Giants Moving On, Coughlin Says
New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin said today he was saddened and disappointed by the Plaxico Burress situation but expects his team to move on and continue winning without the wide receiver, who had his season ended by the team Tuesday as he faces weapon charges stemming from the accidental shooting over the weekend in which he suffered a leg wound.
Coughlin also indicated that linebacker Antonio Pierce would practice with the team today and he didn't expect Pierce's playing status to change.
The coach said he addressed his players this morning, one day after the Giants announced they were fining Burress, suspending him for four games for conduct detrimental to the team and placing him on the non-football injury list, making him ineligible for play for the club again this season and postseason.
"There were two words I used--one, disappointment and two, sadness," Coughlin said at a news conference.
Coughlin was among the team officials who spoke to Burress on Tuesday.
"I had a conversation with Plaxico," Coughlin said at his news conference today. "He was very humble. He was remorseful. Obviously it doesn't change anything. But you have to understand that he is part of our team and our concern is with him and his family's well-being and the ability of him to obviously... get through this circumstance and also to be healthy once again. I think our team shares that same thought. And by saying that, I will answer no questions about what happened, details, or anything of that nature because, believe it or not, we have a football game this weekend, a very important game against a very, very good Philadelphia Eagles team in the division.
"... I am pleased with our team, with our mental toughness, with our ability to focus, and with our ability to go ahead and approach the task at hand despite the circumstances that were laid really in front of them Saturday morning. So we look forward to preparing for Philadelphia. We have had a good meeting this morning."
The Giants beat the Washington Redskins on Sunday at FedEx Field to improve their record to 11-1. Burress had been ruled out of that game Friday because of a previous hamstring injury. He reportedly shot himself in the leg accidentally early Saturday at a New York nightclub.
Domenik Hixon likely will remain in the starting lineup in place of Burress as the Giants attempt to win a second straight Super Bowl title.
"What we try to stress is team," Coughlin said. "We try to stress that each individual on our team has a very, very important function and even on game day, you are as good as your 45th guy. Every man has a role and every man has to contribute to the greatest of his ability. We coach them all the same. We ask, even if it is in a backup role, that a guy performs exactly the way that we want it done.
"By virtue of the confidence that we place in the players and the ability to recognize within these players the skill level that we need in order to win, we challenge them when situations like this come up. We have been fortunate enough that guys have risen up and met the challenge."
The Giants haven't addressed Burress's future with the team beyond this season. The four-game suspension, assuming it's without pay, will cost Burress $823,529 of his $3.5 million salary for this season. Placing Burress on the non-football injury list potentially could allow the Giants to attempt to force Burress to return a portion of the bonus money in his five-year, $35 million contact completed hours before this season's opening game.
Burress made a court appearance Monday on charges of criminal possession of a weapon after turning himself in to police. He is free on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be back in court on March 31.
Coughlin declined to answer most of the questions he was asked today about the Burress situation but did speak of his sadness on a personal level about the developments in recent days.
"I think that in the position that I am in, and probably 32 [head coaches] around the league, we all feel like that if we can recognize someone who needs help, we can help them," Coughlin said. "In this case I'm saddened because obviously, despite the fact that we had two really good weeks [of practice by Burress], this happens and obviously I'm saddened by it."
Coughlin was asked whether other players should take the team's handling of the Burress case as a warning.
"Each case is different," Coughlin said, according to a transcript of his news conference provided by the Giants. "Each is separate. But there is no doubt that we will do the right thing. That is no threat to the players. They know that."
The Giants don't have a disciplinary decision to make about Pierce "at this time," Coughlin said. Police reportedly are investigating Pierce's role in the shooting. According to reports, Pierce was with Burress at the nightclub and left the club with Burress. Pierce also has was accused by police sources in a published report over the weekend of taking the gun, which later was recovered by police, immediately after the shooting. Pierce has refused to discuss details of the incident publicly.
Coughlin said that Pierce is "practicing and I fully expect that he will continue."
Tailback Ahmad Bradshaw also is practicing, according to Coughlin. Bradshaw, according to reports, was at the nightclub on the night of the incident but was not involved in it.
According to media reports, the hospital that treated Burress suspended a doctor in connection to the case. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg had criticized the hospital for failing to report its treatment of a gunshot wound to police as required by law.
By
Mark Maske
|
December 3, 2008; 1:46 PM ET
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Giants
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Posted by: Robert | December 3, 2008 8:41 PM
There are a lot of dummies in this world. He just happens to be one who lives in a fish bowl which makes him even dummer.
Posted by: Paul | December 3, 2008 6:25 PM
He should be happy he just shot himself in the leg and not someone else. This could have gone much worse for him and someone else.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 3, 2008 6:24 PM
To whom it may concern. Yes Plax Burress had a gun in his pocket that went off by accident. And that's it! Except the gun was in a public place of business and not left outside or in his car. The fact is it was still an accident, even the Vice President of the United States had a hunting gun that went off by accident!!! But NFL players do need protection, too many have been robbed, beat up, shot at or Murdered. Plex needs support and understanding from Giants & NY City people.
Posted by: Barry | December 3, 2008 6:12 PM
The concealed weapon is not what upsets me.
This guy was laughing after he shot himself. I do not know if that is true but that is what was in the news.
Anyone that has guns and has a brain will not run around with a pistol in his pocket with the hammer back and a round in the chamber.
He could be running around with a high voice now.
It sounds like this person is able to run fast but when it comes to reason, forget it.
Posted by: Charles Lopez | December 3, 2008 6:03 PM
It was a glock, semi-automatic 9MM, I own one and sometimes (I have a permit) carry it. I never ever ever carry it with a round in the chamber. I can't imagine why Plexico would have a round chambered, especially without a holster to carry it in. It's really gun safety for dummies.
Posted by: HateBackHair | December 3, 2008 5:57 PM
he should have been at home with his wife and kid instead of at a stupid "club" or bar whatever drinking establishment he was in.
Posted by: the factor | December 3, 2008 5:46 PM
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, it probably is. The NFL needs to clean out the THUGS and the state needs to hold them accountable.
Posted by: active duty | December 3, 2008 5:43 PM
As a die hard Giants fan I am glad to see that they have suspended Burress for the rest of the season. I'm sure that he has played his last game as a Giant as well. As for Pierce, I think we have to see what his involvement was, and also remember that Pierce has a squeeky clean record and deserves the benifit of the doubt at this point.
Posted by: Chris | December 3, 2008 5:31 PM
I mean its called bare fire arm's its a law that gives you a right to own a gun if your protecting your family
Posted by: person | December 3, 2008 5:30 PM
What were they all doing with a game coming up?We have let these social misfits with trick reflexes off time and time again,scorch all of them,treat them like regular people worried about their jobs and homes would be treated.Enough of the spin-a Thug is a Thug.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 3, 2008 5:29 PM
how could you shoot yourself in the leg i mean really acidently it seems like something's behind that. plus even if he did carry a gun around with no licens he still by law is aloud to it's called to vare fire arms but in this case it was'nt to protect his family so i guess your right.
Posted by: person | December 3, 2008 5:28 PM
I don't get these guys. What the hell is a guy like Burress going to do with a gun in a club anyway ? Pull it out and shoot someone ? I hope the guy does some serious prison time. If he doesn't, every punk in NYC is going to point at Burress as an example of why THEY should be able to carry a concealed weapon out into the public.
Posted by: Rob | December 3, 2008 5:10 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
If the Giants had any social conscience they would have suspended all of the players known to be involved until the situation is clarified. Of course they became part of the problem when they didn't report the incident and refused to cooperate with the police. I guess that is the way these teams thank the taxpayers who support their arena construction so that the rich boys can play with their toys.