Miles Austin's recent injured hamstring and Dez Bryant's off the field issues are two reasons why former NFL head coach Herm Edwards says the Cowboys should sign free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress.
Austin, who missed six games during the 2011 season because of hamstring injuries, has been sidelined during training camp after tweaking a hamstring on Saturday. Even though the Cowboys have said it isn't a big deal, Edwards says otherwise.
"This is a reoccurring deal now. This is the second year in a row," Edwards said as he co-hosted the Mike and Mike in the Morning radio show Thursday on Dallas' 103.3 [KESN-FM]. "I talked to Miles up at the American Century [golf outing last month]. I said, 'Miles, you have to stay healthy.' He said, 'Coach, I'm going to be healthy.' I'm looking and he's got a hamstring again. And I love the guy. He's a fantastic player."
Edwards' biggest concern with Bryant is that his history of off the field troubles — which includes a misdemeanor domestic violence charge last month for allegedly assaulting his mother — make it difficult to count on the third-year receiver.
"He gets in his car everyday and leaves practice and you don't know if he's coming back the next day," Edwards said. "That's where that stands. You don't know."
Edwards, who coached the Jets from 2001-2005 and the Chiefs from 2006-2008, concluded: "You have a starting receiver that's hurt. You got one guy that when he leaves the parking lot, you're going, 'Oh boy, is he coming back?'"
Burress, a first-round pick of the Steelers in 2000, played five seasons in Pittsburgh before joining the Giants in 2005. His four seasons with the Giants included a Super Bowl championship in 2008. Later that year, Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg at a New York City night club which led to a two-year prison sentence for a weapons possession charge. Burress [6-5, 232] returned to the NFL last season, catching 45 passes for 612 yards and eight touchdowns with the Jets.
Over 10 NFL seasons, Burress has accumulated 8,457 receiving yards and 63 touchdowns.
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