Morris indicates Bucs will monitor Burress case

Bucs coach Raheem Morris indicated Thursday that the team will monitor the case of former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress.

A representative of the Bucs contacted Burress last week, but there has been no talk of signing the troubled receiver.

Burress is due in court June 15 for a hearing on weapons charges that arose from his self-inflicted gunshot wound at a Manhattan nightclub last November. He was released by the Giants in April.

If Burress clears his legal hurdles, he still could face a suspension from the NFL. The Bucs and Jets are possible suitors. Agent Drew Rosenhaus has said three teams have expressed interest in Burress but none want to be identified. Morris left little doubt the Bucs could be one of those teams.

"Plaxico has got to deal with his issue with the league,'' Morris said. "We'll see how that plays out. We'll see how that works out with us and their timing and everything of that nature. But he's a great player. What do you want me to tell you?'

"You don't want to defend Plaxico. But if he's cleared through his legal issues and the NFL grants him back, I don't want to be the guy to pass judgement. You've always got to look at character. You've always got to make that judgement when you meet a person. I've never met Plaxico and I can't judge him right now.

"He's a great player and anytime you have an opportunity to get a great player, you'd love to see a great player come to Tampa. We're really talking about ghosts as we speak now, we're talking about a suspended guy.''

Receiver Antonio Bryant said during a radio interview with Sirius NFL radio that he has lobbied the Bucs to try and acquire either Burress or Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin.

"He's in a situation where we don't know the outcome,'' Bryant said. "Hey, why not? Why not him or Boldin? Why not? Why not? Why not? We will all get our opportunities. Look, the Cardinals had Boldin and Fitzgerald on the same field and got to the Super Bowl. There would be no problem here. Hey, they went to the Super Bowl. You think I will complain about balls if we go to the Super Bowl? Come on!''

Comments

[Matt H]

"I've never met Plaxico and I can't judge him right now"

If Morris wants to meet Plaxico, I hear the visiting hours at the New York Prison are 11am till 3pm. He'll be available to meet M-F for the next 3 years.

[big007hed]

Not sure how I feel about this situation, I mean Burress would be a great pickup at WR but he is a complete idiot so I dunno.....

[OAR]

Read one of the funniest blogs about Plaxico. It said:

Plaxico never shot anybody that didn't deserve it.

[e]

I'd rather have Boldin, but at what cost?
e

[OAR]

e, me too and to much I'm sure. Although it sounds like he's going to stay in Arizona.

[Al]

I know the team needs recievers but this is not the answer. Too much baggage.

[WS]

Have you seen our depth at receiver? Sign him if he doesn't go the the clink. Offer him an A Bryant type deal (last years) and roll the dice. Too much upside with this guy.

[big007hed]

Just something to think about: right now our top 4 WRs are Bryant, Clayton, Stroughter, and Clark..... Now tell me who on this list is better than Plax outside of Bryant....

[Itch]

It is awfully hard to run routes and catch passes with cuffs on.

[OAR]

I have seen more depth in a bird bath. hopefully Clayton, Clark, and Jackson can get it together and step up and fill some spots.

[JC]

Im with e, I'd love to see Boldin in Red and Pewter, but he is going to come with one heck of a price tag.

If Plaxico has the charges dropped and after he serves a likely suspension from the Commish, then what the heck, bring him in, we need all the talent we can get.

[mm]

No way Quan ends up here. They are asking for at least what Detroit got for Williams. a 1st, 3rd, & 6th.