Since Irvin left town, Jerry Jones has been eager to sign flashy free agent wide receivers. Notable free agent wideouts who have made their way to Dallas include Joey Galloway, Terrell Owens and Roy Williams, and none of those players were able to match the great things expected of them. Galloway was the first big-name receiver the Cowboys brought in to replace Irvin, but his tenure was a disappointment right from the start. Galloway was signed away from Seattle after racking up at least 1,000 receiving yards in four of his six years with the Seahawks, and promptly tore his ACL in his first game with the Cowboys, missing the remainder of the 2000 season. He would never top 1,000 yards receiving or appear in a playoff game during his 3 remaining years with the team.

The next big name free agent receiver to make his way to Dallas was by far the most productive one – Terrell Owens. Owens compiled at least 1,000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns during each of his three years in Dallas from 2006-2008. But for everything Owens brought to the team on the field, he removed more off of it. Owens fractured team chemistry by getting into arguments with then wide receivers coach Todd Haley, and even accused quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten of conspiring to keep him from getting the ball.  Despite all of his production, the Cowboys never won a playoff game with T.O. on the roster.

Finally, Roy Williams was traded to Dallas in 2008, 2 years removed from a season that saw him collect 1,300 receiving yards with the Detroit Lions. Despite Dallas’ willingness to send 3 picks – including a first-rounder – to Detroit for the receiver, Williams would never even approach the level of production that was expected of him. He finished his Cowboys’ career with 1,324 yards and 13 touchdowns in 40 games with the team, prompting Jones to say afterwards that he’d “love to have that trade back.”

Clearly, if anyone should knows the risks of acquiring a high-profile receiver, it’s Jerry Jones. Not to mention, one can hardly imagine a worse role model than Burress for the troubled receiver already on the Cowboys’ roster, Dez Bryant. I was frustrated last year when the Giants failed to sign Burress only to see him sign with a rival, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Big Blue as it opened up playing time for breakout star Victor Cruz. If Burress signs with the hated Cowboys this year, expect history to repeat itself.

We all know that Hakeem Nicks injured his foot last week and had surgery.  The WORST case scenario is for Hakeem to return two weeks before opening night. SO, of course, the media is asking how this will effect the Giants passing game.  Who will step up to take his place.  What will the Giants do?  Why do they have to do anything?  He is coming back, in plenty of time, and as we chronicled last week here at GMENHQ there are plenty of players in camp to play the wide receiver position.

But, someone had to ruin the coaches day by asking the most ridiculous question ever uttered.  Would the Giants call Plaxico Burress?  Plaxico who let the team down in 2008. Plaxico who “said” he turned down a Giants offer last year.  Plaxico who then ripped the organization he “didn’t want to play for” for not offering him a bigger deal.  Plaxico who stole some Jet money last year only to show how lazy he still is.  He never caught more than 5 balls in a game while catching 45 all year for 600 yards, with just 22 coming in the second half of the season. In 4 games Plax caught one or fewer balls. Plaxico who has turned into the Dwight Howard of the NFL telling everyone every week what team he would like to play for, and thankfully the Giants are off that list.

I realize it’s tough to write stories on a daily basis……..but to ask this question just shows no imagination

He said:

“Personally, I think I just needed a fresh start. If I wanted to go somewhere and make money, I could have went a couple other places and got a two- or three-year deal, different things like that. But I just wanted an opportunity to go somewhere fresh and have an opportunity to play for a great organization and a great coach in Rex (Ryan) and a great team.

“And I feel like I’m in the right place.”

He didn’t want to sign with the Giants — he just wanted to meet with the front office and thank them for the opportunities they afforded him. Interestingly though, if the Giants had matched the Jets $3million in guaranteed money Burress acknowledged that he would have been open to rejoining the Giants instead of the Jets.

Hmm, we’ll see how this story shakes out around week 16.

[quote via The Daily News]

Rex Ryan and March Sanchez can’t say enough good things about Plax after his 3 catches for 66 yards and a TD:

via PFT:

Ryan: “You see we beat Cover-One and we beat Cover-Zero throwing the ball up to him. I don’t care who you are playing corner, you can be Willie Brown or Darrelle Revis out there, that’s going to be tough. We were smiling from ear to ear. That’s why he’s here.”

Sanchez: “I’ve never had a target like him.”

I’m still a little bitter about this because I wanted to see Plax back in Blue, but the Giants made him a ‘responsible offer’ and he went with more guaranteed money. Now, the Jets offense is going to be that much better with Plaxico Burress lining up in the red zone — guaranteed.