 PLAXICO NO-GO AT PRACTICE
PLAXICO NO-GO AT PRACTICE
LEG AILMENTS LIMIT STAR RECEIVER TO INDIVIDUAL DRILLS
By PAUL SCHWARTZ
NY POST
February 2, 2008 -- PHOENIX - Before he ever set foot in Arizona, Plaxico Burress boldly predicted to The Post that the Giants will beat the Patriots 23-17 in Super Bowl XLII. Assumed in that confident promise of a staggering upset was that Burress anticipated he'd be a dominating factor in the outcome of the game.
With kickoff fast approaching, that assumption is now a hope and prayer for the Giants, as the towering receiver is hurting once again - and, although he's expected to start, he could be limited or hampered with an assortment of leg-related injuries.
For the third consecutive day, Burress yesterday did not participate in any real aspects of practice, an ominous sign that is sure to affect the Giants far more adversely than Tom Brady's slight high right ankle sprain. Burress is the Giants' big-play target and he was an absolute terror in the NFC Championship game, when he savaged Packers Pro Bowl cornerback Al Harris in frigid Green Bay with 11 catches for 154 yards. Burress seemed primed for a huge Super Bowl performance, stating upon arrival that his chronically-sprained right ankle was "97 percent" healed.
Burress enjoyed himself all week, at ease in the media spotlight, explaining away his prediction as supreme confidence in his teammates. But the more he talked, the less he worked. He suffered a flare-up of a left-knee injury that bothered him from time to time this season. The knee became sore and swollen and he was unable to do anything in practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Based on reduced swelling in the knee, the belief was he would get on the field yesterday, but other than participating in a few individual drills, Burress was a no-go.
He's listed as questionable to play in the Super Bowl, officially meaning he's 50-50.
In the final full workout at the Arizona Cardinals' facility, Burress stretched and loosened up with his teammates and ran a few routes in drills, testing his ailing ankle and knee.
"He did run a few things in individual," Tom Coughlin said. "He ran a couple of slants. He took a play in the green zone, and that was about all we did with him."
At full strength, the Giants as a 12-point underdog need all hands on deck and monster performances from their marquee players to have a chance to upset the unbeaten Patriots, who at 18-0 are one game away from perfection. If Burress is not close to 100 percent, the Giants' passing attack will be severely diminished, despite the presence of Amani Toomer and rookie Steve Smith. Burress is the difference-maker.
"He's improved," Coughlin said, evaluating Burress' status from the beginning of the week. "He's done it all year under all kinds of circumstances. We've just got to be hopeful he can do it one more time."
Since the second game of the season, Burress was a spectator at practice, as he needed all the rest he could get in order to make it onto the field on game days. Gradually, his health improved.
"Over the last month he's practiced pretty much every day with a select number of snaps," Coughlin said. "It did help Eli (Manning) when he was able to practice because they were able to communicate on game plans and adjustments, etc."
After two quiet playoff games, Burress erupted in the NFC title game in Green Bay He sounded ready for a similarly-dominating outing against the Patriots. If that's to be the case, he sure prepared for it in an unusual way. During the team portion of yesterday's practice, Burress stood on the side, holding his helmet in his hands.
"Obviously if we felt he could go, he would have gone the whole time," Coughlin said.
The Giants have a walk-through practice today, a final chance for Burress to at least shake off the cobwebs and get in some running. The Giants need him to be fast and furious, not slow and tentative. He has done it before.  | 
BETCRIS 
02-02-2008, 06:41 AM
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