Plaxico Burress: 5 Reasons Former NFC East Star Won't Be A Stud Again

Very soon the former New York Giants wide receiver, Plaxico Burress will be released from the clink. There is no doubt that in a sport where talent is always at a premium and personal issues are cast aside in favor of that talent, Burress is going to get a shot to play on Sundays.

Teams will conjure up visions in their heads of Burress catches passes and looking like a star for the New York Giants in their 2007 Super Bowl run.

However, this is four years later and this isn’t the same Burress. One gunshot, over a year in jail and a lot of gridiron rust are part of the five reasons that Burress won’t be a stud in the NFL again. 

5. Mind Games

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GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver Plaxoco Burress #17 of the New York Giants warms up for the game with the Arizona Cardinals on November 23, 2008 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants won 37-29. (Photo by Stephen Dun

Let’s not forget that prior to the gun incident Burress was on a fast track to be cut from the Giants. He was unmotivated and unproductive for the Giants.

The optimist hopes that time inside has made him understand the true value of what he had. You will hope he comes out with a renewed work ethic, but don’t count on it.

Just because a guy goes inside doesn’t mean he’s going to come out ready to be a good solider and do whatever he has to do to be a productive member of the team. Even if Burress does come out with that mindset, he’s going to have to shake off all that rust at his advanced age.

Solid player in the NFL? Possible. Stud at a skill position? Don’t count on it. 

4. Opportunity Matters

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 16: Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants eludes the tackle of Fabian Washington #31 of the Baltimore Ravens during their game on November 16, 2008 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/

Even if Plaxico Burress comes back, he’ll have to come back to the right team. Michael Vick was lucky to land himself in the perfect situation with the Philadelphia Eagles. Will Burress be so lucky?

Doubtful.

The front runner at this point are the New York Jets. Not exactly the place you go if you want to shine as a wide receiver.

Don’t get me wrong I like Mark Sanchez, but that’s more to have a beer with. However, he’s not my first choice to throw me the football. In his two NFL seasons he’s never been better than a 55% completion percentage. If I want to prove I’m a stud again, I’d go elsewhere.

Therein lies the problem. Unless he can get Peyton Manning or Tom Brady to take a flier on him, he’s likely to go to a bottom feeding team with a rookie quarterback, or a quarterback problem. Those two things don’t normally equate to big stats. 

3. He’s Not Michael Vick

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts against the Green Bay Packers during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotma

The easiest reason to believe that Plaxico Burress will return to top form when he comes back is because Michael Vick suffered a similar layoff and has returned to become the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year.

Don’t believe the comparisons. Vick is three years younger than Plaxico is. When Vick returned he hadn’t turned thirty yet. Plaxico will be 34 when he gets back out there. And with Vick it still took him close to a year to get his legs back and adjust to the speed of the game again.

Does Burress really have a year, at his age, to adjust? 

2. Age

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LEBANON - JANUARY 14: New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress walks through security as he arrives at the Lebanon County Courthouse January 14, 2009 in Lebanon, Pa. Burress is scheduled to appear in a civil trial in a dispute with an automobile dea

Believe this: Plaxico Burress will be old when he comes back. Not too old to run a factory or even be a place kicker on an NFL team, but he’ll be old by wide receiver standards. Does that mean that he can’t have top notch production? No, but don’t expect him to be any sort of All-Pro.

The legs begin to go at 34. In a league where cornerbacks get faster everyday, you can’t be the slow guy in the matchup.

There are some wide receivers who have defied age, but those are not the norm. Production dips as you hit your mid thirties. It could fall even farther for a guy who hasn’t played in over a year. 

1. He’s Never Been That Good

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Wide receive Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants walks off the field after the Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale,

Maybe this is the most important part. Whatever the expectations are of Burress, they are blown out of proportion. Burress was never a stud to begin with.

In his career he’s had zero Pro-Bowls, zero All-Pros. He’s never had 80 receptions in a season. He’s had double digit touchdowns twice. And in 2008, prior to having his season shortened for gun related reasons, he only had amassed 35 catches.

I can understand the intrinsic value of how his presence stretches a defense, but when I think “stud” I don’t think Plaxico Burress.