Plaxico Burress to meet with Steelers
By Matt Shetler
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t just paper thin right now at quarterback, with the injuries to Antonio Brown and apparently Jerricho Cotchery, they don’t have enough capable bodies to step in and make plays in the passing game.
Nov 27, 2011; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress reacts after making a catch in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Met Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Mills/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE
That’s where a familiar face comes into play.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress is expected to visit with the Steelers and take a physical with his former team, a league source told ESPN Monday.
Burress missed the 2009 and 2010 seasons, but was productive with the New York Jets last season, hauling in 45 receptions and eight touchdowns. Only 10 receivers in the entire league caught more touchdowns last season. But the 35-year-old has remained unsigned throughout this season despite reportedly drawing interest from multiple teams.
He will significantly bolster the injury-plagued receiving corps that got even more depleted after Cotchery was injured at the end of Sunday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Reports have Burress scheduled to work out with the team tomorrow and while a potential signing would help the Steelers a great deal, you have to wonder if reaching out to Burress didn’t come a week or two too late.
Burress has lost a bit of speed since he was in his prime, but he is still a valuable red zone target and could turn into a productive possession receiver, especially since Mike Wallace has had some issues holding onto the football.
Of course if they sign Burress, the issue still remains of who is going to throw him the football, but the team is supposed to work out a couple of quarterbacks this week.