Plaxico Burress to the Vikings?

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

ESPN.com


EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The agent for Pittsburgh receiver Plaxico Burress has had preliminary talks with the Minnesota Vikasings about his client replacing Randy Moss.

	Plaxico Burress Wide Receiver Pittsburgh Steelers Profile
	2004 SEASON STATISTICS Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC 35 698 5 19.9 48 92

Michael Harrison told The Associated Press that Burress would not mind playing with quarterback Daunte Culpepper in Minnesota.

ESPN.com has confirmed that the contact with the Vikings was initiated by Harrison.

"Plaxico's interested in being in Minnesota," Harrison said. "I think it is a good fit for both sides."

Also on Thursday, free-agent receiver Travis Taylor, a disappointment during his five seasons in Baltimore, visited the Vikings.

Burress is the biggest name receiver left on the free-agent market. At 6-foot-5 and 226 pounds, the five-year veteran has the size and speed to get down the field and catch the fade pattern in the end zone, a Moss specialty over the past seven years.

After Moss was traded to Oakland on Wednesday and third receiver Kelly Campbell was arrested on marijuana and weapons charges, Vikings coach Mike Tice said the Vikings are looking for depth at the position.

If healthy, Burress would certainly provide more than that.

His best season came in 2002, when he had 78 catches for 1,325 yards and seven TDs. But an injury last season and quarterback inconsistencies contributed to lower numbers in 2003 and 2004.

Tice did not comment on Burress but said Taylor "was recruiting us, really," because he also wants to play with Pro Bowler Culpepper.

	Travis Taylor Wide Receiver Baltimore Ravens Profile
	2004 SEASON STATISTICS Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC 34 421 0 12.4 47 99

Tice said the Vikings' original plan did not call for them to look at offensive players this early in free agency, which opened Wednesday. They signed Buffalo defensive tackle Pat Williams late Wednesday night in an effort to shore up a mediocre defense.

"We had a different strategy, but this young man is aggressively pursuing us. ... He's a fine football player. Very articulate young man, and dresses well," Tice quipped.

In five years with Baltimore, the former 10th overall selection out of Florida had 204 catches for 2,758 and 15 touchdowns.

"Travis Taylor is a player that is intriguing," Tice said. "He has not been explosive in this league. You look at that offense and see that not many people have been."

Freak

As a Packer fan I hope he signs elsewhere, but I wouldn't be too frightened if he does land in Minny. After all, I'm still reeling from the Moss trade, WOoO!

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Burress is good, but he sure as hell ain't Moss. Plus, I'm sure you know what Moss has done to the Pack over the years.

Freak

Just trust that I don't need no remindin'.

Burress is a guy who's tricky to evaluate because, while he never reached expectations laid on him coming out of college, it's also fair to say he was never given a fair shot. If he lands somewhere as a #1 wideout, he could put up big stats.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Remember the ol' Texas Longhorn thing...taking plays off, etc.?

Burress' ability to stay focused throughout a game has been a question mark for some. I think on the right team though he could be a huge pick up. Another guy you can just lob the ball down the field to and he'll have a good chance of coming down with it.

Freak

I don't get the Longhorns reference.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

I was saying that Burress is another guy like Roy Williams, Cedric Benson, and Derrick, who people have labled as not working hard enough.

You probably got lost in my reference because Burress went to Michigan State. But it's the same type of thing he gets criticized for.

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

Burress went to Michigan St? I thought he went somewhere else. I could be mistaken though because I dont really follow college football.

For some reasn I thought he went to Tennessee

*edit*

Nevermind, just looked it up...he did go to Mich St

Freak

Oh yeah, I get what you're sayin' now Blitz. I did get lost thinking you said he was from Texas. You're right though, a lot of people think/thought he had an attitude problem.

Remember when he dove and caught that long pass, never got touched, then got back up and spiked it in the middle of the field? hahah...

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Yeah that was classic...lol