Somewhat lost in the New York talk-a-thon preceding Saturday’s game between the Giants and Jets is the fact that former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress will be getting a shot at his former team.
“I definitely want to get in the end zone once, maybe twice, maybe three or four,” Burress said Wednesday, via the Associated Press. “I’m going to try and play lights-out football. My goal is to go out and play the best game I’ve played to date this season.”
Unlike the Giants receivers, who have been stirring things up with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, the Giants defensive backs are expressing respect for Burress.
“Plaxico has been very good for them in the red zone,” Giants safety Antrel Rolle said. “He’s a big threat.”
“I think Plax is one of the great receivers in this league,” Giants cornerback Corey Webster added. “How he goes about playing is a rare commodity.”
Burress isn’t being quite as modest.
“They knew what type of player I am,” Burress said. “There’s no doubt about it. Those coaches that are over there, some of the players, they know me in games like this when your back’s against the wall, and all those kind of things. So I think they know what kind of effort they’re going to get out of me on Saturday.”
Burress also has offered to help the coaching staff when it comes to figuring out the Giants’ offense, given that the current attack remains similar to the offense employed when Burress played there. “Being able to play in this kind of game on Christmas Eve, you know somebody’s going to wake up with a bittersweet Christmas,” Burress said. “And it’s not going to be me.”
Even if the Jets lose, it’ll still be a lot better than his last two Christmases.
