Jacobs ties his future to Plax's
by Ed Valentine on Jan 29, 2009 3:17 PM EST
in New York Giants News
Email
PrintVarious New York Giants have spoken out about wanting Plaxico Burress back next season. Brandon Jacobs, the biggest of the Giants free agents this off-season, is going so far as to tie his Giants' future to No. 17s.
"If we have Plax on our team, we go 15-1 and we win the Super Bowl. I'm not afraid to say that and I'll say it to anybody on any team," Jacobs said. "We had a different identity with him and we didn't have enough time to change our identity to be effective at what we wanted to do - try to play a team differently. Teams - I'm not going to say stopped the run - but they did a little better each week because they had that eighth guy in the box."
Jacobs suggested it was much too late in the season to adjust to life without Burress on the field. When asked if the Giants need to make a move next season to replace Burress if he's not back, Jacobs replied, "I'm not going to say I think we should (because) then we would have our identity at the beginning of the season and not have to find a new identity late in the season. That's kind of hard. If we know he's not there, we set our identity to what we're going to be all season long instead of trying to change it."
Speaking of changing identities, Jacobs said that's what Burress has already done. And he's not the only one to have said that recently.
"Different guy," Jacobs said. "He knows what happened to him. And he knows, No. 1, he's lucky to be living today because of how close he came. He realizes that and he realizes the golden opportunity he has in front of him to be able to take care of his wife and his kid. I talk to Plax every other day. We text back and forth. He's still Plax, he's still the same person, but you can see he's got a different swagger about himself. I think he's changed and you won't ever hear anything from Plaxico as far as any kind of trouble or trouble with the team. It's all done. He's finished and he's ready to be a different person."
This is an obvious question, then, but would he want Burress back?
"If I'm here," Jacobs said, "I need 17 back on that roster."
I don't like players trying to be the general manager, or trying to back the general manager into a corner in terms of how to construct a team. That appears to be what Jacobs is doing here.
Still, if he is right and Giants management agrees with him that Burress is indeed different that might change how this whole scenario plays out.
I still believe the chance of Burress returning to the Giants is slim. But, I also believe this is only starting to get interesting.
35 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I honestly think
That Plaxico deserves a second chance.. I think that if Reese commits to bringing him back, the wide receiver question does not need to be addressed nearly as early as it will if Burress doesn’t come back. Jacobs has to realize that he has the best chance to win in New York and he can’t make demands like this. It is still an absolute priority to resign jacobs either with the assurance that we’ll bring burress back or we’ll make a run at a good receiver either in free agency or via the draft/trade
It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying
The thing that sucks is....
He is probably right. 15-1, and we are all fantasizing about how nice its going to be to have a t-shirt that says “Repeat Champions” on it.
I’ve never taken a side on the “Plax has to go” vs. the “We need Plax back” debate, I think the arguments are strong on both sides.
But Brandon Jacobs knows Plaxico Burress better than any of us, and better than any member of the media. If Brandon Jacobs can stand before the camera and say “Plax is a different person, this has changed him”, who are we to argue? If Brandon’s right, then I say bring Plax back, but Brandon better be right.
Giants fan from the womb to the tomb
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 29, 2009 3:53 PM EST reply actions
One more thing...
Even if they bring Plax back, I am still all for getting Boldin. Imagine trying to stop that tandem…..with Steve Smith as the 3rd WR, and Boss coming into his own at TE……NICE!
Giants fan from the womb to the tomb
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 29, 2009 3:56 PM EST reply actions
i completely agree with you on that
boldin is a monster and so is plax. if you put the two of them and smith on the field at the same time.. teams would have to play in the nickel, and if you bring jacobs back that’s nothing but trouble for opposing defenses
It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying
by Hoyadestroya85 on Jan 29, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
it would be awesome but
the reason hes leaving arizona is not just money, its because he intends to see the ball more, he won’t go somewhere he may not be the #1, do you think they would make buress #2?
Plax # 2?
It could happen. Plax didn’t didn’t get a lot of balls thrown his way this past season when he played. I think it was because he always drew double coverage. If a guy like Boldin joins the team and opponents continue to double cover Plax, the other guy could in effect become #1 because he’s only getting singled. Of course, double coverage never stops the truly elite WRs, like a Rice, Moss or Fitzgerald . Dangerous as Plax might be, he’s not up there with guys like that. Like Ed, I don’t see Plax coming back even if he gets past the legal problems. I don’t believe TC and JR will opt to take the chance that Plax won’t be Plax. Personally, I beleive the odds vs. that happening are high. Plax will always be Plax. That’s just the way he is. My opinion doesn’t count. I’ll support whatever management decides. If Plax comes back, I’ll pull for him and keep my fingers crossed.
it might be different
because the two are good friends.. that could change things
It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying
by Hoyadestroya85 on Jan 29, 2009 6:17 PM EST up reply actions
I was listening to Jacobs earlier today on ESPN Radio
…He said something that i think we will all agree, with Plax on the field, Jacobs and the running game is more affective. Now If Plax is unable to return , than the Giants need to get another WR that will demand the same coverage that Plax did…..
"18-1, Write that Book"
Jacobs trying to be GM?
Not according to the NY Post.
[Jacobs] becomes an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 27 but strongly wants to return.
“I really want to be back and I think I’ll be fairly upset and angry if I’m not back because that’s where I want to be,” he said. “I have no idea what’s going on there, I don’t even know if they’re talking. I’m confident when you know it’s you want you shouldn’t play around, you should come out and get it done.”
If Plax is able to come back...
Trade him to Detroit for Calvin Johnson sweetened with a draft pick or 2. BJ can not run the team, he just has to play his heart out with the team that is assembled.
Detroit and Plax, seems like a fit to me.
When its 3rd and long, throw the ball past the marker.
by Fester McDougal on Jan 29, 2009 4:46 PM EST reply actions
Hang on....
(I want to caveat this by saying that I’m not an attorney; and I only know what I’ve read in the press about this)
But…..Aren’t we forgetting something here?
It’s going to take something short of a miracle for Plax to avoid jail time. Bloomberg’s going to throw the book at him. I think its unlikely at best that he’ll even be available, let alone whether the Giants take him back or not.
Maybe not
according to NY Times (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/will-burress-have-to-serve-time/):
“Less than 10 percent of the people charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which carries the mandatory prison sentence, are ultimately convicted of that charge.”
Now obviously Plax chances are not that good since Bloomberg wants to make an example of him, but its worth noting. A good lawyer can make a good case with this information and the fact that Plax has not had legal trouble before to influence a judge\jury no matter what Bloomberg is spewing.
But there's a limit
to what Bloomberg can do. First offenders rarely get jail time. Plax can offer to plead out to a lesser offense for a suspended sentence and probation. If the DA refuses, it goes to trial I don’t see a judge and jury sending him to Rikers over this. And can you imagine the public uproar if they tried to treat him differently than someone else in the same situation?
Bloomberg is grandstanding. It’s what politicians do.
+1
people tend to forget that the government is designed specifically so that people like Bloomberg can’t just “throw the book” at Plax. It’s not up to Bloomberg, and no matter how badly he wants to make an example of Plax, it’s still up to the Prosecutor to try him (granted, Bloomy has a bit of leverage over the DA), the jury to decide if he’s guilty, and the judge to decide his sentence based on the guidelines of the legislature.
yea
but its a pretty cut and dry case.
were you carrying a hand gun in NYC? “you mean the one I shot myself with?”
was it legally registered in NYC? “you have to do that?”
Its not a question of guilty or not and really the jury is going to find him on whatever he gets charged with. Right now its minn 5 years. I hope they argue it down but there is always a chance they dont. What sort of leverage does he have to get it lowered?
The DA always takes a risk going to trial.
Frequently juries engage in what’s called jury nullification, meaning that they can acquit notwithstanding the evidence and instructions from the judge, and that’s the end of it. It’s far from clear that a Manhattan jury would vote to convict – and it would have to be unanimous – if they believed that they were sending Plax to prison. And if it looks like he’s being singled out for harsher treatment than others accused of the same thing, the DA could have a huge public relations problem. There are a million reasons why the DA might let him plead out and let the whole thing just fade away.
ever been on jury
There’s some dumb people on them. Lawyers watch mock juries and are horrified by logic. NO ONE wants to go to a jury.
jail time isn't the issue though
regardless of jail time, Plax will be pleading guilty to something. Write it down. When that happens, the NFL will suspend him. He is not playing a full season next year, short of a miracle.
What I read when it happened
was a 4-game suspension at the beginnning of next season. I don’t know where that number came from. Probably something negotiated by the players union.
Plax
If bloomberg wants another super bowl to come out of his town, he would fine the crap out of plax and give him community service. come on, if oj simpson can get away with murder plax can get away with shooting himself. and for those that say they dont want plax back…….. be honest with yourself! i want him back, and for insurance proposes bring Anquan Bolding in. FREE PLAX! FREE PLAX!
Court date
Anyone know when Plax is due in court?
I’m kinda torn about whether the Giants should keep him or release/trade him. Remember he wasn’t exactly having a good year before his legal woes.
I agree with jrs1940 we should still try and land Anquan Boldin or another big time receiver as insurance.
March 31st
Then you have to wait for the league to decide what to do with him, even if he gets off with only fines and community service work.
Personally, I have a hard time with anyone being so arrogant and acting like a spoiled brat. I love my GIANTS, but I’d rather win or lose without him. The rest of the guys on the team deserve better than having to deal with his crap, all season long!!!
"...wasn't exactly having a good year...," etc
A lot of BBVers seem to forget that. Some suspected that after getting the contract he was slacking off(Plax being Plax?). That’s a judgement TC and JR must make. If they decide he was, it will make the decision whether to keep him or not that much tougher.
Depends on how you define a good year.
You can’t judge an impact player like Plax solely on individual stats. He adds value to the team merely by being on the field, drawing the double coverage, stretching the field, preventing defenses from stacking up the line of scrimmage.
Jacobs is no dummy. He knows that he runs better when Plax plays.
Well, he does indeed provide most of those positives you cite
(except stretching the field if you mean he has the speed to go deep.) On the other hand, he ran some bad routes, dropped some good passes, Shockeyed the QB, and failed to give even token effort at times. His game didn’t approach the level last year it had been the year before (when he was hampered by injuries.) I think there’s a solid argument for stating he wasn’t having a good year.
bad routes happen with the stop-fade options
the only one i remember is the INT against Dallas and that was more a designed trap by Wade Phillips
I dont like plax but
if Jacobs says hes ok and he wants plax back i think that people should really consider that. Try talking to the players who have to deal with him and asking their opinions. After all if plax is lazy or slacks off, whos gonna be more pissed than his peers?
The chemistry between Plax and his team mates
is definitely a part of the complicated equation managemment must solve in reaching a decision.
If you read between the lines
I think Jacobs is just expressing his opinion re the need for an impact WR – be it Plax or someone else – to complicate the task of opposing defenses and make it harder for them to defend against the run.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
Related FanPosts on Big Blue View
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Get Your Giants' Gear
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Mark Sanchez’s rumored squeeze, Kate Upton, is on cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue
- ‘Twould be a shame if Hines Ward didn’t retire a Steeler
- Video: Tim Tebow asked to Military Ball by Louisiana Airwoman
- We’ll see how Brandon Jacobs’ football skills translate to the squared circle
- Bill Belichick wore a hoodie to a golf tournament
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
