Not Many Suitors for Plaxico

Added on Jun 21, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

Of all the high profile players still available on the NFL free agent market, wide receiver Plaxico Burress might be the biggest. However, name recognition alone doesn’t always translate to contract offers. Right now, Plax is still searching for a home in 2012 and appears to be quickly running out of suitors. The latest team to thwart his advances were the Carolina Panthers.

Burress lobbied earlier in the week about joining Cam Newton and Steve Smith in the Cats offensive attack for the upcoming season, but an anonymous source with the Panthers revealed yesterday the team has no interest in bringing the 34-year-old wideout aboard.

Despite his imposing 6’5″ frame and red zone prowess, Burress continues to be spurned by all the teams linked to him. The Jets, Eagles and Redskins, among others, have needs at the position, but none feel Burress is the answer to their problems.

Plax was average st best in 2011 after spending two years out of the game due to his incarceration for gun charges. Some league scouts seem convinced the former Super Bowl champion has little to offer. He caught 45 passes for 612 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011, but lacked explosiveness and disappeared for large portions of games and the season.

To be fair, Plax joined the Jets following a jail sentence and a prolonged work stoppage. He clearly didn’t have time to get in proper shape, so having a full offseason to train might be all he needs to regain his previous form. His days of being an elite number one option are likely over, but in a pass first league predicated on scoring, a player of his caliber should possess some value.

Whether it’s a physical issue or the negative stigma attached to his name, Burress is a man without a team. In a league where Mike Williams (Seattle) and Michael Jenkins still have jobs, that doesn’t make much sense.

Source: NFL.com