Stop Whining and Shut it, Plax

It became the catch heard, or rather, the catch seen around the world, that made New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress a hero in New York. Just a short three months ago in Super Bowl XLII, Eli Manning connected with Burress for the game-winning touchdown against heavily favored (and heavily hated) New England Patriots. That catch made him the hero in many Giants fans' hearts and will go down as one of the greatest clutch moments in Super Bowl history.

Burress not only was huge in the Super Bowl, but was an essential reason why the Giants even made it to the Super Bowl. In the NFC Championship Game, Burress had 11 catches for 154 yards receiving. His outburst throughout the playoffs was uncharacteristic of him, as he was not known as a big-time player on that grand a stage. Sure, he had all the potential in the world to become a dominant wide receiver, but he usually never showed up.

So one would think that he'd be happily willing to return to the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, right? To come back and play with Eli Manning, who might've moved into elite status by his play in the playoffs, right? Well, Plaxico Burress proves once again why NFL wide receivers are the biggest prima donnas in sports.

"Me and my agent are trying to get a deal done so I can stay a New York Giant for a long time," Burress said. "I, personally, don't like the way they're going and I am not happy about it. I am choosing not to participate," he told ESPN.com.

This is coming from a so-called "professional" player? I thought most "professionals" in any job carry their business and complaints like mature adults instead crying about it. His frustrations and comments are that of a 12-year-old. Burress is making $4.1 million a year and he's unsatisfied about his contract? Unfortunately, players like Burress grow the biggest ego ever, which makes everyone else suffer. Burress has his one shining moment in the Super Bowl, and now all of a sudden thinks he's a lock for the Hall of Fame.

This is why the NFL is starting to turn into a soap opera. Instead of hearing daily reports on how the rookies are looking in the Giants mini-camp or what players suffered injuries, you're hearing the constant whining of Burress and how he's going to sit out of mini-camp until he gets a new contract. Burress has not only made himself to be a distraction to the New York Giants front office, but he's made a distraction to his team. Right now, the Giants should be celebrating and rejoicing at mini-camp after the Super Bowl win. No, no, that can't happen because Plax has put a sour taste upon the Giants camp. As days go by, he'll continue to act like a child, instead of a professional until he gets what he wants for his own benefit.

To be honest, what has Plaxico Burress accomplished to be worthy of a big payday? Yes, he was instrumental in the playoffs and without Burress, I doubt the Giants make it to the Super Bowl, let alone win it. So for the first time in maybe his career, Burress actually came up big in important games. That's the problem, though, except for last year's playoffs, he's never shown that he can be capable of making a clutch catch to win a game or show any leadership whatsoever to will his team to victory.

Throughout his whole career in New York, Burress has caught passes from Eli Manning. Manning early on in his career struggled quite a bit and it showed. Quarterbacks like Manning need a wide receiver that can be his go-to guy. Tom Brady has Randy Moss, Peyton Manning has Marvin Harrison, Carson Palmer has Chad Johnson, etc. Unfortunately though for Eli, he never had that guy that he can depend on, which forced the idea that Manning was a bust because he couldn't come up in clutch situations.

This is where Plaxico Burress comes in. Burress is easily the best playmaker the Giants have had the past couple years. His height, hands, and elusiveness are evidence of it. But at the end of close games, he'd curl up like a cat and be so non-existent, you wouldn't even know he was on the field.

Last year was Burress's seventh season as an NFL player. At about the fifth season, I consider wide receivers like Burress to be able to rise up to the challenge of being that go-to guy. However, Plax didn't want to be that guy. Those situations for Burress, however, would be the right time for him to be selfish. Selfish enough to want the ball, just like the great ones do. Manning needed Burress to be selfish and want the ball, but he never delivered.

So many times the Giants have been in situations where they could've collected a better seed in the playoffs to increase their chances of going to the Super Bowl, but couldn't because they would lose in the end. A big part of this blame goes to Burress. Wide receivers in today's game have to play hero at the end. So do quarterbacks, but they must depend on the play of their wide receivers. Sadly, though, Manning could've really benefited from Burress, but didn't benefit from his presence in tight games.

Burress never had the killer instinct to play "Superman" and win a game or two for the Giants. Now I'm not saying everything was on him. Of course others could've stepped up, but like I said before, Burress was easily the most athletic player in the Giants' offense. He's the type of guy you'd expect to make the game-winning catch.

Even with the way he came up clutch and helped Manning immensely in last year's playoffs, I doubt Burress can keep coming up clutch in the future. It's not like fairy dust has been magically sprinkled on him, and now he'll be the next Jerry Rice at the end of games. Yes, his play in the playoffs and Super Bowl could turn him around, but we still don't know yet and judging by his past performances, there's still some serious doubt he can keep that up. Sometimes players have a "flash in a pan" time period where they're excellent and can't be stopped. Soon after, though, they set right back into reality and are the same players they always have been.

Plaxico Burress will have to prove to not only me, but to others he can maintain the play he had during the playoffs and Super Bowl. Right now, many people are doubting him, and for good reason. He hasn't reached his full potential yet and is sometimes lazy (see his effort against Pac Man Jones in 2006). Instead of complaining so much about how he wants money or how he doesn't like the way the Giants are running things, how about he just goes out there and shows them that he deserves more than he's getting? If next season Burress plays the way we all know he can, then he'll have something to gripe about. But until then, Plaxico Burress, please just shut it and play your game.