Giants Release Burress

The New York Giants have released wide receiver Plaxico Burress, a little more than four months after the talented but troubled wide receiver accidentally shot himself in the thigh in a New York City nightclub.

The former Super Bowl hero's tenure in New York had more than its share of ups and downs. The highs included the Super Bowl winning TD catch against the previously undefeated New England Patriots, the lows were highlighted with the aforemention self shooting, all with fines and suspensions sprinkled in between.

The 31-year-old, who was suspended by the Giants for the final four weeks of the season for conduct detrimental to the team and fined after the shooting, also faces possible NFL sanctions for violating its personal conduct policy.

The G-Men had been willing to stand by their star receiver, through all of his legal troubles, assuming they saw remourse and progression in Burress' attitude. Apperently they did not see significant change, the final straw being when the front office requested that Plaxico restructure his contract to be more team friendly. When he refused, he weas shown the door.

Burress caught 344 passes with the Giants, which places him 12th on the franchise's career list, one catch ahead of Earnest Gray and three behind Aaron Thomas. Burress had 3,681 receiving yards and caught 33 touchdown passes for the Giants.

New York now finds themselves with a significant hole in their roster but find themselves with an opprotunity to repair this hole with a variety of options, either through the draft where a WR like Rutgers' Kenny Britt, North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks or Ohio State's Brian Robiskie may be available with the 29th pick.

If they are not sold on any of those draftee's the G-men have plen ty of ammunition to pull off a trade for Arizona's Anquan Boldin or Cleveland's Braylon Edwards, whom they have already been linked to, but haven't found the right deal yet.

"Plaxico's contribution to our championship season in 2007 can never be underestimated or undervalued," coach Tom Coughlin said. "He displayed tremendous determination throughout that season. Having said that, I have always been as concerned about Plaxico as a man as I have been about him as a player, and my hope is that everything that has happened over the past several months represents a turning point. He is a young man with a family who has a whole lifetime ahead of him, and I personally wish him and his family well."