The talk in the NFL right now is of Plaxico Burress being released from prison and who might make a play for him. The Raiders have been in need of a reliable veteran receiver in recent years. And before Burress was imprisoned, he was a Pro Bowl caliber and Super Bowl winning receiver for both the Steelers and Giants. So the question of whether he would be a good fit with the Raiders is a natural one.
There are not many solid free agent receivers expected to hit the market this year which raises Plaxico’s stock. He had some issues his final season in New York, showing up late to meetings and getting suspended two games due to conduct issues. He was seen as a prima donna in NFL circles.
Prior to his problematic final season, he had averaged 70 receptions, over 1100 yards, and 10 touchdowns per season over a three year span. He also made the Super Bowl winning catch to beat the heavily favored Patriots (which puts him in good favor with Raider fans).
Serving nearly two years in prison very likely took all of that attitude out of him. His time in prison has also allowed him to heal from a couple of nagging injuries that slowed him down. In that regard, taking a couple of years off did him some good. Unfortunately, those years off didn’t allow him to stay up on his skills. He may have been able to lift weights in prison but, he wasn’t able to run any routes or take any passes from NFL quarterbacks. So unless he was somehow able to sneak in a jugs machine, he will be considerably rusty.
He will have three months to shake off the rust and get back into playing shape for the return that his agent Drew Rosenhaus says is going to happen quickly. Rosenhaus is also saying that Plaxico is below his playing weight but just because he didn’t let himself go doesn’t mean a whole lot. Muscle weighs more than fat and the lack of a nutrition regiment that a professional trainer provides explains the weight loss right there.
That said, I think Burress will be an asset to a team this season.
The primary teams people keep talking about who might be in play for Burress’ services are the Eagles, Redskins, Jets, Dolphins, and Rams. He could be an asset to the Raiders as well. And he is a proven veteran the likes of whom Al Davis has offered a second chance many times in the past.
The big issue here is where he would fit in. The Raiders kept six receivers last season but that was only because two of them, Jacoby Ford and Nick Miller, were the team’s kick and punt returners. From the looks of it, Taiwan Jones will be the Raiders new punt returner so you would figure the team would keep the more standard five receivers.
Right now the team has Ford, Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Chaz Schilens, and rookie Denarius Moore as the projected five with Nick Miller as the replacement should one of them get injured in camp or preseason. If the team brought in Plaxico, they would be saying that their intention is to cut one of those top five players. Schilens is in the Raiders’ plans unless/until he gets injured again. Heyward-Bey is the next guy on thin ice but I don’t see the Raiders taking him from starter to released in one offseason.
Any team that signs Burress must sign him with the intention of keeping him. I know that may sound like a “duh” statement but the Raiders are not really in that position. There are other teams in the NFL that, if Burress can prove he is in playing shape, can offer him a good sized contract that pretty much guarantees his spot on their roster.
I see the Raiders attempting to keep Schilens on the hope that his injury troubles are behind him. He is too good of a player to give up on him while he is healthy. He would have to tear a hamstring in a pick up basketball game or something for the Raiders to actively pursue Burress.
While Plaxico would be a nice addition to the Raiders, there are only so many roster spots. And to pay a big contract to a guy who either won’t be ready to play or will cause another valuable player to be cut just doen’t make any sense.
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