The soap opera surrounding Plaxico Burress just won't rest. Coming off a one game suspension, the Giants' touchdown maker was less than contrite in his first interview with the media yesterday.
"I guess they did what they felt they had to do, but I didn't lose any sleep over it" Burress stated. He went on to contradict Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin's version of events, implying that they knew about his absence but offering no proof or explanation as to why he had missed time other than to say it was a "personal matter".
Plaxico, like too many of the best receivers in the league has always been a bit of a problem child. While his talent is undeniable and he's a genuine tough guy who plays through pain, he often upstages his talent with a penchant for selfishness.
He's no diva like TO or Ocho Cinco, but he does tend to sulk when things go bad. His me against the world attitude may help him on the field, however in the locker room it doesn't help endear him to the coaching staff.
This is not a franchise like Cincinnati, Chicago or Dallas, who encourage or at the least put up with loutish behavior, especially form guys who can play. The Giants have the lowest tolerance in the league for player attitude. If you're not a team guy in their system, you're gone. Does Jeremy Shockey come to anyone's mind?
Sunday's game should have been a humbling experience for Burress, since the Giants didn't miss a beat without him. Domenik Hixon and Sinorice Moss shared his snaps and both played well. The lesson should be that if you have trouble taking to the rules, there are other guys who are waiting to take your spot. His comments seem to indicate the lesson didn't take.
All this is not to wonder if Plax wants out, or the Giants are tiring of his act, it's simply an exhortation for him to show up when expected, or if there's a problem to let someone know about it.
Come on Plax, you're the star of this offense, just like you knew you would be. You won a Super Bowl ring, just like you hoped you would. Your contract extension got done, just like Jerry Reese told you it would. You 've been treated like a star, now it's time to step up and act like a leader.
Plax is a good guy and by all indications a great teammate. But this organization dosen't go in for that one guy is bigger than the whole team crap. They showed they are prepared to go on without him, however that may impact them in the short run.
Plax always wants to be on the field, he always wants the ball, and seems to want to be a Giant. Now he just needs to show up and play like he means it.
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about 1 month ago
It's just Plax being Plax. I read his book, I've followed him intently for four years, and this is what he is. He loves playing football, he works hard at it, and he's awfull good at what he does. But he treats it as nothing more than you would for your job at the office... except in a much less responsible way. He's chill and a little dense in the head but he's a hell of a football player and not a bad teammate.
about 1 month ago
I agree, especially about the teammate part. I watched Sinorice Moss the other day and he was all about making way for Plax and saying how everyone loves him in the locker room.
The Giants have a short half-life for this kind of stuff though so I worry that if he doesn't take it seriously enough, they'll just move on. I'd hate for them to lose a guy like him because of something dumb. And god knows, they don't need another prima donna like Tiki.
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