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It doesn’t look like Plaxico Burress wants to come back to the Jets, and the feeling should be mutual.
First of all, they are stuck with one starting receiver (Santonio Holmes) who isn’t a fan of their quarterback, do they need two? What an awful dynamic that would be, and was last year.
When asked by the New York Post’s Brian Costello about the embattled Mark Sanchez, Burress said Indy, “Mark Sanchez is Mark Sanchez.”
An absolute non-answer, but a non-answer that spoke volumes – Burress isn’t a fan of the quarterback.
And like Holmes, Burress’ distaste for the quarterback mainly stems from performance.
Holmes and Burress don’t think Sanchez is very good. It’s as simple as that.
But while Sanchez had a poor season, the receivers aren’t devoid of blame.
Holmes didn’t always run the right routes (a problem he had in Pittsburgh), and Burress has no separation speed.
Burress made some great catches this year, mostly in jump ball scenarios, where he can use his 6-5 frame, and long arms, to outduel much shorter corners.
However, so often when he wasn’t involved in fade-type throws, he had trouble separating from corners. Perhaps he lost a step while in jail. Also, he has chronic ankle issues, which definitely impact his speed.
So there is a reason he was called for a number of offensive pass interference penalties – he often needs to push off to gain separation, because doesn’t run very well.
He had his moments this year, but it’s time for move on.
Let’s be honest, he was never enamored with being a Jet. There are two big reasons why he signed with the Jets – they offered him the most guaranteed money, and Florham Park is close to his home in Totowa.
All year it seemed like there was a disconnect between Plax and most of his Jets teammates. I rarely saw him interact with anybody. He was a hired gun, a mercenary.
Also, he, like Holmes, was very moody.
Like Holmes, he was a nightmare for the PR department. They had to beg him to do interviews. I saw him rolling his eyes at Jets publicist Nick Filis, who was asking to do a particular interview.
I don’t like to judge players too much by media relations, but I do judge players how they treat other people. And while so much attention is on Holmes regarding the bad locker room, and rightfully so, Burress wasn’t exactly the Dalai Lama.
It’s time for the Jets to give Patrick Turner (pictured above) the role as their big receiver. He’s earned it, and plus, he will have a better feel for Tony Sparano’s offense than any other Jets offensive player. He played for Tony in Miami.
Personally, I’d move on from Holmes and Burress, but the Jets owner clearly doesn’t want to eat Holmes’ contract. I don’t think you can get through to Holmes. Pittsburgh tried for four years, and couldn’t do it.
So if Holmes is staying, Burress must go, and it looks like he will.
If Sanchez has any chance to succeed, he can’t be surrounded by a bunch of ball hungry receivers demanding the football. That can mess up the passing game.
He needs to just throw to the open guy.
Like the two quarterbacks currently in the Super Bowl.
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