National Football League

Jets made smart move signing Burress

Published Aug. 1, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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On June 6, 2011, Plaxico Burress was granted his freedom. He had done about 21 months in the custody of New York’s Department of Correctional Services — a pretty healthy stint for a knucklehead who only managed to shoot himself in the thigh — and upon greeting him, agent Drew Rosenhaus all but jumped into his arms, honeymoon style.

I don’t know if this constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. But the sanctimony and the snickering should be given a rest — at least for now. The guy did his time. Wait until — or perhaps, if — he gets jammed up again. Then you’re entitled to a good laugh (I mean, as long as no one gets hurt).

In the meantime, recognize the acquisition of Burress by the Jets for what it is: an outstanding football move. Better still for the Jets, in the zero-sum game of New York football, it came at the Giants’ expense.

Like most personnel decisions in the NFL, ethical considerations weren’t much of a consideration. More surprising was the contribution of Jets owner Woody Johnson — an heir to the Johnson and Johnson fortune, who, to my knowledge, has never had to hold a real job. Maybe he’s finally earning his money.

Now more than ever, NFL free agents are recruited, and Johnson got a two-and-a-half-year jump on the competition. In May 2009, with Burress out on bail, Johnson declared he’d have no problem signing the guy who caught the winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII. “We’re going to look for talent where we can find it,” he said.

Later Burress met with Johnson and General Manager Mike Tannenbaum. “It said a lot about them,” Burress added.

It said that talent acquisition is mostly amoral and opportunistic. It said the Jets were desperate for a receiver. And it said they’d have an inside track when Burress became available.

Meanwhile, the Giants had cut him. Just as you can see Burress as a Rex Ryan Guy (hey, Ryan would take a freshly-paroled O.J. if the guy still could run), Burress and Tom Coughlin were never a fit. Still, talent being what it is, Coughlin, General Manager Jerry Reese and owner/president John Mara spent the past few days in the humiliating position of wooing a player they suspended and cut.

“Some great memories,” Burress said on a conference call Sunday. “I feel the meeting went very well.”

Sure. I’m betting it took everything Coughlin had not to ask him about getting written up for having a “filthy” cell at Oneida State Prison.

Now everyone wants to know if Burress is in football shape? That’s a silly question; he will be soon enough. The real issue is, at almost 34, what has he lost? Being a possession receiver, and not a burner, the answer is probably not much. Orthopedically, you have to figure that two years in the joint are better (or at least, less debilitating) than a couple of seasons in the NFL.

“I feel I’m in great shape,” Burress said. “A lot of people are going to be surprised.”

A lot of people will be surprised if he makes it through the season without incident — after all, he’s got a long and inglorious history of knuckleheaded-ness, including poor practice habits, lateness, holding out, violating team rules, suspect driving, etc. I’m not one of them, though. What Burress has lost is up for debate. What he has gained is certain: incentive and motivation.

He needs the money. He needs the recognition that makes the money. Burress needs his career back — even if he has to fake it to make it.

“When somebody takes away something you love so much, you love it more,” he said.

The Jets need him, too. At a reported $3 million, he’s figures to be an excellent complement to Santonio Holmes (another ne’er-do-well receiver who found a home with Johnson’s franchise), and a cost-effective substitute for Braylon Edwards (probably a more sure-handed one, too).

Mark Sanchez isn’t the kind of quarterback who makes his receivers. Going into his third season, he still needs all the help he can get — especially a big target like the 6-foot-5 Burress.

“We know that we can both go out and dominate games,” Burress said, referring to Holmes. “I’ve never played with a guy that explosive on the other side. I think we’re going to drive some defensive coordinators crazy.”

And maybe some head coaches, too. The Jets and the Giants play in December. Maybe Coughlin will find himself wondering if he should’ve done anything different. Like maybe jump into Plaxico’s arms and given him a big kiss.

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