Loading ...Today New York Giants owner John Mara appeared in an interview with Mike Lupica on 1050 ESPN New York. He was asked about the preseason, specifically with regards to losing key free agents.
His answer was an odd one. He began by mentioning Plaxico Burress.
Mara started by reiterating general manager Jerry Reese's old mantra, discussing how each player is given a value. The team offers said player what they believe that player is worth, it is then the choice of the players (in this case Steve Smith and Kevin Boss). But no. Mara, unprompted, started elsewhere.
"We wanted Plax back"
Rewind the tape one week. Former teammate and close friend Brandon Jacobs said that Plaxico Burress wanted to return to New York and could possibly do so next year in 2012.
Asked if Burress had his heart set on returning to the Giants, Jacobs said, "Oh, no question, I know he did. I know he wanted to come to the Giants. We just didn't think it was going to be able to be done financially. But he may be (back) next year, who knows?"
It is no secret. Plaxico Burress does not like Tom Coughlin. He said so throughout his tenure in New York and was intent on reiterating it throughout the early parts of the 2011 season.
"He's not a real positive coach," Burress told Men's Journal for the article that hits newsstands Sept. 16. "You look around the league, the Raheem Morrises and Rex Ryans — when their player makes a mistake, they take 'em to the side and say, 'We'll get 'em next time.' But Coughlin's on the sideline going crazy, man. I can't remember one time when he tried to talk a player through not having a day he was having."
Five months ago, this statement carried some water. Albeit very little, but some. Now? it just looks silly.
It was Coughlin's uncanny ability to do what Burress described that may have helped Justin Tuck rise from the ashes this past season on Christmas eve and ultimately lift the Giants to a world championship run.
“When he takes the time out to talk to me like that, it means a lot to me,” Tuck said after he looked like his vintage self, recording four tackles and notching a sack in the Giants’ convincing 29-14 victory over the Jets at MetLife Stadium. “It means he cares. That did a number on me. You start thinking about a lot of stuff, your legacy and I have a 21-month-old at home and I want him to see me play this game the right way. It really struck a chord with me.”
Players of various ages, tenures, and backgrounds on the New York Giants have rushed to the defense of head coach Tom Coughlin this season. Every guy on the team loves playing for him. After a Super Bowl championship where the brotherhood between the young players and the veterans up and down the roster proved to be palpable from the edge of your couch, it would seem like a slam dunk that Brandon Jacobs' statements were true.
Plaxico realized he was not in the right place, and his family is in New York.
This couldn't be further from the truth.
This evening, Howard Eskin of NBC Philadelphia broke the news that Plaxico Burress wants to play for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Saw and talked to Plaxico Burress at Super Bowl and told me he wants to play for Eagles. Badly!
So heres your timeline:
Summer: John Mara says the Giants want Plax back. Plaxi visits.
Plax signs with Jets.
Plax rips Coughlin.
In the midst of a huge playoff run, Brandon Jacobs expresses interest in playing with Plax again.
The Giants win the Super Bowl under the guidance of the coach that Plaxico apparently hates (again).
Two days after winning the franchises 4th Super Bowl title, owner John Mara (who could be thinking of plenty of other things) reiterates wanting Plaxico Burress back.
Plaxico Burress says he wants to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles.
This development is nothing short of incredible. Its not that Giants fans desperately wanted Plaxico back. Its not that Plaxico owes the Giants anything. Let's be clear: Plaxico doesn't owe the Giants anything.
Sure he shot himself in the leg and his loss played a big hand in the Giants inability to put together another playoff run in 2008, but most people would be willing to look past that in an effort to recognize human error when they see it.
But considering that the Giants took in Burress when no one wanted him, made him rich and famous, put up with his antics, provided him with some of his best friends on earth (such as Jacobs), and still supported him through the process of his being released from prison (who can forget Steve Tisch's private plane took Burress to Florida the day he was released from jail), it is beyond comprehension that Burress's sole prerogative would be to spit in their eye.
I think it's safe to say that Giants fans need not worry about Plaxico Burress costing them another chance at a repeat.
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If you all read ONE of my articles in full this year, make it this one.
“I think it’s safe to say that Giants fans need not worry about Plaxico Burress costing them another chance at a repeat.”
Maybe he will in next year’s playoffs ^^
Why is this relevant? Mara might want Plax back, but does Reese? Does Coughlin? Does Eli? It diminishes the team chemistry. Do we even need him… no we don’t. We just won a Super Bowl without him and spanked his team in the process. The ONLY thing that might be relevant is the match up against him twice a year if he goes to Philly. But even in that regard, let’s face it, he’s not the same player he once was.
Lots of love going Manningham’s way.
Yet I feel the “#1 receiver” label is thrown around a little too lightly.
Let’s not forget the (yet another) miscommunication that followed his huge catch. Let’s not forget the deep route he ran in the 4QT when he lost track of where the sideline was (yet again).
He’s talented, there’s no denying that. I just think he isn’t “serious” enough to be untrusted with the role of #1.
On the other side, Stevie Johnson (just an exemple) in BUF doesn’t seem to apply himself much more. So who knows.
As one who thought Plax would have been a viable #4 WR … and would have welcomed him back … if this Philly story is true then f-k that ba$tard. I hope he rots.
In honor of Brandon Jacobs … a beloved Giant, soon to be a former Giant … I would like to propose an experiment.
Those of you young enough … would you please wait for an appropriate time and place … then say to your wife or g/f …
“Stay cute and shut up”
Then report her reaction back here.
We owe it to the Big Guy to immortalize his most famous utterance. I expect all G101 posters to do the right thing.
Krow, I’ll give it a crack over the weekend, but I’m going to wait for the absolute perfect situation so it may take a while.
That’s the spirit.
Philly can have him. He is barely even a shell of the player he used to be, and I think it was pretty clear all along that Eli didn’t want him back.
There is an old Irish phrase, ” Never Give up on the man”. When the Giants cut Plaxico it was because of the Mandatory sentence he needed to serve. Plaxico’s lawyer was delaying, working on the clock. The Giants wanted Plax to get into his cell as fast as possible in order to get out as soon as possible.
I am proud to be a Giant fan for many reasons, but this is a Big one. John never Gave up on Plaxico, now, if only Plaxico realized this.
No way i want plax back on this team right now even if we let manningham walk i would rather give barden and jernigan the snaps.Even if he is calmer after his prison stint i still feel like he can be a cancer to the locker room.