[SecondHandJets]

Things just got even more personal between Plaxico Burress and his former team.

In an interview with Men's Journal conducted after his release from prison in June, Burress blasts New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning, among others in and around the organization.

"After my situation happened, I turned on the TV, and the first words out his mouth was 'sad and disappointing,' " Burress said, according to the Men's Journal article, when asked about Coughlin's reaction after Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg at a New York City nightclub in November 2008.

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"I'm like, forget support -- how about some concern? I did just have a bullet in my leg. And then I sat in his office, and he pushed back his chair and goes, 'I'm glad you didn't kill anybody!' Man, we're paid too much to be treated like kids. He doesn't realize that we're grown men and actually have kids of our own."

Burress' tumultuous relationship with Coughlin has been well-documented, with the two disagreeing and clashing frequently.

"He's not a real positive coach," Burress told Men's Journal for the article that hits newsstands Sept. 16. "You look around the league, the Raheem Morrises and Rex Ryans -- when their player makes a mistake, they take 'em to the side and say, 'We'll get 'em next time.' But Coughlin's on the sideline going crazy, man. I can't remember one time when he tried to talk a player through not having a day he was having."

Burress said he always stood behind Manning, but those feelings soured when the quarterback failed to visit Burress during his nearly two-year prison stint after pleading guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

"I was always his biggest supporter, even days he wasn't on, 'cause I could sense he didn't have thick skin," Burress said. "Then I went away, and I thought he would come see me, but nothing, not a letter, in two years. I don't want to say it was a slap in the face, but I thought our relationship was better than that."

When Burress, 34, met with Giants brass in July, Manning was not present, and even told the media that he would not lobby management for the receiver's return.

Manning has acknowledged that he didn't visit Burress.

"I thought about (visiting Burress) a few times," he said. "It just never worked out. Just one of those deals. As soon as he got out, called him a few weeks after and just talked to him for a little bit. It sounded like he learned a lot and it changed his life."

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Burress agrees with that. He went to prison and left behind a toddler son and pregnant wife. He cried looking at pictures of his son that his wife sent.

"I told her, 'Stop sending pictures because they eat me up so much.' Me and her were arguing on the phone each day, 'cause I was locked down in a lot of pain, and she's in pain about her life outside, being alone with a kid and seven months pregnant," Burress told Men's Journal. "Then at chow, these white officers are yelling, 'You black mother------! You stupid f------ dumbass: You're finished!' It was the lowest point ever in my life."

Burress had been upset with New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was a driving force in making sure Burress, despite his celebrity status, would be made an example of after he shot himself.

"The way Bloomberg treated me was totally wrong, stacked those charges so high I had to go to jail," Burress said.

In jail, "they treated me like a f------ axe murderer. 23-hour lockdown, noncontact visiting, and only a Bible to read," Burress said. "Nobody deserves to live like that, man."

Burress told the magazine he received hate mail from several fans.

"I was a human pincushion; they were like, 'Yeah, we finally got you, mother------'" he said. "On the cover of the New York Post, it said 'GIANT IDIOT!' and I'm thinking, 'Damn, I went and gave 'em what they wanted. I'm just another gun-toting, famous black athlete.' "

Burress' response to fans who took pleasure in his pain?

"What are you doing now?" he said. "You still mad at your job? You still angry about your life? 'Cause I'm back living my life and enjoying my family while you're still doing the same thing."

In prison, though, Burress started to realize that he wasn't just a victim, that he had chosen to take the gun into the club and "changed my life." He knew he had to do things differently.

"I was an edge-goer at times, running the streets and living life and not spending time with my family," he told the magazine. "Or taking risks and not thinking about the consequences, which gave them the chance to take me down."

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He forever will be remembered by Giants' fans and the organization after making the game-winning catch in the 17-14 victory over the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, but Burress still carries a lot of resentment, too much to re-sign, even though he reached out to the team when he was released from prison.

He said he was even treated poorly that Super Bowl season because he couldn't practice due to right ankle and left knee injuries.

"It was hurtful that they didn't have the courage (after the season) to admit they told me not to practice all year," Burress said, specifically mentioning general manager Jerry Reese, according to the Men's Journal article. "They let the media tear me apart, saying I was dogging practice, that I wasn't a team player, all this sh--. The players thought I was pissing on 'em, and coach Coughlin hated it because he was out of the loop: The orders came from upstairs. And meanwhile, he's on the sideline cursing me out 'cause I got a ball punched out against Green Bay. I just stared at him like, 'Are you out of your fu----- mind? I got a separated shoulder and can't run!' "

He cleared the air with the Giants but signed a one-year, $3.017 million contract with the Jets. On Thursday after practice, Burress explained why he blasted the Giants.

"For me, there just comes a time when you want to get things off your chest and you just speak about it at that time and put it behind you," said Burress, adding that he was "just being honest." "I met with everybody over there (with the Giants) and I think everything went well. We had some good conversations, closure on the situation that happened with me, and everybody over there at that time. And I thought that everything was as good as it probably could have went."

The Jets and Giants play each other in Week 16 on Christmas Eve. Burress is set to make his regular-season debut Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys in New York.

Beyond the field, Burress has tried to turn a negative situation into a positive, speaking at this year's rookie symposium.

"I told them, 10 years ago I was sitting where you're at and not trying to hear this sh--," Burress said, according to Men's Journal. "But I threw away $12 million these last two years, and half of you will never even see that. I made a choice and lost everything: my contract, my Nike deal, and the birth of my daughter. That ain't some dude talking; it actually happened."

[SecondHandJets]

Plax sounds like Red in Shawshank at his last parole hearing. Get that black motherfucka the ball!

[santana]

There's so much irony in this article

Makes me glad he didn't enjoy jail


Keyword JAIL

[gmany3k]

In jail, "they treated me like a f------ axe murderer. 23-hour lockdown, noncontact visiting, and only a Bible to read," Burress said. "Nobody deserves to live like that, man."
best thing for him get right with GOD and be an example for others to follow.
it figures that the media Devils put that in print at this time they should get 23 hrs lockdown with only a Bible to read.

[Canuck Jet]

Burress' response to fans who took pleasure in his pain?

"What are you doing now?" he said. "You still mad at your job? You still angry about your life? 'Cause I'm back living my life and enjoying my family while you're still doing the same thing."

Eerily similar to Lebron James' response to fans. Grow up and be the bigger person.

[Jetsman05]

Canuck Jet, on 09 September 2011 - 01:00 PM, said:

Burress' response to fans who took pleasure in his pain?

"What are you doing now?" he said. "You still mad at your job? You still angry about your life? 'Cause I'm back living my life and enjoying my family while you're still doing the same thing."

Eerily similar to Lebron James' response to fans. Grow up and be the bigger person.

f***ing comical. I know one guy I won't be pulling for in a Jets jersey.

Moron.

[S-Dubb]

Why all the Plax hate? holy f*ck!!

The guy has been pinned to the God damn dart board for 2 years. What do you want him to say? I personally thought it was a good article. Screw Coughlin and Eli. He was a teammate and their turned their back on him, he made a mistake and f*cked up, he got served a big slab of humble pie. He seems calm and collected now and poised for a big year.

Why all the hate? did I miss something?

[Jetsfan0099]

He was made an example of. Apparently this interview was July 21st, he actually had dinner with Coughlin after that. A lot of players don't like Coughlin.

[Jetsman05]

S-Dubb, on 09 September 2011 - 03:52 PM, said:

Why all the Plax hate? holy f*ck!!

The guy has been pinned the God damn dart board for 2 years. What do you want him to say? I personally thought it was a good article. Screw Coughlin and Eli. He was a teammate and their turned their back on him, he made a mistake and f*cked up, he got served a big slab of humble pie. He seems calm and collected now and poised for a big year.

Why all the hate? did I miss something?

Yeah, you clearly did.

I'll quote it for you.

Burress' response to fans who took pleasure in his pain?

"What are you doing now?" he said. "You still mad at your job? You still angry about your life? 'Cause I'm back living my life and enjoying my family while you're still doing the same thing."

[S-Dubb]

Jetsman05, on 09 September 2011 - 04:12 PM, said:

Yeah, you clearly did.

I'll quote it for you.

Burress' response to fans who took pleasure in his pain?

"What are you doing now?" he said. "You still mad at your job? You still angry about your life? 'Cause I'm back living my life and enjoying my family while you're still doing the same thing."

Yea I read that... what's the problem? It's his way of digging back at Giants fans who no doubt wrote him awful letters and spammed his twitter. This whole article was about the Giants, Coughlin and Giants fans. What's the problem?

[jetfan4life12]

SecondHandJets, on 09 September 2011 - 11:57 AM, said:

"I'm like, forget support -- how about some concern? I did just have a bullet in my leg. And then I sat in his office, and he pushed back his chair and goes, 'I'm glad you didn't kill anybody!' Man, we're paid too much to be treated like kids. He doesn't realize that we're grown men and actually have kids of our own."

Give me a break Plax! Grown men do not bring loaded firearms into public places especially when: he can afford his own security detail (those dudes can carry) and are not in danger of bodily harm.

We all know Tom Caughlin is an ass but whats wrong being happy nobody was killed?

Show us New York Jets fans you can still do it before you go running your mouth because you sound like a spoiled child who only has what he has because by the grace of God was born so big and athletic because without that you would be hating your job too.

I will take all this back when you become a successful receiver on my favorite team in all of the world!!

[Jetsman05]

S-Dubb, on 09 September 2011 - 04:15 PM, said:

Yea I read that... what's the problem? It's his way of digging back at Giants fans who no doubt wrote him awful letters and spammed his twitter. This whole article was about the Giants, Coughlin and Giants fans. What's the problem?

His way of getting back? Seriously? Acting immature because others did, doesn't justify anything.

The simple fact that some (most probably) athletes look at the every day average person (me and you) and think we hate our lives because we're not million dollar making, overpaid professional athletes is a f***ing joke. All he see's apparently is the fact that he served jail time and he's come back and nothings changed in his life. He's still making big money and doing his thing.

He's an arrogant, ignorant punk who obviously didn't learn a damn thing while he was away.

Combine that with Jetfan's post he just made and its blatant how big of a punk Plaxico well and truly is. Nothing's changed.

[gmany3k]

Plax is saying that he made a mistake and has moved on and is back in is normal life and he is saying where are you stuck in the same place in the past move I have.

[canuckfan]

I didn't find the article to be a bad reflection on the guy just makes him look a bit pathetic. I hope he gives everything to help the Jets win. Sure, he was a dumbass for carrying a weapon in a state where it is a felony (wasn't his wife a lawyer- couldn't she have opened her big trap or something and advise him AGAINST it or whatever...) and a major dumbass for refusing the plea bargain. But he catches footballs for a living so what do you expect anyway.

One thing I would like to see is when he is standing on the sideline to be wearing his hat straight on his head like a grownup instead of 25 degrees cockeyed like he does. Nothing says adolescent like a crooked lid.

[Jetsman05]

gmany3k, on 09 September 2011 - 06:54 PM, said:

Plax is saying that he made a mistake and has moved on and is back in is normal life and he is saying where are you stuck in the same place in the past move I have.

I guess I'm reading it completely different then.

Either way, Plaxico was never going to be one of my favorites. Just catch footballs and help us win please.

[FlyHiJets]

The only problem I have with what Plax said was his insinuation that Bloomberg was trying to make an example out of him. I'm glad Bloomberg did. Just because Plax is a famous athlete doesnt mean he should be above the law. The other thing is the whole 23 hour lockdown thing. If his ass wasn't in protective custody he wouldnt have had to worry about a 23 hour lockdown.

Other than that, I have no issue with what he said. You don't have to like the man wearing the jersey. Just support the team name on the jersey dammit.

[Jetsman05]

FlyHiJets, on 09 September 2011 - 07:56 PM, said:

You don't have to like the man wearing the jersey. Just support the team name on the jersey dammit.

With the amount of loud mouth idiots we have on this team, we have no other choice but to keep our faith in the badge on the jersey.

I've made it known how much I hate the shit we talk. It pisses me off continually.

[SecondHandJets]

You guys are some tough ass Puritans. Consider the facts that lead him to jail and the circumstance:

1. Although he technically committed a crime, he was the only victim.
2. He was definitely made an example of, with charges that were levied to ensure that he would serve jail time.
3. His team mate (Antonio Pierce) snitched on him.
4. He missed the birth of his child.
5. His celebrity was used against him, even though he can't help being a celebrity. By that, I mean that the average citizen would not have been sentenced to jail time under those same exact cicrumstance.

If I was him, I'd be upset too. He lost 2 years of his life and 2 years of his kids lives because the Mayor of NYC made him a scapegoat to send a message to the city.

[Jetsman05]

There's nothing pure about what I'm saying and you know it. I don't care about anything that led up to his prison time, or things that brought himself to prison. I'm talking about his attitude in general. It's shit. I thought it was plain to see but I see there is a line in the sand... which is fair enough

[MoMilk1991]

Plaxico may be an underwear stain, but it doesn't mean you have to even listen to what he says. It's not like anyone is turning to him for moral advice.....right? Just catch some TDs #17, that's all you are being paid to do.