Plaxico Burress may be transitioning into the latest example of a star NFL player that falls into obscurity with little to no warning.
But unlike WRs who have tumbled down this path before him, Burress is not merely a victim of an extremely competitive league or even of the mighty salary cap. Burress spent two of his prime playing years sitting behind bars because of foolish and dangerous behavior off the field.
Almost all sports fans, especially those hailing from the New York area, are aware of the infamous events that occurred late in the 2008 season. Seemingly well on their way to a second Super Bowl victory in as many years, the Giants sat happily at 10-1 heading into a matchup with the Washington Redskins.
With the days of "Jet Blue" and the dangerous/deep WR corps that the Giants now enjoy still yet to come, Burress served as the main receiving weapon on an offense that merely needed one big playmaker to take pressure off of a stellar run game.
The hero of Super Bowl XLII had recently inked a new lucrative, long-term contract. He had released a book during the offseason and was currently enjoying the spoils that a top New York City sports hero receives.
But during a night on the town with fellow teammates, Burress's concealed and unregistered firearm went off while resting near his leg. He suffered a minor wound but still required medical attention.
Despite his best efforts, the incident could not be covered up. The Giants suspended Burress for the remainder of the season while he awaited legal action. He eventually served the majority of a two-year prison term in Upstate New York.
Upon his release in 2011, the Giants opted to let Burress go in another direction even though they were losing Steve Smith to FA/injury. He eventually signed with the cross-town rival Jets after a brief flirtation with Philadelphia.
While not the main event during his one year in Green, Burress hauled in 45 receptions for just over 600 yards. He found the end zone eight times.
Burress is now a man without a team. Under normal circumstances, he should be a veteran of 12 NFL seasons heading into the upcoming training camps. Due to his forced time away from the game, he has only endured 10 years of pro football's wear and tear erosion process on his 6'5 frame.
But that detail is not enough to convince even the current cellar dwellers of the league to bring an aged Burress into the fold.
The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reported that the Dolphins have opted to pass on the former superstar. Miami made headlines during the 2012 free agency period for all of the wrong reasons. Players on their radar appeared to flee from the franchise like rats from a burning ship. A player like Burress, a marketable name from a hated division rival, should be worthy of at least a good tire kicking in camp. Let's not forget that teams can now carry 90 players into camp instead of 80. That's 320 extra spots on league rosters. Burress didn't qualify for any of them.
Does Burress truly deserve to stick around in the NFL? Yes. He's paid his debt to society for a crime that was about stupidity and possibly image control, not malice.
Despite missing two years in the league, he adapted well to his role as a complimentary receiver though he left it as a main eventer.
WRs such as Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco fell farther down the talent ladder almost overnight despite remaining active players. Ochocinco became a barely used receiver on the AFC Champion Patriots while Owens last saw playing time when he suited up for the Arena team that he owns.
Teams would be wise to at least see what Burress can bring to their offense. He'd be a good fit for a team in need of star power that can be backed up by solid to modest numbers. He'll likely get a call after the first wave of injury bugs bite.
