Giants Would Consider Resigning Burress Following Prison Release
Just because the New York Giants released wide receiver (WR) Plaxico Burress after being charged with possession of arms, that doesn’t mean they weren’t or aren’t willing to give him a second chance.
Burress was arrested in November of 2008 after his handgun went off while in a nightclub and shot him in the leg. Burress was sentenced to two years in prison as the state of New York has a strict policy on possession of arms.
Burress has applied for a work-release program which would allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence from home. He is expected to be released from prison in the next two or three weeks at which point the Giants will investigate the possibility of bringing him back. Giants General Manager Jerry Reese said that the team “definitely will investigate it."
At the time of the incident, Burress had played ten games for the Giants in the 2008 season and was suspended indefinitely by the Giants following the incident. The team then released him the following April.
Burress is now 32-years old and before returning to the NFL he will likely face further disciplinary action from Commissioner Roger Goodell. A comeback after two years away from the game is very hard. Michael Vick did it but he is younger than Burress. The team still has faith that Burress can make a comeback and be like the player he once was.
"When he first went in (to prison) he was saying he thought he'd come back and be a good player, and I don't doubt that at all because he's that kind of athlete," Reese said. "But in this game it's hard to walk away for a couple of years and be the same person. But if anybody can do it, I think it's him. So you never say never."
Is Burress still the same player he was in 2007? Probably not, but a team in need of a wide receiver wouldn’t lose much by taking a chance on Burress for a year. He’s a physical presence and takes the attention of defenders.
Burress’ best season was the Giants Super Bowl season in 2007 when he had 70 catches for 1,025 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns. He also was a force in the playoffs and scored the winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII when the Giants upset the undefeated New England Patriots.
So now, there is a possibility that Burress will be able to play in 2010, under a few conditions. First, he’ll have to see if Goodell hands him any further punishment, he must prove he’s in football shape and he must find a team to sign him. All of the above are possible, but how much football does Burress have left?
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