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Brash Burress Arrives

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 31, 2008

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Giants receiver Plaxico Burress cheerfully allowed hundreds of media members to impatiently wait for his grand appearance Wednesday.

In many ways, Burress' late arrival is symbolic of his NFL career.

Pittsburgh made Burress the No. 8 overall selection in the NFL draft in 2000. Despite several productive seasons, he was not considered to have the toughness of Hines Ward, a smaller but rougher Steelers receiver.

The Steelers allowed Burress to leave as a free agent in 2005, and Burress signed with the Giants to become a complementary receiver to Amani Toomer. Two seasons later, Burress has done more than co-star in this New York production.

Burress has emerged into arguably the best receiver this postseason, and he is a big reason New York will play New England in Super Bowl XLII.

After amassing 1,025 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season, Burress has 13 receptions for 196 yards and three touchdowns in three postseason games. Meanwhile, New England's Randy Moss was limited to 32 yards and a pair of catches in two games.

"Plaxico has been out of his mind. Playing out of his mind. Playing crazy," Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said. "He's playing like a big-time player.

"I played against Plaxico when he was a receiver at Pittsburgh, and he had the same ability, but he's playing on a different level right now."

Burress also appears to have reached a new level of confidence.

When Burress arrived in Arizona on Monday, he wasted no time predicting New York would defeat New England, 23-17, without fear of what unyielding Giants coach Tom Coughlin would say.

Coughlin said he would speak to Burress in private, but he would not divulge what he intended to say.

As Burress spoke with media members at his table Wednesday - coincidentally tagged No. 23 - he did not shy away from his new bravado.

"It's all entertainment. Look at how this has made national headlines," Burress said. "I've always been a confident player, and I'll always be that way and will continue to be that way. What we have done up to this point really doesn't matter. All we can do is go out there on Sunday and try to do our thing."

Even though Burress' new thing is to pound his chest, his predictions have garnered the support of teammates.

"I don't really care. I already said that you can't control what other people say," defensive end Michael Strahan said. "Plus, I know the way it was said. Now, you ask a question of 'Do you think you are going to win the game?' What am I supposed to say - 'No, we are going to lose the game.' No one comes here thinking that you are not going to be victorious.

"We are here because both teams have earned the right to be here, and both teams have a belief in being better than their opponent. I don't look at it and go, 'Plaxico made a prediction and I need to back it up.'"

What Burress has done well is team with Toomer to form a lethal combination. Toomer had 59 receptions during the regular season for 760 yards and three touchdowns. He also has 15 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns this postseason, including 74 yards and one touchdown against Tampa Bay during the Giants' NFC wild-card victory in Tampa.

"He's had a great year, and was even out of practice for most of the year," Toomer said. "To play at the high level he does, it's very impressive."

Burress now needs to play impressively against New England to back up his bold prediction and lead New York to its first Super Bowl title since 1990.

Only then will Burress' late arrival be on time.

"Everybody has a job to do. I don't have a problem with it," Burress said. "I'm a confident player. You can't take the field without being confident."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com.

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