Pittsburgh Steelers: Plaxico Burress Shouldn't Be Back with Ben Roethlisberger

A recent report on nfl.com has pointed to the possibility of the Pittsburgh Steelers re-signing Plaxico Burress. Burress was the team's first-round pick in the 2000 draft.

After being selected eighth overall, the rangy receiver spent five good seasons with the team, but left in pursuit of a pass-friendlier offense. Burress landed in New York with the Giants, where he shot to fame for catching the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII.

He then landed in prison after shooting himself in the leg in 2008. After his release from prison on the seventh of this month, there was a lot of hype surrounding the 33-year-old. At first, most people talked of him joining the Eagles for the simple reason that the team needs a tall receiver coupled with Andy Reid's successful rehabilitation of Michael Vick.

Realistically, that is a little bit of 2+2=4.

It's not really that simple for Burress to return. He is much older than Vick was and does not have enough time remaining to re-acclimate to his NFL surroundings—something that took Vick a year to do. More importantly, outside of the potential storyline, Plaxico Burress simply isn't that good and never has been.

The speculation of him returning to the Steelers is purely based on Ben Roethlisberger's recent comments to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Roethlisberger has never been shy at flirting with taller receivers and he couldn't help himself when asked about his old friend and former teammate:

""I've talked to Plax a number of times in the last couple of weeks. I told him, 'Hey, if you came back here that would be awesome, but I'm just happy to see you playing again,' because he's a good guy.""

This wasn't exactly a rallying call from Roethlisberger for the front office guys to go out and sign Burress, but it was enough to spark the idea of him coming back to the place he started.

Unfortunately for him, the Steelers have no need for the Super Bowl winner.

Burress' reputation is solely based on his catch in the Super Bowl. In that game, he managed a total of two receptions and 27 yards despite having a notable size advantage over the Patriots cornerbacks.

In fact, his best game of the playoffs that year was actually in the NFC championship game against the New York Giants when he totaled 11 receptions for 151 yards. He didn't go over 40 yards receiving in any other game and had zero touchdowns outside of the Super Bowl.

Statistically, Burress has never been better than a good receiver. He was never the best at the position. He was never elite. He never made an All-pro team. He didn't even manage to make it to a Pro Bowl, which even the much maligned David Garrard has done.

His highest total receiving came in 2002 as he covered 1,325 yards. That was eight years ago, he was 25 and in his prime. He only eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving four times during his nine-year career and only completed 16 full games three times.

Most people who believe that Burress still has something to offer the Steelers will point to the fact that his height makes him a touchdown threat. His high for touchdowns came in 2007 when he finished the season with 12. Outside of that year he only reached double digits once (10 the year before).

The Steelers have no need for a possession receiver, which is irrelevant either way because Burress can't do that either.

He managed a career high of 78 receptions in the year of 2002. He has only ever caught 70 or more passes in three seasons, while catching less than 40 in three other seasons.

His lack of receptions those years was largely due to injuries. However, this hurts his value more than it excuses his poor production. The fact that Burress is now older and completely out of football shape will make it even more difficult for him to make an impact on the field.

If that was Burress in his prime, what do we expect now that he is 33 (34 when the season is scheduled to start) and has been out of football for a few years?

Burress is like a poor man's Randy Moss and he brings the baggage and attitude to boot.

Both players are too old and are not the type of players who age well. Neither player possesses the work rate or football IQ of a Hines Ward or Charles Woodson to play into their late 30s. It's not like they can keep pulling performances out a la Brett Favre, either. They simply don't have the same demeanor or leadership qualities as the retired superstar.

Speaking of Hines Ward, the Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best receiving corps in the league. Burress will land with a team that has a desperate need at the position. With Ward, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown all ahead of him, and Antwaan Randle El and Arnaz Battle being proven veterans, the Steelers have no room for him.

This isn't even considering the potential that Limas Sweed and Tyler Grisham give to the team if they can break out. The Steelers already have eight recognizable receivers—as well as Wes Lyons who hasn't featured for the team—heading into training camp, without even adding undrafted free agents.

Why would the Steelers take a chance on a guy that was never that good in the first place, and will probably be 35 before he is back to the pace of the NFL, in place of a young rookie that could potentially offer the team a lot more for a lot longer?

This team can afford to take risks because of the strength of its roster and veteran leadership, but those risks should come in the form of youngsters with potential. There is no reward to the risk of adding Plaxico Burress.

Ben Roethlisberger may have a fetish for tall receivers, but for now I would advise him to focus on getting the best out of Limas Sweed and Emmanuel Sanders because the Steelers aren't getting any bigger.

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