Should The Steelers Consider Burress?

If you didn’t know, Plaxico Burress was just released from prison today and he’s on the open market as soon as this NFL labor dispute is over.  So, with that said we pose the question, should the Steelers consider signing Burress?  He was a pretty productive player when he was in Pittsburgh the first time and a very productive player after he left and ended up with the Giants as a Super Bowl hero.  Now of course, he’s missed two years to being in jail and he’s 34 years old, but he’s still 6ft4 and you can’t coach that height. He isn’t Mike Vick who has to re learn QB, he’s a WR where once you have the skill set, you have it. While perhaps the skills are slightly diminished, we think he’s a worthwhile gamble for the right price.

Here’s why: Big Ben loved having Burress in his rookie season and they developed quite a raport. Since that time Big Ben has asked for a tall wide receiver. The Steelers obliged when they drafted Limas Sweed, who is also 6ft4 and I think we know the results there.  The next tallest WR on the Steelers roster is Arnaz Battle at 6-1. He was on this team last year and had zero catches for zero yards. Their top 2 guys, Hines Ward and Mike Wallace are both only 6-0. Yeah, they are the unquestioned number 1 and 2 guys, then you have a battle for 3-5 with Emanuel Sanders who we love, Antonio Brown, who’s developing and Randle El who’s aging.  Those guys are 5-11 or shorter. Burress can be a big play possesion receiver, a red zone guy and a real threat with that height.  Ben can loft that ball up and have Plax go up and get it and the Steelers are missing that guy.

Sure, Plax has been an issue here and there in the locker room, but he will be on a 1 year contract and knows he’s on his last chance, screw up and you’re done for good this time. We thin he’ll have learned his lesson. Mike Tomlin doesn’t take the b.s. and with a veteran laced club like the Steelers you get with the program or you get out of town. We think he’d have direction and desire being on this team. We also think he’d be a cheap pick up as he won’t be getting a lot of money from anyone due to the fact that he hasn’t played in 2 years. 

Lastly, there are heavy rumors that the Ravens are going to sign him, we don’t need that at all!  Our secondary isn’t good, as we all know and we don’t need to see him twice a year and having him hurt us.  Even if it’s a preventative measure, for the right, cheap cost, it’s worth it.

All in all, we think it’s worth the risk and could pay off with big rewards! The odds of it happening are unlikely as the Steelers are certainly the conservative type but this may be one time they should break the mold and give it a chance.  Time will tell but we say do it!