Locked Up To Locked Out

Burress's catch in Super Bowl XLII is one
of the biggest in NFL history.

After serving a twenty month prison sentence former New York Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl XLII hero Plaxico Burress was released Monday and will now begin his long journey back to the National Football League. Once one of the most dynamic receivers in the NFL, Burress was originally sentenced to two years, but with good behavior he was released early and is ready to get his life back together.

    The former Michigan State Spartan was charged with possession of a firearm that not had been license in the state of New York putting his future in the league in doubt. He accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub in November of 2008, and the incident not only cost him almost two years away from the game, but also his life.

    Now at age thirty-three and the NFL in a current lockout, Burress is looking to stay in shape and show NFL teams that if in fact there is a 2012 season, he will be ready to make a major impact like he did not so long ago.

    Drafted in the first-round with the eight overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2000, Burrness developed into a solid receiver for then-head coach Bill Cowher, catching 22 touchdowns in his five seasons in the Steel City. It would not be until he signed with the Giants that he would become one of the best wideouts in the league.

    The Giants signed Burress to six-year deal worth $25 million in March of 2005, which at the time looked like a poor decision by the 6-foot-5 receiver. The Steelers won their first Super Bowl since 1979 that year without Burress, while him and his new team were shutout in the first-round of the playoffs, losing to the Carolina Panthers 23-0.

    In would not be until 2007 that Burress would get a taste of Super Sunday. Heading into the the 2007 Super Bowl the Giants were twelve point underdogs to the 18-0 New England Patriots, and when quarterback Tom Brady connected with wide receiver Randy Moss for a go-ahead touchdown with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter, it set the stage for the biggest moment of Burress's career.

    Eli Manning would orchestra one of the most incredible comeback drives in NFL history capping it off with 13-yard touchdown pass to Burress with 0:35 left in regulation, giving New York a 17-14 lead and their third Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Burress worked out four times a week
while serving his prison sentence.

A moment that should have defined Burress's career forever sadly will not.

Following their Super Bowl victory, the Giants got off to a great start, opening the '08 season 11-1 and looked primed to defend their Super Bowl crown. However, they lost Burress due to his legal issues and was later released the troubled receiver in April of 2009.

    There seems to light and the end of the tunnel for Burress and his comeback as he can learn from Philadelphia Eagles quaterback Michael Vick, who also served time for different reasons, but found a way to again be successful in the NFL, adding his name to the MVP discussion last season.

    The St. Louis Rams, New York Jets, and Atlanta Falcons are among the teams that would be interested in adding Burress as they have needs at the wide receiver position they are willing to address. The Rams seemed to be the mostly likely landing spot for him as their head coach Steve Spagnuolo is familiar with Burress during their time in New York together when he was Tom Coughlin's defensive coordinator.

    Whomever decides to take a chance on Burress could be greatly rewarded as he becomes a player with a lot to prove and a chip on his shoulder.