Photo: US Presswire
- Adam ParkerFree agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress is in the news again, though thankfully, this time it only pertains to football reasons. The 34-year-old wideout has expressed interest in teaming up with Cam Newton and Steve Smith to play for the Carolina Panthers in 2012. Burress said in a radio interview earlier this week that “no doubt about it,” he wants to play for the Panthers next season. However, thus far the interest doesn't seem to be mutual. While Burress has fielded phone calls from other NFC South teams, the Panthers have yet to show up on his caller ID, he told WFNZ-AM in Charlotte on Monday. Burress wasn't shy in continue to show his 'giddiness' to come to Carolina. He cited the importance of getting to be close to his family as well as throwing some major love Cam-Cam's and Smith's way.
"My brother lives right there in Charlotte, my cousin lives there in Charlotte, and all my family is there in Columbia, South Carolina. It would just be a great situation all the way around and being close to everybody." "Not just that but playing with Cam, who I think is one of the top five quarterbacks in all of football, and as long as I can remember Steve Smith has been one of my favorites. I just think it's a great situation." Whoa. A top five quarterback in the entire NFL? Seriously, dude?! I know you're trying to get in the Cam-Killa's aka Superman's good graces, but let's at least try to be realistic. He's a phenomenal talent, no doubt. While I'm sure he obviously appreciates the praise and confidence you have in him and his abilities, let's at least try to keep things in perspective. After all, last time I checked, some guys named Tom Brady, Peyton & Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, etc. are still all playing. At this point, I'd probably put Cam in a tie with Philip Rivers behind that first group but ahead of second-tier guys like Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Matthew Stafford. After putting Newton up on a skyscraper-like pedestal, Burress trudged on with his sales pitch, citing that he's getting interest from numerous NFL teams, but he simply hasn't found the right fit. "I just want to put myself in a position to go out and have success to make the guys around me better and obviously play with a quarterback who can really play the position. It's just about me picking my spots and seeing where I'm a good fit. You just look at a situation like Carolina. You can't come across a better situation than that." Well, Plax has made his admiration for the Panthers (most notably by diving head first onto the Cam-wagon) abundantly clear. Now the only question is, will the team give him a shot? It seems like a good fit, as long as the Panthers don't mind having two 34-year-olds as their top two receivers. But Burress and Smith aren't your average 34-year-olds. They both, at least in my opinion, provide unique targets for Newton -- Burress with his size, vertical leap, strength and long strides and Smith with his pure speed, elusiveness and toughness. Not to mention, Burress would easily be an upgrade over guys like David Gettis, Brandon LaFell and the rest of the motley no-name crew that rounds out Carolina's wide receiving corps. I personally think it would make for a good marriage. Outside of Smith, there really is no other wide receivers that the team can count on from week to week. Sure, throwing to tight ends like Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey down the seam is nice, but as you saw with the 49ers last season, you need wide receivers to make an impact in your passing game. So, Jerry [Richardson], when are you getting on the horn to Plaxico? Be sure to follow Beard And Stache on Twitter @BeardAndStache, and also Adam @Adam_Parker43, Like our Facebook page HERE!
