I knew that the great Ryan Parker would immortalize Plaxico Burress in song. He did not disappoint.

Let's get back to talking about football. Our New York Giants are, after all, 11-1 and on the verge of winning the NFC East championship.

The Giants are also heading toward what could be the best regular season in franchise history, at least in the modern era. By the way, I am defining 'modern' as since the league expanded the schedule to 14 games in 1961.

The best record by a Giants team since the league went to 16 games in  1978 was the 14-2 mark posted by the 1986 championship team.

I am not going to get into comparing that team to this one, at least not yet. It's really not a fair, complete comparison until this season ends and we know whether or not this team can bring home another Super Bowl title.

It sure is a lot more fun to talk about this stuff, though, than that other nonsense we have been spending all our time on lately.

• Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is often an object of scorn despite the Giants' record and the fact that they have the league's highest-scoring offense. You guys know I have been a Gilbride defender, and this week KG is getting some love from other places.

From Peter King, who named Gilbride his coach of the week.

The Giants never leave unmade plays out there, and the 23-7 win over Washington had some great examples. Domenik Hixon made three first-quarter catches, rendering Plaxico Burress -- for the moment -- obsolete. On consecutive plays in the first quarter, Gilbride called for a direct snap to Derrick Ward (gain of five) and a brilliant screen to Kevin Boss for 24 against a Washington blitz. Gilbride has learned the strengths and weaknesses of Eli Manning, and he and Manning are one in play calling and execution.

From Washington cornerback Fred Smoot ffollowing Sunday's 23-7 Giants' victory.

"When we thought they were gonna throw it, they ran the ball," he said. "When we thought they were gonna run it, they threw it. They always kept us on our heels. They were always one step ahead of us."

So, Giants' fans I have to ask. I know I have beaten this drum before, but when do we start throwing some love Gilbride's way for the offensive monster he has helped to create?

Gilbride is not perfect. We can all find a couple of play calls in every game that make us shake our collective heads, but when is the last time the Giants had a truly flawed offensive game plan? Last season against Buffalo, maybe.

Gilbride will never be the hot head coaching commodity defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is. He has already had his opportunity to do that, and failed (6-16 with San Diego). There is also other baggage with Gilbride (his sideline fight with Buddy Ryan that will never be forgotten).

Let's give Gilbride some props, though. Sunday against Washington we saw some things from the Giants we had not seen all season. A direct snap to Derrick Ward, a beautiful tight end screen to Kevin Boss, a quick screen to a split out Ward that went for 48 yards.

These things tell you that Gilbride is still expanding the Giants' repertoire, still looking for new, creative, explosive ways to use the weapons at his disposal.

Give him some credit for recognizing what Steve Smith can do and utilizing him. For continuing to find ways to increase Boss's role. For building a creative running attack that does more than plow straight ahead, but one that takes advantage of the athleticism of its offensive lineman with lots of pulling and movement.

Give him some credit for doing what he did to Smoot and the Redskins -- leaving a defense unable to figure out what is coming next.

The results tell you no one is doing his job better than Gilbride right now.

Your thoughts?

A few more thoughts on wide receiver Plaxico Burress and his future with the New York Giants. Then, as coach Tom Coughlin wants his team to do, I am going to move forward as much as possible.

• I don't understand the mentality of superstar athletes, or anyone for that matter, intentionally putting themselves in situations where they feel they must have a weapon in order to protect themselves. Now, I know I am not a superstar athlete. I am a 48-year-old middle class white male and my highest athletic achievement was being co-captain of my high school basketball team. So, I have never been in the shoes of a professional athlete. Still, intentionally putting yourself in a situation where you believe your safety is at risk does not make any sense to me.
• Fans who want to see Burress remain with the Giants -- and play again this season -- are passionate, but in the minority. Let me ask you guys this. The Giants got better when Tiki Barber left. They got better when they traded away Jeremy Shockey. They have not skipped a beat with the retirement of Michael Strahan or the injury to Osi Umenyiora. What evidence have you seen -- on the field this season -- that taking Burress out of the mix would bring down the Giants when those losses did not? The Giants have the highest-scoring offense in the league and Burress has not made a truly significant contribution since Week 2. Yes, the Giants are more talented when Burress plays. That does not, however, make them a better team.
• One more thought on Burress and his on-field contribution. We all love Plax for what he did for the Giants last season, playing on one leg and showing tremendous heart during the Giants Super Bowl season. We can never forget that, and we will always appreciate it and no one is trying to minimize it. That, however, has absolutely zero to do with this season. This is a different team, with a better, deeper offense. Double teams or no double teams, this offense does not need Burress the way the 2007 offense did. Sure, you would always love to have a player with that kind of ability on the field. Even without him, though, this offense has a cachet of weapons (isn't that a strange line under the circumstances?) that is the envy of just about every team in the league. Burress' absence, if he is indeed finished with the Giants, will not be the determining factor in whether or not the Giants defend their title. I believe there are only two players this team absolutely can't lose if it is to win another title -- Eli Manning and Justin Tuck.
• Despite what New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants, there is no way Burress spends 3.5 years in prison for this. He will face discipline, for sure. Possibly a suspension by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He will probably end up losing a lot of money the Giants would have paid him. He might even end up serving some time behind bars. But, 3.5 years? That seems way out of line.

There has been lots of tremendous debate -- both for and against keeping Plaxico Burress -- here at Big Blue View for the past few days. Passionate, heartfelt arguments on both sides.

That's the good stuff. That's what makes Big Blue View a great place for New York Giants fans -- well-reasoned, thoughtful, intelligent debate.

Unfortunately, I have also seen a few posts I have been less than thrilled with. I don't care which side of this issue you fall on, name-calling and personal attacks are not going to be tolerated.

I have seen posts calling other Giants' fans "cowards" because they disagreed with the commenters' opinion. I have seen posts simply stating that an opinion someone had rendered was "stupid."

That kind of stuff is not going to fly, gang.

Let's remember this. No matter what your opinion is in this instance, we are all here because we love the New York Giants. We all want the team to win, though we may differ on how they should get there. We all enjoy being part of this growing community.

We are all friends here. Ultimately, we are all on the same side -- the side of the Giants. So, act like it.

Plaxico Burress is, of course, the main story for New York Giants fans today after turning himself in to authorities this morning.

Here is the video of a non-limping Burress turning himself in. 'Kudos' to 'Shutdown Corner' for posting it first.

The national football writers are having a field day with this, and I have yet to find anyone willing to defend Burress.

Here are some samples.

From Don Banks of SI.com:

Call it the tipping point, or the reaching of critical mass, but the feeling you get is that the Giants are nearing the "enough is enough" stage with Plaxico Burress. The self-inflicted gunshot wound that Burress suffered Friday night is only the latest example of New York's No. 1 receiver doing himself and -- by extension -- the organization harm. Burress has simply become more trouble than he's worth for a team that has almost everyone else pulling in the same productive direction.

And here's a newsflash: The Giants don't even need him. Not desperately, at least. Not enough to warrant all the rest that now goes with being the Keeper of the Plax. Not with Domenik Hixon emerging as a receiving threat. Not with young talents like (the other) Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss and Mario Manningham waiting in the wings. Not with the ageless Amani Toomer still capable of getting it done. Not with quarterback Eli Manning playing at the top of his game and spreading the ball around like a true socialist.

From Matt Mosley of ESPN:

Until now, the Giants have put up with Burress' antics because he's an absolute warrior on Sundays. His heroics in last season's NFC title game and game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl outweighed his childish behavior on and off the field. But he has taken it to a different level this season. At age 31, you start losing the "immaturity" excuse.

When he disappeared the day after a win over the Bengals, he later explained that he was dropping his son off at school. It was a lame excuse, and he wasn't able to account for why he didn't notify the club about his absence. He displayed little remorse for his actions and then later had the audacity to tell Fox's Pam Oliver that his transgressions are "what makes Plaxico Plaxico."

Burress' saving grace has always been his immense talent and propensity for making clutch plays. But heading into Sunday's game, which he wasn't going to play in anyway because of an injured hamstring, he had 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns. Those are pretty solid numbers -- for a No. 2 wide receiver.

If Burress had any common sense, he'd look around and realize that the Giants have proven that they can win without stars such as Tiki Barber, Michael Strahan, Jeremy Shockey and Osi Umenyiora. The bedrock of the Coughlin theory for winning championships is that no individual is above the team. Burress has challenged the authority of Coughlin and Reese throughout the season. Now, they have an excuse to teach him the ultimate lesson.

From Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback:

I think you can make book on Plaxico Burress playing elsewhere in 2009, assuming he's not in jail. (And that may not be the best assumption right now.) In fact, I expect the Giants to either de-activate him the rest of the season or place him on the non-football injury list for the rest of the year, effectively ending his career with the New York Giants. Amazing, amazing story.

Giants GM Jerry Reese negotiated a great contract to lock up Burress before the season, making it about as safe a deal as he could, with miniscule guarantees. The Giants can cut or trade Burress after the season and simply eliminate $23 million of the $27-million-in-new-money deal he signed with the Giants. In effect, as I said on NBC last night, when I examine the deal, I see the contract totally on the come. And the first big test of this contract will come on Dec. 10, when Burress is due $1 million from the original and only guaranteed money in the deal, the third installment of a $4.325-million signing bonus when he signed. Let me break down all of the non-guaranteed money in the Burress deal that makes it absolutely simple for the Giants to cut the cord with him after the season:

• Non-guaranteed base salaries: $11.5 million ($1 million in 2009, $3.5 million in 2010, $3.5 million in 2011, $3.5 million in 2012).
• Non-guaranteed one-time bonus to be paid early in the '09 off-season: $2 million.
• Non-guaranteed roster bonuses: $3.5 million ($500,000 in '09, $1 million in 2010, $1 million in 2011, $1 million in 2012).
• Non-guaranteed escalators, payable only on high performance: $5 million ($1.25 million in '09, '10, '11, '12.) He has not reached his escalators yet that would kick in for 2009.
• Non-guaranteed workout bonuses: $1.3 million ($325,000 in '09, '10, '11, '12).

Burress also has a clause in his contract that could come into play and cost him $400,000 this year. For every game he's ineligible to play in because of non-injury reasons, he doesn't earn a $100,000 per game roster bonus.

What an amazing football team these New York Giants are!

With every reason to put up a stinker -- the Plaxico Problem, the emotions of the Washington Redskins on a day they inducted Sean Taylor into the team's Ring of Honor, being on the road in front of a hostile crowd, not really needing the victory -- the Giants simply played like the Giants.

They answered the questions about whether or not they could maintain their focus, and answered the challenge of the Redskins the way they have answered every other challenge this season. By outworking and outclassing another NFL team, and by winning another game to reach a lofty 11-1 record.

'Kudos' to the entire team and coaching staff for not allowing the Plaxico Problem to affect them on the field. Sunday's victory tells you all you need to know about the character and resolve of the Giants.

It is, without doubt, intact.

Now, let's get on with the traditional 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style review.

Continue reading this post »

From Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, here is the latest on the Plaxico Burress situation.

New York City law enforcement sources have told FOX Sports that they received word Sunday morning that Burress has agreed to turn himself in with attorneys by Monday. The sources said the police searched areas of New York and New Jersey yesterday looking to locate Burress to question him regarding the shooting at Latin Quarters nightclub early Saturday morning.

The Associated Press reported Sunday that the Giants' receiver will be charged with criminal possession of a weapon, according to Burress' agent Benjamin Brafman, who added that Burress will enter a "not guilty" plea.

Police had gone to his house, the hospital and staked out his car, which was left at the club as late as Saturday night, hoping to question Burress and check out the gun that was used in the shooting. When police went to Burress' house yesterday and attempted to locate him, his wife, through an intercom, insisted he was not home and that she was not with the star wide receiver when the incident took place.

Reports also indicate that Burress had a Florida gun permit but that the permit expired in May. New York law prohibits the possession of a concealed weapon within New York even if one is licensed in an outside state. Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2006 led the way to stiffen gun laws in New York City making it a mandatory 3½-year sentence for being busted for illegal possession of a firearm within the city.

Sunday Burress' lawyer told the Associated Press that he has been advised the Giants' receiver will be charged with criminal possession of a weapon. According to the New York Post NYPD detectives traveled to Burress' home in Totowa, NJ Sunday evening to seize the handgun and transfer back to the 17th Precinct stationhouse on the East Side, where Burress is to turn himself in Monday.

NEW YORK GIANTS (10-1)	GAME #12	WASHINGTON REDSKINS (7-4)
	VS.

Thank goodness it's game day! We can stop talking about Plaxico Burress for a little while and talk about today's action.

Here is your Open Thread for today's Giants-Redskins NFC East clash. Enjoy the game!

I really didn't want to be discussing something like this on game day -- especially a game day against the Washington Redskins -- but the Plaxico Burress situation demands some attention this morning.

Personally, my emotional, gut reaction is that I could care less if Burress never puts on a New York Giants uniform again.

Forget his tremendous talent. Forget what he did for the Giants last season. Forget about what kind of players the Giants have as replacements.

Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese built a championship team largely because they have a roster filled with players who have bought into the 'team before self' philosophy Coughlin has preached. All except for Burress, that is.

He is the one player who has continued to march to his own drummer, to do what he wants when he wants.

The Giants as a group have continued to show the hunger to win even after being crowned Super Bowl champions. That, largely, is responsible for their 10-1 record going into today. There is no complacency.

Again, except for Burress. He is the one player who seems to have the 'I got my ring and I got my money so now I can do whatever I want' attitude.

This incident makes it obvious, though, that Burress' issues run a lot deeper than just skipping practices and being late for meetings. This goes right to the heart of what kind of person Burress is.

Thank God Burress shot himself Friday night and didn't 'accidentally' put a bullet into Antonio Pierce or another innocent bystander. Burress is in enough trouble for illegally carrying a concealed -- and loaded -- weapon. Luckily for him, something far worse did not happen.

Burress has been a distraction most of the season, but the Giants have been able to play through it. Now, though, he has taken it to a whole new level. Maybe this incident will wake him up and get him back on the right path, but I'm not counting on it.

The Giants have a great thing going. They are in the midst of what could be a historic back-to-back championship run, and possibly a New England Patriots style run of several elite seasons in a row.

Right now, Plaxico Burress is the one issue that threatens to crack the foundation of the empire the Giants have built.

I could care less about Burress' talent. Keeping that foundation solid, not letting anyone or anything chip away at what the Giants have built, has to be the franchise's priority.

If that means cutting Burress loose, so be it.

Other Reaction

• Mike Lupica: Burress no longer worth the trouble
• Gary Myers: A huge test for the Giants
• Ralph Vacchiano: Pierce could also have legal problem
• New York Post: Bye-bye, Burress?
• Ian O'Connor: Cutting Burress is the right thing to do