Coughlin proud of team in wake of Burress fiasco

Dec 3, 2008 - 5:14 PM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- One day after ending star wide receiver Plaxico Burress' season, New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin was taking a look-ahead approach.

The Giants placed Burress on the reserve/non-football injury list Tuesday, officially ending the season of the player who caught the winning pass in Super Bowl XLII in February.

Coughlin briefly addressed the matter Wednesday morning, all the while stressing that the team is taking a business-as-usual approach with four regular-season games remaining.

"I addressed the team Saturday and again this morning," Coughlin said. "There were two words I used. One was disappointment. Two was sadness. I think that sums it all up."

Burress was placed on the reserve/non-football one day after he was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a Manhattan nightclub the previous weekend.

The Giants fined Burress and suspended him for four games for conduct detrimental to the team and for multiple and repeated violations of club rules.

Should the defending Super Bowl champions make the playoffs, which is a mere formality given their 11-1 record, Burress will not be allowed to return to the Giants' active list.

While Coughlin acknowledged that Burress was "humble" and "remorseful" when they talked, the coach reminded the media that the team still has plenty of work to do.

"Believe it or not, we have a football game this weekend, a very important football game," Coughlin said of Sunday's matchup against NFC East rival Philadelphia.

Coughlin also lauded his players for the way they handled the potential distraction caused by the incident involving Burress, who was accompanied by teammate Antonio Pierce at the Latin Quarter on Friday night.

Pierce also is under investigation for his role in the matter. Pierce's SUV has been impounded by police.

"I am pleased with our team, with our mental toughness, with our ability to focus, with our ability to go ahead and approach the task at hand despite the circumstances laid out before them Saturday morning," Coughlin said.

It marked the second suspension this season for Burress, who likely has played his final game in a Giants uniform.

One of the heroes of New York's surprising victory in Super Bowl XLII, Burress posted $100,000 bail Monday after being charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon - a Glock semiautomatic pistol - and third-degree possession for carrying the ammunition clip.

Both are Class C felonies, for which Burress could be sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 3 1/2 years in jail if convicted.

A first-round pick of the Pittsburgh in 2000, Burress spent his first five seasons with the Steelers before joining the Giants in 2005.

Burress had a pair of 1,000-yard seasons with New York, and hauled in a career-high 12 touchdown passes in 2007 despite not practicing for virtually the entire season due to a gimpy ankle.

In the Giants' stunning 17-14 victory over then-unbeaten New England in the Super Bowl, Burress caught a 13-yard scoring pass from Eli Manning with 35 seconds to play to provide the winning margin.

But matters have spiraled downward this season for Burress, who finished with 41 receptions for 454 yards and four touchdowns this year.

Burress, who signed a five-year, $35 million contract extension prior to the season, missed the Giants' October 5 game against the Seattle Seahawks after being suspended for missing a team meeting.

He also was involved in a sideline confrontation with Coughlin during a game and has been fined multiple times for a total of approximately $200,000.