Plaxico Burress and New York Jets to wreak havoc on the NFL

Now, 3 1/2 years later Burress returns to the field, trying to regain the glory that he once attained. He left the Super Bowl on top of the world, defeating the New England Patriots and one of the best coaches and quarterbacks in Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

A lot has happened in between, with the New York Giants releasing Burress on April 3, 2009. There had been contract disputes, a birth (his child), and oh yeah an arrest.

Super Bowl Champion to loss of freedom

On November 28, 2008, Plaxico Burress suffered an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the thigh in a New York City nightclub. The gun was tucked in his sweatpants. The handgun wasn't licensed and there's a strict rule in New York for carrying an unlicensed handgun. A minimum 3 1/2 year jail sentence is given to anyone committing that act. Personally, I think the law is too harsh. Burress claimed to be possessing the gun for self defense. The law has no mercy as we know. Burress was sentenced to 2 years due to a plea deal.

This is quite a blow for someone that had scaled the mountaintop to the Super Bowl. He was developing one of the best passing connections with Giants quarterback Eli Manning in the NFL. This was all taken away and the Giants haven't been the same. He wasn't able to see his wife, child Elijah, and unborn child. That's the ultimate punishment for a man that didn't intend to hurt anyone.

Plax is Back?

The NFL Lockout of 2011 has come and gone. The NFL should be a stronger league than ever. Plaxico Burress was released from prison on June 6, 2011. Instantly, a demand for his services were welcomed by some NFL teams. The Philadelphia Eagles expressed a major interest in Burress. Michael Vick was an example that a player could regain their star status after a stint in jail. He was also willing to mentor Plaxico. The Eagles would be stronger than ever and could really stick it to the New York Giants. 

After the lockout ended, the Giants decided to have talks with Burress for a possible return. Manning and Burress have a major chemistry but Burress isn't a huge fan of coach Tom Coughlin. Could the Giants regain their old form and glory with Burress back in the lineup?

Time to take the field!

On July 31, 2011, Plaxico Burress signed a $3 million dollar contract with the Giants rivals, the New York Jets. Plaxico had mentioned how he liked the way that coach Rex Ryan conducted himself and how he treated the players. There's more freedom with Ryan than Coughlin. Rex Ryan says what's on his mind and gives his players more flexibility. Burress thinks that he'll thrive under the Ryan regime and that he's looking forward to playing on a winner.

What to expect?

Burress has been out of football for 2 seasons and is approaching his 34th birthday. Saying that, there's less wear and tear on his body due to the time that he was inactive. The Jets will have a deadly receiving core with newly signed former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes, Jerricho Cotchery, and Braylon Edwards (status unknown at the present time). This is a football team that has made it to the AFC Championships 2 years in a row. Mark Sanchez to Plaxico Burress might put the Jets over the top.

Look for Plaxico Burress to make a point of being a "good citizen" while performing at a high level. When a person is in the position that he's been in for the last 2 years, they'll be full of energy. This is a receiver that's caught for 7845 yards and 55 touchdowns for his career. Burress is a tall target at almost 6 foot 6 inches. This is the type of receiver that the Jets need.

Look for the New York Jets to be a top contender to win the Super Bowl. This is a title that they haven't won since 1969. New York and New Jersey will be rocking in the new stadium. Plaxico Burress will be happy to just be back on the field again and where he belongs.

Coach Rex Ryan might finally have one of his predictions come true when he said that the Jets will be visiting the White House. 2011-2012 will be an exciting season with the many free agent moves and trades. Let's get this season started!