THERE isn’t a team in the National Football League that can stand between the Giants and another Super Bowl championship.
There is, however, a formidable team outside the National Football League that is fully capable of preventing Big Blue from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy high into the Tampa night on Feb. 1.
NYPD Blue.
Tom Coughlin’s Giants can survive and thrive even without Plaxico Burress.
They would not be able to withstand the loss of middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, the heart and soul of their ferocious defense.
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OPINION: The Perils Of Plaxico
Giants fans still hoarse from cheering all along the Canyon of Heroes last February have warmed to the notion that this is a Dream Team ready to give them their first back-to-back Super Bowl champions. And then along comes this nightmare named Plaxico Burress, who must not be allowed to distract and disrupt the Giants any longer between now and March 31, when he is due back in court.
Pierce? He was at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong friend. Unlike Burress, Pierce has mostly been a model of accountability and responsibility during his four-year tenure with the Giants. Unlike Burress, Pierce has common sense, knows right from wrong. Defense wins championships, and a hole in the middle of the Giants’ defense would be more damaging than a hole in Burress’ thigh were law enforcement to charge Pierce in connection with the Burress mess.
Pierce, who has not been charged with anything, isn’t hiding; he appeared on his weekly WFAN radio spot with Mike Francesa.
“Let all the facts come out first before you rush to judgment,” Pierce said.
But he better cooperate with law enforcement quickly, because Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Paul Browne yesterday released this statement:
“[NFL Security] promised Pierce at noon today. He was a no-show. Two trainers also knowledgeable about the incident who could be helpful,” were also promised, but never showed up.
The police were told they would cooperate but we see no evidence of it. Burress? He has outraged Mayor Bloomberg, the Giants, and the NFL. Toting a loaded gun into a New York Cityclub – with or without a permit – can be deemed harmful to the NFL’s integrity and reputation. And should be. Even Lawrence Taylor had better judgment than that.
A year ago Burress walked the walk. Yesterday he walked the perp walk, out of the NYPD 17th Precinct, in handcuffs, into the back of a vehicle that took him to central booking, and if the mayor has his way, to a place where they wear pinstripes but no No. 17s, perhaps for 3 1/2 years.
This has a real chance to be one giant human tragedy, one of his own making, a stunning fall from grace of a Super Bowl hero who thought he could be the football Sinatra and do it his way, above Coughlin’s law and above the gun laws here. Burress is a square peg in a round hole, and doesn’t deserve the chance to be a Super Bowl hero again, especially at a time when he will be fighting for his freedom.
The Giants should bury him on the non-football injury list (without pay), a Big Blue purgatory, give him more time to take his 2-year-old to school, and hope that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell metes out swift justice.
There was fire in Coughlin’s voice when he was asked about all the steps NFL Security takes. “If you know anything about the National Football League, you know all these things are prioritized,” Coughlin said.
Said Amani Toomer: “They give us a whole bunch of phone numbers if we need any help. I don’t know too many people who have run into too many problems.”He knows one, for certain.
The 2007-08 Giants have reminded me of the 1969-70 Red Holzman Knicks. One for all and all for one. A team for Coughlin – and New York – to believe in. Not one to bereave in.