It could well be a jailbreak from New York for Plaxico Burress, who would like to trade Jets green for Eagles green.
In an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia, Burress told Brian Baldinger and Harry Mayes that playing in Philadelphia would be an ideal place for him and that he thinks he could be a missing piece to their offense.
“Nothing else would make me happier. Obviously coming to Philadelphia, instituting myself into the offense, it just adds a unique dynamic to what’s already in place,” Burress said.
Burress signed with the Jets last season after completing a 20-month prison term for possession of an illegal weapon. The two-year layoff from football did seem to affect his performance. He put up his lowest numbers in a full NFL season since his rookie year in 2000. But he did manage 45 receptions and his eight touchdowns sparked the Jets rejuvenated red zone presence.
He hasn’t heard if the Jets want to bring him back yet, saying that team management is “letting the events unfold” as far as free agency. He considered his return to the NFL a success, even as the Jets underwhelmed with an 8-8 record. The interview had all the sounds of someone looking to leave, as he thanked Jets owner Woody Johnson, head coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum for giving him the opportunity to play again.
But the Eagles are clearly the team Burress would like to play for this year — as he almost called Philadelphia home last year.
“Yeah, there was a lot of interest there — pretty much up to the last day that I signed with the Jets. There was a lot of conversation there. Obviously [head coach Andy] Reid is a great coach, a players’ coach and one of the best minds in all of football,” Burress said. “I talked to them a few times, they were interested in me and things didn’t work out. But the season’s over, it’s a fresh start and I understand maybe there will be a No. 17 lined up for me next year. We’ll see.”
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
