NFL Free Agency Rumors: 10 Best-Fit Teams for Plaxico Burress in 2011
Plaxico Burress doesn't yet have a home for the 2011 NFL season. As of right now, he is still in prison for his felony gun possession, but he is scheduled to be released in June.
He hasn't played since the middle of the 2008 and will be 34 at the start of next season, but he is still 6'5" and does has five 1,000-yard seasons to his credit.
So someone is bound to take a chance on him.
Here are the 10 best landing spots for the man who caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII.
No. 10: Detroit Lions
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Plax did play his college ball only about an hour-and-a-half away from Ford Field, so he might consider a return to the state of Michigan.
But it also makes good sense on the Lions part to pursue Burress. They have Calvin Johnson but are thin elsewhere: Nate Burleson is a good third receiver, but not a solid No. 2.
The Lions probably won't draft a wide receiver in the first round since they have other needs, but they'll be wise to give Matthew Stafford another target.
No. 9: Miami Dolphins
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Miami already brought in one towering wide receiver with a past marred by discipline problems, Brandon Marshall.
That acquisition produced mixed results: Marshall had a nice season with 86 catches for 1,014 yards.
But the Miami offense was not very good in 2010 and even Marshall struggled to be productive in the red zone.
Burress would take a great deal of attention away from Marshall and open things up for Chad Henne, who would have another excellent target besides Marshall, Davone Bess and Anthony Fasano.
No. 8: Jacksonville Jaguars
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As long as Jack Del Rio is at the helm, the commitment to David Garrard will continue. And that doesn't have to be a bad thing. With Maurice Jones-Drew, the running game is the focus of that offense and they don't need a big, flashy passing game.
But when Marcedes Lewis is the offense's top receiving threat, that is a problem, no matter how great of a running back you have.
Adding Burress would give the Jags someone to target in the red zone (taking pressure off Jones-Drew) and keep Garrard from forcing in throws like he did at the end of the 2010 regular season.
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No. 7: Baltimore Ravens
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Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told NFL.com that he isn't opposed to considering Burress for 2011.
And although it does seem unlikely that Baltimore would bring in another new receiver just a year after acquiring Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmenzadeh, adding Burress would give them a nice replacement for Derrick Mason should the 37-year-old retire.
Joe Flacco needs all the tools possible to succeed and if Burress can be had at a relatively cheap price, they should make the move.
No. 6: Oakland Raiders
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The tired jokes about the Raiders and criminals notwithstanding, Burress would be a good fit in Oakland.
Hue Jackson is an innovative mind and would find ways to get the ball to Burress. But more importantly, he would be a great (on-the-field only) mentor to the very young collection of receivers: Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford.
Al Davis has to be giving Burress a hard look: He's always been fond of big wide receivers who can contribute to an AFL-style deep, vertical passing game.
No. 5: Dallas Cowboys
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Jerry Jones elected not to bring in Randy Moss this year, and there is a good chance that Roy Williams isn't brought back either.
But just a few years ago, Jones was willing to take in another division rival's discarded wide receiver, Terrell Owens. Who's to say he won't do the same with Burress?
Miles Austin is a physical receiver and Dez Bryant is a speed receiver, so Burress would fit the role of the big, leaping pass catcher who relies on positioning and height.
Jason Garrett and Tony Romo would both benefit from Burress on the roster, and Dallas has never been shy about bringing in players with a checkered past.
No. 4: St. Louis Rams
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Terrell Owens to the Rams hasn't materialized yet and perhaps it never will, but St. Louis has to add another receiver for Sam Bradford to continue to develop.
Ironically enough, when Burress signed with the Giants in 2005, they too had a first-overall draft choice entering his second season as the team's quarterback: Eli Manning.
And if that's not enough of a coincidence, the Rams head coach is former Giants defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo.
No. 3: Chicago Bears
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Devin Hester may be the NFL's best punt/kick returner, but he is not a top notch wide receiver.
And Johnny Knox has been a nice surprise the last two years, but he isn't one either.
After the Bears address their offensive line concerns, they will consider adding another wide receiver to help Jay Cutler.
Cutler had the best years of his career from 2007-08 when he had a big, leaping wideout in Brandon Marshall. Burress doesn't have Marshall's speed, but he does have the same frame and ball skills.
With Burress and Knox on the edges, Hester or Earl Bennett in the slot and Greg Olsen over the middle, the Bears passing game would be much improved.
No. 2: New York Giants
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The Giants had to release Burress back in 2009. From a public relations standpoint, from a financial standpoint, and even from a football standpoint, it made sense.
But there is no denying the fact that Eli Manning was most efficient when he had Burress to throw to. Since 2008, his yards have gone up significantly without Burress but so have his interception totals.
Even if Steve Smith returns in 2010, he will be coming back from major knee surgery. Hakeem Nicks suffered through injuries this year as well.
Things got so bad last year that they had to sign Michael Clayton and Derek Hagan in the middle of the season and neither was really ready to play.
Burress fit well into Kevin Gilbride's system and should be able to ease back into it faster than learning a new system with another team.
Burress served his time and if he starts to produce, the heckles from the stands at the Meadowlands will soon die down. Outside East Rutherford, that's a different story.
No. 1: Atlanta Falcons
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Roddy White was one of the NFL's top receivers in 2010, but he was fairly well contained in the playoff loss to Green Bay (six catches, 57 yards).
Michael Jenkins has not panned out and Tony Gonzalez will be 35 in a few weeks, and his production really dipped in the second half of the season.
If Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey doesn't leave town to take over the Tennessee Titans, he should be interested in Burress. Mularkey was the Steelers offensive coordinator from 2001-03, Burress' best seasons in Pittsburgh.
A reunion between the two would be nothing if not interesting.
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