Giants WR Burress returns to team

Oct 6, 2008 - 6:13 PM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress returned from his two-week suspension Monday.

Burress, who was suspended without pay on September 24 for what the Giants termed as "insubordination," reported on time at the team's training complex Monday morning, less than 24 hours after the Super Bowl champs thrashed the Seattle Seahawks to improve to 4-0.

New York's top receiver for the past three-plus seasons, Burress also had a private conversation with Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, who claimed that the mercurial wideout looked "ready to go."

"He's back, he was told to be back this morning, that he would report to work on (October 6) - he did," Coughlin said during his conference call. "He exercised with his teammates, he ran and he did the things he was supposed to do."

Burress, who agreed to a five-year, $35 million contract extension with the Giants last month, missed a team activity on September 22 and failed to provide the club with a reason for his absence.

Citing unspecified family reasons, Burress' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, ultimately reached an agreement with the Giants to reduce the fine that initially would have totaled approximately $235,000.

During a conference call early Monday afternoon, Burress addressed the issues behind his suspension, claiming that he had a "family issue" during the day he missed practice.

"It's like I told (the team), if I have a decision to make about my family or son and things like that, I wouldn't change anything about it," Burress said. "I would still make the same decision to do that. Maybe I would have put a phone call in, but as far as things like that, I'm always going to put those things first. I don't have any regrets for it."

Burress received a two-week suspension, although the Giants had a bye in Week Four. The nine-year veteran did not participate in Sunday's 44-6 rout of Seattle, the Giants' most lopsided regular-season win since 1972.

Burress led the Giants with 70 receptions for 1,025 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns last season, despite being unable to practice virtually the entire season because of an ankle injury.

Burress capped off his memorable 2007 season by hauling in the winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining that lifted the Giants to a stunning 17-14 upset of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

In his first three-plus seasons with the Giants, Burress has 227 receptions for 3,486 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has 18 catches for 259 yards and a TD this season.