Plaxico Burress: Unapologetic and Pathetic

I’ve got to admit, I didn’t see this one coming. All signs based on last season’s performance pointed toward a new man, a more mature player, a guy the Giants could count on. Now, after yesterday’s disgraceful press conference, it seems that those signs were premature.

As the Giants went on to beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and stun the football world last season, Plaxico raised his game to new levels and played a key role in his team’s success. His selflessness, opting not to undergo season-ending ankle surgery but rather play out the season on one good ankle, was a sign of a new Plaxico...or so we thought.

Before the season, Plax threatened to hold out until he received a new contract. Then he did the mature thing and showed up at camp. He was playing on an old six-year, $25M deal which he had signed back in 2005.

After three years with the Giants, he was vastly underpaid in comparison to the going rate for a top-five to top-10 receiver in the game. With the increases in the salary cap since ‘05, guys who aren’t even top 50 were now being paid like Plax.

After last season, you couldn’t find one Giants fan, beat writer, or person in football who didn’t think Plax wasn’t worthy of a new deal. Guys like Jeremy Shockey asked for money, but the Giants weren’t listening. He missed the Super Bowl run, hadn’t played a full season in his six-year career, failed to hold onto the ball in crucial situations, and had recently gotten into a shouting match with GM Jerry Reese about his role with the team, which promptly led to his being dealt to New Orleans for two draft picks.

But with Plax, everyone was in favor of rewarding him with a new contract. Hours before the opener against Washington, Giants' brass and Burress' agent Drew Rosenhaus came to an agreement and tore up his old deal, replacing it with a new five-year, $35M deal. It was loaded with incentives however, like being on time, offseason workouts, mandatory camps, etc.

Then came Sept. 22. After the team's 26-23 overtime victory against the Bengals, Plax decided to take that Monday off and not notify anyone as to his whereabouts. After discussions with GM Reese and company on Tuesday, he was notified that he was being suspended for two weeks, including one game (because of the bye), and got up and left.

In his absence, the Giants went on to demolish the Seattle Seahawks, 44-6, possibly playing their best overall game as a team in two decades. On Monday, when Burress returned, he showed up as asked, went to work, and everything appeared done with.

That is, until the conference call.

In his call, he showed no remorse over what happened. He said he enjoyed the extra week off, chilled a bit, rested up, didn’t care what his teammates thought of him, and felt if the situation arose again, he’d probably make the same choice.

Unbelievable. His main excuse was that he had to drive his 21-month-old to school. After that he wouldn’t get into details, meaning there’s more to this than what’s out in the open.

If he had just came back, apologized for letting his teammates down, letting himself down, for making a mistake, etc. that would’ve been fine. It would’ve been brushed aside and people would’ve moved forward. But no, he had to let his ego have the last say and now, unfortunately for him, he’s altered his image which, consciously or not, he worked so hard to change last season.

The Giants are going to need Burress’ services to make another run at a title, and Plax is the kind of guy who will do foolish things (like not calling his employer on his day off) and get back in there, focused, and put up big-time numbers. But he needs to realize that what has made this Giants’ team so special is its commitment to putting team before individual, and that’s not going to change for anyone. If you don’t believe me, ask Shockey.

The Giants have a wealth of talent at every position on this team—the receiver position in particular. They have all the makings of a team that’s ready to defend its title, so while this appears to be just the latest transgression of the 40 or 50 he’s been fined for over the past few years, he, and the team, should be able to move past this and not allow it to become any bigger than it already has.

The reason is purely financial. Most of his incentives are performance-based and the only way to earn those is by being on the field and performing. And when Plax is on the field performing, the offense, and the team, are a whole lot more dangerous.

So Plax, since it appears as if you’re not going to grow up, just shut up. You’ll make things a whole lot easier on yourself and the team, and that’s all anyone really wants.