Why the New York Giants Won't Miss Plaxico Burress

So the gun slips down Plaxico Burress' waistband, he fumbles for it while trying not to spill his drink and shoots himself in the leg. Who is he, Barney Fife?

Thank god he didn’t actually have to use his weapon to protect himself or everybody involved would probably be dead. He’s as smooth with a gun as Fredo Corleone was when trying to protect the Godfather.

That wasn’t just his gun but Burress’ Giants’ career slipping down his leg. He’s been suspended for the season, and will most likely never play for Big Blue again. Good riddance. But did he have to drag Antonio Pierce into this?

The Giants actually need their middle linebacker.

Can the Giants win without the gun-toting wide receiver? Well, they’re 3-0 with him on the sidelines (or sitting at home) so far this season. And they’ve won by an average of 20.7 points per game in those contests.

Sure, he draws double teams and opens things up for other receivers, but is that all he’s good for—being a decoy? You pretty much have to go back to the first game of the season, when he hauled in 10 passes, to find an above-average outing for him.

He had five catches in the second game, four in the fifth, but no more than three in any other game this year. He’s the most talented receiver the Giants have, but the team finally has depth at this position, so his absence isn’t a backbreaker.

Eli Manning can keep doing what he’s been doing anyway—spread the ball around. Domenik Hixon has stepped up every time he’s been challenged to make a big contribution. Steve Smith’s been making plays all year. Amani Toomer’s Amani Toomer. Kevin Boss is getting better every week. And now it’s a chance for Sinorice Moss or Mario Manningham to get some playing time.

When you take the on-the-field aspects away from the equation, it’s a no-brainer. Who needs him? Burress’ teammates all appear to like him personally, but it’s one big collective shrug of the shoulders if he never plays for the Giants again. He’s the last of the clubhouse cancers—Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey and now Burress. Gone, gone and gone.

Tom Coughlin has this team so focused on football and the game at hand, that it was more of a distraction for the poor busboy at the club who had to wipe up the blood, than it is for the team.

The big question, though, is what will happen to Pierce? He hasn’t been charged with anything and all the details aren’t known, but what happens if he’s suspended?

He missed the sixth game of the year due to an injury, and Chase Blackburn filled in, had the game of his career and the Giants won, but that was one game, and it was against the hapless 49ers. Pierce is the defensive leader and calls the plays, and he’s the heart and soul of the team.

Thanks a lot, Plax, for getting him involved. You couldn’t have been hanging out with someone from the practice squad, or even Stephon Marbury?

With all the antics and hijinks Burress has pulled in his time with the team, the Giants will be glad to send him packing. They’ve won without him before and they can do it again. The butterfingered receiver may never see $27 million of the $35 million contract he signed on opening day this year.

That’s a large chunk of change to lose for one idiotic act. If only he had a holster. This never would have happened.