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Plaxico Burress: Digging A Deeper Hole

Plaxico Burress: Digging A Deeper Hole

Plaxico Burress and the Pittsburgh Steelers have each been digging their heals in the ground embattled in a nasty contractual standoff that was set ablaze when Burress failed to attend mini-camps and now appears headed towards a continued boycott of training camp when it opens on July 30th. Plaxico's current contract expires after this season and is demanding an extension and pay hike now. The Steelers are determined to see Burress play out his contract and deal with the decision to re-sign or not sign him, at that time. The Steelers are doing the smart thing here. Burress by all standards is coming off of a down season.

What kind of year did he have last year? Average, wasn't it? And so if you have an average year, why should I pay you? Tommy Maddox didn't get a big contract and I don't blame 'em for not signing him to a big contract. Who got all that money after one year, Delhomme in Carolina? I'd hold up on that a little bit. - Terry Bradshaw: Pittsburgh Live

Truth be told, his production fell off drastically from the bar he set for himself in 2002. If you compare Plaxico's 2003 numbers to a similar vintaged wide receiver ie, Reggie Wayne of the Colts. Their numbers last season were virtually the same, only Wayne scored more:

Reggie Wayne's salary;
2003: $375,000
2004: $455,000

Plaxico Burress's salary;
2003: $450,000
2004: $535,000

Based on Plaxico's significant decrease in overall production;

2003: 78 rec, 1325 yds, 7 tds
2004: 60 rec, 860 yds, 4 tds

and you further take into account Burress's discourteous actions to date, one can hardly blame the Pittsburgh Steelers management for wanting to take a wait and see approach. And now, it is getting ugly;

Plexico, Plaxico, Fiberglass, whatever his name is -- if I was him, I'd shut up and get my [expletive] in here and earn your money," Bradshaw said. "And if not, let him go, unload him, 'cause if you're only playing for the money, anyway, we're not going to win with him. I hate guys like that." - Terry Bradshaw: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Their is no bigger legend in Steelers lore than Terry Bradshaw and despite a rocky relationship with the city, when he speaks, people in Pittsburgh listen. Burress had better show up to camp. He lost the fight on the field last year evidenced by his weak numers, and now he's destined to lose the battle with the team he's under contract to play for this year. He'll show up to camp because he has to. The longer Burress stays away from team activities the more the team gets to look at players like Lee Mays and Randle El. In this league of 'what have you done for me lately', it's only a matter of time before somebody comes along and does your job better. That's the league-wide reality every player has to deal with, and it should serve as the largest incentive to let your play speak for itself. Burress should learn a lesson or two from one of his anticipated biggest free agent competitors next year - Chris Chamber of the Dolphins whose contract also expires after this season;

The Dolphins have had preliminary talks with receiver Chris Chambers about a contract extension, but Chambers says he has ''no preference'' whether he gets a deal now or becomes an unrestricted free agent next spring. "I'm not going to say anything," he said. "I'm just going to show it on the field. I'm getting better and better. I feel no defender can stop me." - Chris Chambers: Miami.com

Great players always find a way to do their talking on the football field. It's high time Burress reach out to the team, grow up, and start making the kind of catches he showed he was capable of in 2002. If he does that, everybody gets what they want and walks away happy.

Buzz - Miami.com [Miami.com]
Hines, 'Plex' have a lot in common [Pittsburgh Live]
Bradshaw never at a loss for words [Pittsburgh Live]
Photo: [Ezra Shaw: Getty Images]

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