Plaxico Burress' desire to leave the New York Giants is why they released him

Plaxico Burress' desire to leave the New York Giants is why they released him
April 3
Newark Star-Ledger



For months, the Giants had insisted they would welcome Plaxico Burress back if his legal situation worked out in his favor. So why today, with his legal issues still up in the air, did they pull the rug out from under him by releasing him?

The answer, according to someone familiar with the Giants' thinking, is Burress pushed back in his requests for a trade and in his lack of flexibility in a recent contract squabble.

The person familiar with the team's thinking, who requested anonymity because the Giants didn't give a reason for their cutting Burress in their press release, said the wide receiver's trade request through his agent Drew Rosenhaus was the most public sign of his desire not to play for the team anymore. The Giants were livid when Rosenhaus sent the e-mail to the entire league because the team had not granted permission for Burress or Rosenhaus to seek a trade.

Rosenhaus, who did not violate any NFLPA rules by sending that e-mail, could not be immediately reached for comment today.

Burress' attorney, Ben Brafman, said he hasn't spoken with his client since news of his release came down. But Brafman had something of his own to add.

"I think the Giants made a huge mistake, speaking as both his lawyer and a Giants fan," Brafman wrote via e-mail.

In recent weeks, the Giants tried to settle their grievance with Burress over the $1 million payment of his signing bonus they withheld last year. The person said each time the team believed they were close to an agreement, Burress refused to budge, saying he didn't owe the team anything."
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