Eli Manning's Silence About Plaxico Burress Spoke Volumes

It looks like Plaxico Burress found a fly in his soup during last night's dinner meeting with Tom Coughlin-- and that fly's name might be Eli Manning.

Burress can cook up every reason in the book to explain why he spurned the New York Giants for their Meadowlands cellmates--I mean stadium-mates--the New York Jets, but the absence of any public support from Manning down the stretch might have swung Burress's decision from Big Blue to Gang Green.

If the Giants quarterback is still blaming Burress, and his arrest for gun possession, for costing the team the 2008 season and Manning's chance to get back-to-back Super Bowl titles, he's barking up the wrong goal post.  Ironically, Manning's lack of vocal support for the return of his one-time favorite target could cost him this season as well.

The Giants team is getting old and, now that the Philadelphia Eagles have buffed up their defensive backfield-- with the signing of DB-extraordinaire, Nnamdi Asomugha-- and the uncertain return of receiver Steve Smith to the Giants, the loss of Burress may have just given a huge advantage to the Eagles in their two division game match-ups.

 Coughlin seemed friendlier than a flair-covered waiter at Bennigan's, leading up to his dinner with Burress, while Manning played the snobby waiter at a French bistro.

All week Roethlisberger openly campaigned for Burress' return to the Pittsburgh Steelers.   Manning only mumbled a few standard comments.

"You just don't want distractions," said Manning.  "Distractions, whatever they may be, can hurt a team.  If you're spending your time concerned about something else, bringing your attention away from the opponent on your preparation, that's considered a distraction."

I tell you what distraction is Eli.  Distraction is being asked 'Why didn't you lobby harder for Burress' about five-thousand times this week and looking for a top-notch wide-out in the fourth quarter this season.

Make no mistake, Manning supports Burress' second chance and even made a call to his former wide-out while he was in prison, but hasn't bothered to jump on the "We Want Plax" bandwagon.

By all accounts, the meeting with Coughlin went swimmingly.  The head coach was smiling yesterday and put it bluntly, "The meeting went well."

Not well enough, as Burress's "fully-guaranteed," one-year deal for $3.017 million with the Jets the next day will attest.

Let's give Manning the benefit of a doubt.  Maybe the silent treatment wasn't such a bad idea.  I don't remember Jets quarterback, Mark Sanchez, standing in Times Square singing a tribute to the ex-con and look where Burress ended up.

"I never really lobbied for anybody," said Manning before the meeting.  "So if this is the right spot for Plaxico, if the Giants and Coach Coughlin are pleased with his attitude and after talking to him, then [I'm] happy to have him."

In the end, here's what Manning's silence about signing Burress said.

No distractions.  Burress' return to the Giants will disrupt an already shortened training camp.  It's about the team, not one player.

Why all the fuss over a soon to be (August 12)  34 year-old receiver who hasn't played a down in 2 1/2 years?

How is a guy who was never a fan of Coughlin's discipline and structured system going to feel about  routine after almost two full years in lockup?  Does the prison stint help Burress cope with Coughlin's Captain Bligh act?

Finally, Manning doesn't want to insult his current group of receivers.  After all, he threw for over 4,000 yards last year and has two Pro Bowl-caliber wide-outs in Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks.  Joined by Mario Manningham, Manning believes he has the nucleus of a solid receiving corp.

"I like our receivers here, I think we have a great crew, very talented, they work hard," he said.  "Can you have too many good receivers?  No, I don't think so.  I'm going about my business and preparing for myself.

Hey, everybody wanted little Eli to man up and be more assertive--so there you go.

Maybe Burress would have picked the Giants if Manning took the time to drop a dime or, just maybe, Coughlin put that fly in the soup.

Steelers Lobbying For Burress

A long shot for Plaxico Burress' services might be the Pittsburgh Steelers. It might be highly unlikely but it seems that there have been some unnamed coaches lobbying for Burress' return to the Steel City. Of course they don't have final say on personnel nor do they cut the checks around there so wo knows if the Steelers front office will take a chance on Plax after the lockout.

In addition to the unnamed coaches that would like to have Plax back, Hines Ward would like him back as well and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stopped short of saying he wants Plax at his youth football camp. 


"I've talked to Plax a number of times in the last couple of weeks," Roethlisberger said. "I told him, 'Hey, if you came back here that would be awesome, but I'm just happy to see you playing again' because he's a good guy."

Keep in mind that Big Ben and Plax were neighbors when they were teammates.

If the Steelers do happen to add Burresss that would likely mean the end of Antwan Randle-El. It would also cut down the playing time for promising youngsters Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.

Don't Make A Big Deal Out Of Roethlisberger's Late Night

I know Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is thought of as a creep. He has some moral issues and he's trying to change what others think of him. With the black cloud over what happened in Georgia during the offseason, whatever he does, whether he's out having a few drinks or trash talking at the local gym is going to be scrutinized. In some instances, like the so-called late night at the piano bar with his offensive lineman, the media is making something out of nothing.

Everyone says "it's Super Bowl week and he's out past curfew", like it's a bad thing. First, coach Mike Tomlin says it's a non-issue. If he doesn't think it's a big deal then so what. If he did think it was a big deal he handled it internally. Secondly, it's Super Bowl week! Do you really think the players are going to eat and sleep football while they're in Dallas. I don't think so. I know Roethlisberger has his demons, but lay off for a minute. He was out enjoying some time with his teammates, not out acting a fool or breaking any laws. He wasn't running around chasing skirts either. Look, these players aren't choir boys. They're grown men doing what they want to do. Would you like someone scrutinizing your every move just because you were caught with a prostitute. I don't think so. And just because you may be of moral high ground or are a bad guy doesn't mean you'll be a success or a failure on the biggest stage.

Remember Eugene Robinson? I know I do. He was the Bart Starr award winner, which champions players with morals and all that jazz, I didn't invent the award so don't ask. The night before the game he gets arrested for soliciting a prostitute that was an undercover cop. He wanted to pay $40 for some action and got busted. Me and my friend had a field day with that one. My friend referred to him as "big" Eugene and it was going to be $2 an inch. Anyway, you don't have to be a jackass to get caught up in wrongdoing. Even players thought to be the most righteous slip. And don't give me the crap about how Robinson's escapade foiled the Atlanta Falcons. The Denver Broncos were simply the better team and weren't going to lose.

Let me take you back some. Super Bowl XV, Raiders vs. Eagles in New Orleans. Dick Vermeil had his players on a tight leash and they played that way. The Raiders were out being the Raiders and whooping it up in the French Quarter. The Raiders won 27-10. They were looser and played like it while the Eagles were uptight.

You see, it doesn't matter what you do or how late you stay out, because that has no bearing on the team's performance on Super Bowl Sunday. Unless it's a Barrett Robbins situation. That didn't turn out too well for the Raiders.              

Will Rex Ryan Get 'Personal" With Roethlisberger?

It's hard to believe the soft and cuddly person on the podium yesterday, extolling the virtues of Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, was New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan.  Ryan, who had been the NFL's version of Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes, was now speaking fondly of last week's vanquished foes and acted like Dr. Phil when asked about the upcoming AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

No war of words between the Jets and Steelers.  The only blip on the No Fun League's Polly Purebred meter came from Patriots receiver Deion Branch who called the New York team "embarrassing" and "classless."  That's pretty tame stuff in the Jets universe.

The Jets head coach has been saying 'it's personal' about a lot of things the past few weeks beginning with the foot-fetish videos, which popped up on YouTube, and calling out opposing team's proven leaders the week before they meet.  Now the boastful Ryan has become...boring.  It makes one wonder why he would tone it down and tinker with success now?

Ryan and the Jets have been winning after targeting a prominent person on the opposing team and turning it into a personal vendetta.  Could the Jets actually respect the Steelers or are they afraid?

First, it was Ryan's old thorn-in-the-shorts tormentor Peyton Manning of the Colts who got the Jets skipper yapping.  Then last week, it was Mr. Personality, Belichick and a side order of Tom Brady, who got Ryan riled.  The Jets won both games.

The closest Ryan got to insulting anyone yesterday, after showering the Steelers with everything but candy and flowers, was ask whom he was gunning for this Sunday.

"Give me somebody you want to call out," said Ryan.  "I guess Hines Ward, Casey Hampton."

The Steelers wide receiver and nose tackle make good adversaries but what about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger?

The Jets have had one of the toughest roads to the Super Bowl.  If they succeed, they will have faced, and beaten, the holy trinity of NFL quarterbacks--Manning, Brady and now Roethlisberger.  No small feat, but that task just got bigger--a lot bigger.

Big Ben is the largest and strongest quarterback of the three and could set up the fiercest challenge for the Jets defense.

Roethlisberger may not have the statistical clout of the the other two but he makes up for it in pure size and toughness.  The brutish, 6'5", 240-pound Steeler can flick a pass 50 yards, can pound the defense on the ground and improvise a play-in-progress with the best of them.  The Jets D will have their hands full.

"You can't prepare for what he naturally does," said defensive-end Trevor Price.  "How do you prepare to tackle a guy as big as a polar bear?"  How do you prepare for a guy who wants to win like he wants to win?"

Ryan agrees.  He said, "I've never seen a guy take the hits he can take and also make people miss the way he does and be as accurate on the run."

The Jets beat the Steelers 22-17 on December 19 in Pittsburgh by executing their "Plaster Rules."  It was a zone scheme which turned into man-to-man coverage after Roethlisberger was chase out of the pocket.  On the plays where Pittsburgh started in a man coverage, it usually ended with Steelers gaining large chunks of yardage.

The Jets rough-and-tumble road to Dallas must continue through a solid Steelers team.  The Jets have exorcised the ghosts of their arch-enemies-- the Colts and the Patriots.  Now they face the daunting task of beating an experienced and playoff-tested  team.  Can they do it without puffing out their chests and flapping their gums? It seems unlikely.

If anyone can find a way to rile the Steelers with trash talk, it is Ryan. Many have called him and his team loud-mouthed braggarts.  The Jets 4-1 playoff record over the past two seasons have been partially attributed to the blustery head coach whom his players adore.  Many have called the Jets uncouth but they seem to be winning when everyone expects them to lose.

The Jets have been winning by getting under the other team's skin and making it 'personal'.  The bragging, mocking and seven-letter words are what set the tone for this squad.  Something just doesn't seem right with this new fuzzy-puppy version of the team.

The NFL is probably happy about the eerie quiet.  The networks, not so much.

Anyway, there are still five days to go.  An eternity in Rex Ryan press conferences.