offered.

Burress chose the Jets because they offered the most guaranteed money. Plain and simple. He’s been out of the league since 2008 and in prison for a good portion of that time. He’ll be 34 this month so he knows that he doesn’t have too many big paydays left. He took advantage of this one to get himself restarted. And he had every right to do that.

I wanted Burress to sign with the Giants. He chose the Jets. Let’s leave it at that. Let’s not use this as another opportunity for the Eli detractors to bash the Giants’ QB.

Tagged Eli Manning, New York Giants, Plaxico Burress |

My take on the state of the Giants after the most chaotic week in league history:

First let’s talk Burress. I didn’t see him coming back to the Giants and quite frankly I was utterly stunned that he planned a visit. We all know how that ended and the former Super Bowl hero is trading in his blue jersey for a “Sexy Rexy” T-shirt.

All this does is validate the concerns I had been airing (against much opposition) over the past few months. Steve Smith is not healthy. He is not ready to start the season and likely will start the season on PUP (meaning he is ineligible to play until after WEEK 6).

I never doubted his ability, or his value to this team when healthy. But this isn’t Madden. Players don’t heal from injuries in a neat and clean timeframe determined by a computer and then return to action immediately without a hangover. The Steve Smith you know and love isn’t a lucrative contract signing away. He is physically unattainable for an undetermined amount of time. The best case scenario at this point is to let him take the field mid season if he’s physically ready. There he can be a much needed reinforcement for an offense that will likely be missing at least one playmaker because of ailment.

Therefore, there is a vacancy that needs filling at the top of the Giant’s depth chart. Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham are both talented, dynamic downfield threats that give the Giants the ability to stretch the field. Their spots at the top of the receiving corps are obviously safe (barring injury). But a possession type receiver is needed.

I project Hixon to be the 3rd receiver on the field more often than not. His primary duties are to bring the return game back to life. The biggest concern was whether or not he could return to his old form after suffering an ACL tear. Thus far in camp, he seems to be showing no lingering signs of his injury.

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Tagged Ahmad Bradshaw, Domenik Hixon, Kevin Boss, Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith, Victor Cruz |

The New York Jets announced this morning that they have agreed in principle to a deal with wide receiver Plaxico Burress. ESPN reports that Burress will receive a one-year contract worth $3.017 million guaranteed.

Tagged New York Giants, New York Jets, Plaxico Burress |

“I am going about my business and preparing myself. I don’t lobby for anybody. If this is the right spot for Plaxico, if the Giants and coach Coughlin are pleased with his attitude after talking to him, I am happy to have him.

“But I am preparing with the guys we have here and now. I am not out lobbying for Kevin Boss either. I think he (Burress) is a great player and would love to have him. You know the Giants know what they are doing. If they want my two cents, my advice, then I’d be happy to talk to them about it.”

- Giants quarterback Eli Manning, speaking to reporters yesterday about the team’s interest in wide receiver Plaxico Burress…(read more)

Tagged Eli Manning, New York Giants, Plaxico Burress |

By bringing in Plaxico Burress Friday evening, the Giants did – and are doing – exactly what I’d expect from them.

First, they’re a class organization, one that would be willing to give a guy like Burress a second chance. In fact, when you consider the reprimands and fines and suspensions from the past, he’s already gotten that from Big Blue.

Second, the Giants are a football team that would benefit from the services of a wide receiver who at one point in his career was one of the best in the game. I thought GM Jerry Reese gave a very interesting response yesterday when asked if he felt the Giants need to put Burress through a workout before considering whether to sign him:

“If you’re away for two years and we work you out you’ll probably look like you’ve been away for two years,” Reese said. “What’s the point? We don’t expect him to go out there and look like he’s played last year.”

Clearly, the GM still thinks he’s got something left. So do I. And I think the majority of Giants fans would be willing to bet on a successful return.

You get the sense, from what Reese said and from everything else you hear, that this really is about testing Burress’ sincerity, as Tom Coughlin mentioned before their meeting. The Giants believe Burress can play. They want to make sure he’d play by their rules.

On the same evening that Burress returned to the Meadowlands, Nnamdi Asomugha became an Eagle. Now, Philadelphia has Asante Samuel, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Asomugha. So yes, they’re going to be tough to throw against and yes, Burress may be even more important to the Giants now.

But remember, before Burress met with the Giants, the team’s co-owner, John Mara, talked about how a lot had to happen for the Giants to bring Burress back. The meeting with Coughlin last night was a good first step. That relationship must be mended before we go any further. It’s clear the Giants head coach doesn’t plan on changing his ways any time soon. And why should he.

“Let me just say this to you. What is there to change?” Coughlin said before the meeting. “When you sign on to go to work for somebody, the basic thing is you got to go to work, you got to be there, you got to get there on time. What is there to change? When you get right down to it, that is the basic ingredient of a rule. Jump into the team as hard as you can, as fast as you can, be a part of the team, but understand your responsibility. People depend on you.”

When I saw a photo of Burress in the paper this morning, back at Giants headquarters, I started to think about the past. Mostly about the positive contributions he made. One photo had Burress taking a look at a picture of himself the team had on display. Another was of him talking to Eli Manning.

Clearly, he has a place in Giants history. Does he get a chance to add to his Big Blue legacy?

Tagged Jerry Reese, New York Giants, Plaxico Burress, Tom Coughlin |

In an interview with Mike Lupica on 1050 ESPN Radio, Giants co-owner John Mara seemed open to the idea of the team re-signing Plaxico Burress, but his remarks made it clear that a lot will go into the decision.

“The question is are we going to be able to move past the past and are we going to be able to live with each other moving forward,” Mara said. “That is going to be up to him, it is going to be up to the coach, general manager and then we got to get to the salary considerations.

“I think he is a different guy now,” he added. “The question is can he live within the system here and then once we get past that, can we make his salary number fit within our salary cap? It really is a two-fold step and that begins tomorrow night.”

Click here to listen to the interview.

Quotes taken from an article by ESPN New York’s Ohm Youngmisuk.

Tagged John Mara, New York Giants, Plaxico Burress |

According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Plaxico Burress is expected to decide between the Giants and Steelers.

Sources believe only a productive, fence-mending meeting between Burress and Coughlin stands between the wide receiver rejoining the Giants and making more than $10 million over two years.

However, Tomlin expects to make his own strong sales pitch for Burress to join the Steelers, who made him a first-round draft choice out of Michigan State in 2000, sources added.

Burress has a great relationship with Steve Tisch, so if Burress and Coughlin can get past their differences, the Giants seem to have a small advantage over the Steelers. However, the Steelers are a great organization with connections to Burress as well.

Justin Tuck would like to see the reunion between Plax and Big Blue happen:

I can’t speak for Plax or Tom, but it’s been well documented that they have bumped heads in the past, so hopefully a little time apart can rekindle that love that they shared for each other.

Tagged Plaxico Burress, Steelers |

Justin Tuck doesn’t think Osi Umenyiora will be in camp when the Giants report on Friday. He is, however, optimistic about Plaxico Burress rejoining the team.

“I don’t think it’s that much of a reach,” Tuck said about Burress returning (reported by Newsday’s Tom Rock). “It’s all up to him. I mean, being his teammate and a friend, I just honestly want what’s best for him. I know this team would love to have him back. We’ve had some great years together and there’s a lot of chemistry there. This is my opinion, but I don’t see there being any better place than here in New York for him. But he has to do what’s best for him and his family and that’s what I’ll advise him to do.”

As for Umenyiora:

“I’ve talked to Osi and will continue to talk to Osi,” Tuck said. “You try your best never to get in anybody’s contract dispute, but again, he’s an invaluable member of this defense and you really want to keep your core guys together. He came back last year off an injury and had a great year and he’s still got a lot of great years in him. Hopefully we can get him to kind of calm down and be the Giant that I know he can be. But again, he’s going to have to do what’s best for him. I don’t know what the speculation is, I’m not getting into that, but just hoping that he finds his way to be a Giant this year and if he doesn’t I’ll wish him luck in anything that he does but I’ll be pushing to get him back in blue.”

Both have major issues to work out with key members of the Giants’ organization. Burress with head coach Tom Coughlin and Umenyiora with GM Jerry Reese.

Tagged Justin Tuck, New York Giants, Osi Umenyiora, Plaxico Burress |

SNY’s/The Star-Ledger’s Mike Garafolo is reporting that not only is Plaxico Burress arriving at the Giants facility to have a sit down with Tom Coughlin on Wednesday, he currently has no plans to visit any other clubs (yes that’s a pun).

While the possibility of his return is becoming stronger and stronger, it still would be a bit of a surprise to say the least should the deal be made. Both the Giants and Burress were publicly on opposite sides of the spectrum 2 months ago.

Regardless, Burress will be at the New Meadowlands tomorrow. Whether he stays is yet to be seen.

Follow Dan @DanOrlando_FB

Tagged Plaxico Burress |

Nothing concrete yet, but Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Giants and Plaxico Burress are in talks regarding the possibility of signing the Super Bowl hero.

If this is in fact the case and the Giants are legitimately interested, I think this says something about Steve Smith‘s return/availability in 2011.

More on this story as it develops.

Follow Dan @DanOrlando_FB

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