2012 NFL Free Agents: Plaxico Burress Planning a Move to Philadelphia?

Probably even before he donned a Phillies cap while leaving the Oneida Correctional Facility on June 6, 2011, Plaxico Burress had envisioned playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. In fact, there was rampant speculation throughout last summer that Burress would somehow land in Philadelphia.

It now seems painfully obvious that he's pushing for that move to happen this offseason.

Burress, who signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets last July, will be a free agent on March 13. The wide receiver was on 97.5 The Fanatic sports radio station in Philadelphia on Tuesday and stated that the Eagles are "one of those places" he will look at in free agency. 

Later on, he said that "nothing else would make me happier" than joining the Eagles in 2012. 

The Eagles' official Twitter account reported each of Burress' comments. 

The fit makes sense on both ends.

The Eagles need a reliable red-zone option, as both Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson are more underneath and over-the-top receivers. Burress caught eight touchdown passes in his first season back in the NFL after a firearm incident in New York landed him jail for 18 months.

At 6'5", 230 pounds, Burress is the ideal player to win matchups inside the red zone. He has 63 career touchdown catches since being drafted eighth overall in 2000 by the Pittsburgh Steelers.  

Jackson is also an unrestricted free agent on March 13, so the Eagles could see Burress as a security-blanket option in case they have to let Jackson walk or agree to tag-and-trade him to the highest bidder. 

If the Eagles could keep Jackson and still bring in Burress at a manageable price (he signed a one-year deal worth just over $3 million with the Jets), the Eagles would certainly have a formidable trio of receivers that could cause problems for any opposing defense. 

It's certainly possible that Plax's infatuation with the Eagles has driven down his value on the open market, which could mean the Eagles get him at a discounted price that they dictate.

Either way, this is one of those team-player free-agency fits that probably makes too much sense. But the more sense it makes this time of year, the less likely it tends to actually happen. 

Still, keep your eyes and ears open to this move once free agency begins. Burress may finally get his wish to play in Philadelphia.