It’s been 39 years since the Giants had a wide receiver voted into the Pro Bowl, when Homer Jones was selected in 1968. Had Plaxico Burress not played virtually the entire season with a sprained right ankle and at times with a sore left knee, he might have ended the nearly four-decade wait.
Burress was named a first alternate, as voted onto the NFC squad at receiver were Terrell Owens (76 receptions), Donald Driver (78), Torry Holt (83) and Larry Fitzgerald (83). Burress has 69 catches, and his 10 touchdowns are more than any of the other Pro Bowl receivers, except for Owens, who has 14.
“I kind of expected it,” Burress said of not making the Pro Bowl. “It doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t take away a thing I’ve done this year. I’m still, I would say, one of the best in the league, I did it on a half an ankle and one knee.”
Burress, in his eighth season, has never made it to the Pro Bowl, but could be asked to head to Honolulu if one of the other NFC receivers is injured and cannot play.
“I wasn’t selected, I was made an alternate,” he said. “I guess I’ll deal with that matter whenever it comes up. I’m not really thinking about that right now.”
Reminded that Hawaii is awfully nice around Pro Bowl time in February, Burress – who lives in Miami – quickly shot back, “It’s warm in Florida too.”
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When running down the injuries, Tom Coughlin never mentioned DE Justin Tuck, who did not practice because of what’s listed as a neck injury. Also not working were CB Kevin Dockery (hip flexor), RT Kareem McKenzie (illness), WR Sinorice Moss (back) and, as usual, Burress (ankle). FS Gibril Wilson (knee) was able to practice on a limited basis, as was SS James Butler (hamstring).
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With the bubble not yet operational after heavy winds caused it to deflate last weekend, the Giants practiced outdoors on the stadium field.
“The weather was nice, it wasn’t too bad,” Eli Manning said. … Much was made of Coughlin’s decision to practice indoors last week after the terrible showing in the cold and wind in last Sunday’s 22-10 loss to the Redskins. … An 8-0 loss to the Browns at snow-filled Cleveland Stadium eliminated the Bills from playoff contention. “I don’t anticipate they will show anything but what they have shown all year,” Bills coach Dick Jauron said about his club’s motivation. “And that is they play hard. We don’t always play as smart as we need to play and, unfortunately, I don’t prepare them as well as they need to be prepared sometimes, but they will give us an effort.” … TE Johnny Harline from BYU was signed to the practice squad.