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WR Burress back in fold for undefeated Giants

Oct 7, 2008 - 3:34 PM NY Giants (4-0) at Cleveland (1-3), Monday,8:30pm, EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin is tired of talking about wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

During his weekly conference call with the media, Coughlin not surprisingly was peppered with questions about Burress, who has rejoined the team after serving a one-game suspension and will be able to play in Monday night's contest at Cleveland.

"So far, there have been five or six questions and they have all been on this," Coughlin said. "He is back. He was told to be back (Monday) morning, that he would report for work on the 6th. He did. He exercised with his teammates; he ran and he did the things that he was supposed to do."

Although Burress hardly was missed in the Giants' 44-6 drubbing of the Seattle Seahawks, they will need him if they are going to make another Super Bowl run. While he would not confirm it, Coughlin expects that Burress will regain his starting role against the Browns.

"I expect him to come back and that is something I hadn't really thought about or discussed," Coughlin added. "I should have anticipated it. But I would say right now, yes."

The Giants (4-0), who have eight straight wins, including last season's playoff run, will be looking to continue their best start since 1990, when they opened 10-0 en route to their second Super Bowl victory. New York also is seeking its 12th consecutive road win.

While the Giants have benefited from a favorable schedule - playing only one division game - they appear to be getting stronger in their Super Bowl defense.

New York gained 523 yards against the Seahawks - its highest total in nearly six years - and scored on its first five possessions.

Brandon Jacobs rushed for 136 yards to pace on a ground attack that churned out 254 yards and Eli Manning spread around the wealth, completing passes to eight different receivers, including a pair of touchdowns to Sinorice Moss.

"We have the three running backs," said Manning, also referring to Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward. "Receivers, we are rotating guys in and out. We're moving and all of them are doing a good job. We don't have a whole lot of confusion."

The Browns (1-3) are at the other end of the spectrum, still struggling to find a rhythm on offense. Despite the offensive problems, coach Romeo Crennel has elected to stay with quarterback Derek Anderson, even though Cleveland fans are calling for Brady Quinn.

Prior to last week's bye, Cleveland posted its first win of the season with a 20-12 victory at Cincinnati, but the Browns managed only three points threw three quarters before scoring 17 in the final period. Anderson passed for only 138 yards, the fourth straight game in which he has been held under 200 this season.

The Browns could get a boost against the Giants as wide receiver Donte' Stallworth is expected to return after missing the first four games with a quad injury.