NFL - Sports Rumors - Plaxico Burress

Tampa Bya Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik indicated the Bucs have no interest in signing former New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress(notes) at this time, the St. Petersburg Times reported.

The Bucs are looking for receviers to back up starters Antonio Bryant(notes) and Michael Clayton(notes).

"We're going to let Brian Clark(notes), Maurice Stovall(notes) and even Dexter Jackson compete and go from there,'' Dominik said.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

Five NFL teams are still interested in acquiring the services of wide receiver Plaxico Burress(notes) according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and Profootballtalk.com.

According Rosenhaus, via his Twitter account, Burress now has five NFL teams interested in him. And that list, according to Rosenhaus, could become even longer soon, Profootballtalk.com reported.

"There are now 5 teams interested in Plaxico," Rosenhaus wrote. "I expect more teams to enter the mix over the next few weeks as well."

It's believed that the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears are among the potential destinations for Burress.

Source: Profootballtalk.com

The way some of his ex-teammates on the New York Giants see it, Plaxico Burress(notes) has been through enough.

The New York Daily News reported that Burress lost the ability to make more than $20 million on his Giants contract, his reputation is ruined and his career looks to be irreparably harmed. He is desperately trying to get back on the field this year, avoid jail next year and hope that Roger Goodell doesn't suspend him before his next court date in September.

Some players, like Osi Umenyiora(notes), told the Daily News Burress has been through enough. Umenyiora said he doesn't believe Goodell should suspend Burress.

"He's paid the price," Umenyiora told the Daily News Tuesday at minicamp. "He missed I don't know how many games last year, he's given back a lot of money. It would be just overkill right now to suspend him. That's what I think anyway. The commissioner is the commissioner. He has the right to do whatever he feels like doing and what's best for the league. My opinion, as a player, given the circumstances as to what exactly happened, he put other people in danger, he hurt nobody but himself."

"I would love for Plaxico to have the opportunity to play this year," Justin Tuck(notes) said. "Is that my decision? No."

"Should Goodell suspend him now? "Obviously, (Goodell) is pretty good at what he does," Tuck said. "He knows how to handle situations like this. Whatever he does, I have full trust it will be best for the NFL."

Source: New York Daily News

Plaxico Burress(notes) may be gone, but he certainly isn't forgotten as the New York Giants went through the paces Tuesday at minicamp. Many believe it was the loss of Burress that led to the Giants swoon at the end of last season and the early exit in the playoffs, according to the New York Times.

"It's hard to forget about a player like that," running back Brandon Jacobs(notes) said. "With him, we had an identity from Week 1 to Week 11 when he went out. It is hard to bounce back, to find a new identity in the National Football League."

Fact is, none of the receivers the Giants have in camp have displayed the ability to attack a defense the way Burress did.

The youngest are the rookies Hakeem Nicks(notes) and Ramses Barden(notes). The Giants drafted Nicks in the first round and Barden in the third.

"They'll have a good day, they'll have a not-so-good day," Coughlin said.

Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon(notes) return after their most productive seasons in 2008. Smith had 57 catches for 574 yards and Hixon 43 for 596. Hixon had some of his biggest games after Burress was suspended. The second-year receiver Mario Manningham(notes) must show improvement and Sinorice Moss(notes), who used his speed to catch a couple of passes on deep routes Tuesday, must stay healthy.

Moss and other Giants receivers have been dogged by questions about Burress and Amani Toomer(notes), who was not re-signed after 13 seasons, according to the Times.

"I feel like there's a big chip on all our shoulders," Moss said. "Because you hear a lot of things and they say: ‘Oh, they don't have Plax. They don't have Amani.' I can go down the list of guys that we have here that can contribute and make some plays for this team."

Source: New York Times

Once considered the favorite to sign troubled wide receiver Plaxico Burress(notes), two NFL sources told the New York Daily News the New York Jets are losing interest in making a deal.

The reason wasn't immediately clear, but it likely stems from his muddled legal situation. Burress' felony gun case was adjourned Monday until Sept. 23 and, even though his agent expressed confidence his client will be signed with a team before the start of training camp in late July, many uncertainties remain, and that may have scared off the Jets, according to the Daily News.

Rex Ryan refused to rule out the possibility of pursuing Burress at some point, but he spoke highly of his current receivers. "Any good football player, we're going to monitor their situation," the coach told Sirius NFL radio. "But to us, really, nothing's changed. I know it sounds funny, but we're happy with our guys. ... Do we have that Pro Bowl receiver? No, we don't, but we feel pretty good about our unit."

If the Jets stay away from Burress, it would create disappointment in the locker room, according to the Daily News. Several team leaders, in interviews last week with the Daily News, strongly endorsed a potential Burress signing. Previously, owner Woody Johnson said he wouldn't stand in the way, claiming the decision was up to GM Mike Tannenbaum. Team officials weren't available for comment in the wake of yesterday's development, but the club, in a statement, said, "We will continue to do our due diligence with any and all free agents that are available now or in the future."

Source: New York Daily News