Plaxico Burress: 5 Reasons Why He Still Has a Few Good Seasons Left in Him

Plaxico Burress was 31 years old when he went to prison in 2008 for illegal possession of a firearm in a nightclub. He will be 34 years old when he has an opportunity to resume his NFL career in 2011.

Does Plaxico even have anything left in the tank after missing two full seasons, as well as the end of the 2008 season?

Absolutely. He has plenty left. 

1. His Age

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 14: Plaxico Buress #17 of the New York Giants celebrates a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on September 14, 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Plaxico Burress will be 34 years old before the 2011 season begins, the same way that Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will enter the season as a 31-year old.

Yet neither of the two has the wear and tear that a player their age should have.

Don't just ignore Burress' two seasons without taking a hit. He may have aged literally, but he didn't necessarily age physically.

He should begin next season completely fresh. 

2. His Undeniable Talent

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Wide receiver Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants catches a 13-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter over Ellis Hobbs #27 of the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of P

Plaxico Burress was never the best wide receiver in the National Football League. In fact, he's never even made a Pro Bowl.

But he's always been a very, very good wide receiver. He's caught over 1,000 yards in four seasons. He's topped 10 touchdowns twice, and he's been remarkably consistent. 

He's been good for 60 to 70 catches, 900 to 1,000 yards, and seven to eight touchdowns throughout his career. The production may not be quite the same in 2011, but he should still be a very solid receiving threat.  

3. His Red Zone Ability

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants cannot catch up to a pass from Eli Manning #10 during Super Bowl XLII against the New England Patriots on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Plaxico Burress stands 6'5" and weighs 226 pounds. He is big, strong and very physical. He's a nightmare for an opposing cornerback, especially in the red zone.

In the red zone, Burress is one of the top targets in the NFL. I could see Burress catching only 40 to 45 passes next season, yet scoring 10 touchdowns, most of them on red zone patterns.

Take Super Bowl XLII against the New England Patriots. He scored the game-winning touchdown on a 13-yard fade in the final minute. Other than that, he caught just one pass—but it was still enough for him to be the hero. 

4. He Gets to Pick His Team

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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/

Plaxico Burress might go back to the New York Giants next season.

Or he might go to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he can catch passes from Michael Vick. Or he can go to the St. Louis Rams and catch passes from Sam Bradford. Or he can go to the New York Jets and catch passes from Mark Sanchez. 

He can go pretty much anywhere he chooses. He can go to a team where he'll be the best wide receiver or he can go to a team where he'll be just one of a number of very good receiving targets. 

5. He Wants to Be the Next Michael Vick

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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 13: Former NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress attends a press conference at National Urban League on June 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has already taken Plaxico Burress under his wing, telling the former Giants wide receiver to focus on family first and then football. Vick has also encouraged Burress to follow the example that he sent while returning to the NFL.

Burress will be out to prove that he can duplicate what Michael Vick did—revive his career after a potentially career-ending prison sentence. 

Burress may not be an immediate star. He may only play two to three more seasons. But he's going to do everything he can to win back his fans the way Vick did during the 2010 season.