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Rise from the Ashes III
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2009/02/_there_are_plenty_of.html
Giants upset agent is shopping WR Plaxico Burress
by Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger Wednesday February 11, 2009, 7:32 PM
There are plenty of obstacles to Plaxico Burress' returning to the Giants: his legal situation, a potential suspension by the NFL and the Giants' impatience with his off-field issues.
As if those factors didn't make the situation complicated enough, Burress' agent has informed the other 31 NFL teams his client might be available to play for them.
And the Giants apparently aren't happy.
Drew Rosenhaus, who has represented Burress since he signed with the Giants four years ago, sent an e-mail to all 32 teams earlier this week in which he indicated Burress could be acquired via trade, according to three people informed of the contents of the e-mail. The people, who requested anonymity because the e-mail was not to be discussed publicly, said it was a list of Rosenhaus' free-agent and draft-eligible clients as well as three players he deemed trade-able.
All three are wide receivers: the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin, the Bengals' Chad Johnson and Burress.
Rosenhaus did not return a call or an e-mail seeking comment. A Giants spokesman said general manager Jerry Reese had "nothing to say" on the matter.
But according to one of the people familiar with the situation -- a member of one team's front office who was on Rosenhaus' list of recipients -- the Giants had plenty to say earlier this week. Giants assistant general manager Kevin Abrams notified the rest of the league that the Giants had not authorized Rosenhaus to pursue trade scenarios on Burress' behalf, and that any inquiries about Burress' availability would constitute tampering.
Another person informed of the situation said Rosenhaus sent out another e-mail yesterday in which he clarified he doesn't have permission to seek a trade for any of the three clients he listed.
Neither the collective bargaining agreement nor the NFL Players Association regulations for agents prohibit an agent from alerting teams of a player's potential availability via trade. It would be a violation if an agent took steps to facilitate a trade, such as contract negotiations or conversations about compensation.
Of course, any inquiries from any team about Burress' availability would be speculative at this point. Burress, 31, faces two felony counts of illegal possession of a firearm following his self-shooting at a Manhattan night club in November. If convicted, Burress could be sentenced to 3½ to 15 years in prison. The Giants are taking a wait-and-see approach with Burress, so any prospective trading partner would seemingly also want to see what develops at the 9-year veteran's next court date, which is scheduled for March 31.
The Giants have sent mixed signals publicly when asked about their future plans for Burress. Reese said after the playoff loss to the Eagles last month he would "absolutely" welcome Burress back "if everything goes all right." But a few days later, when Tom Coughlin was asked during an interview on WFAN if he'd be in favor of Burress' return, the coach replied, "I'm not ready to say that. We need to sit down and think about it and talk about that and to see what the circumstance might be."
Last week, FOXSports.com reported the Giants sent Burress a letter in December stating they were attempting to recoup past and future bonus money because they believed Burress had defaulted on his contract. Shortly after the Giants suspended Burress four games, the NFLPA said the team withheld a $1-million payment of his signing bonus.
Teams normally don't attempt to recoup money until they plan to divorce themselves from a player. But the Giants might be making procedural moves to establish they fully intended to recoup bonus money in the event Burress is incarcerated and/or suspended.
Giants upset agent is shopping WR Plaxico Burress
by Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger Wednesday February 11, 2009, 7:32 PM
There are plenty of obstacles to Plaxico Burress' returning to the Giants: his legal situation, a potential suspension by the NFL and the Giants' impatience with his off-field issues.
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Chris Faytok/The Star-LedgerIs Plaxico Burress in the market for a new team?As if those factors didn't make the situation complicated enough, Burress' agent has informed the other 31 NFL teams his client might be available to play for them.
And the Giants apparently aren't happy.
Drew Rosenhaus, who has represented Burress since he signed with the Giants four years ago, sent an e-mail to all 32 teams earlier this week in which he indicated Burress could be acquired via trade, according to three people informed of the contents of the e-mail. The people, who requested anonymity because the e-mail was not to be discussed publicly, said it was a list of Rosenhaus' free-agent and draft-eligible clients as well as three players he deemed trade-able.
All three are wide receivers: the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin, the Bengals' Chad Johnson and Burress.
Rosenhaus did not return a call or an e-mail seeking comment. A Giants spokesman said general manager Jerry Reese had "nothing to say" on the matter.
But according to one of the people familiar with the situation -- a member of one team's front office who was on Rosenhaus' list of recipients -- the Giants had plenty to say earlier this week. Giants assistant general manager Kevin Abrams notified the rest of the league that the Giants had not authorized Rosenhaus to pursue trade scenarios on Burress' behalf, and that any inquiries about Burress' availability would constitute tampering.
Another person informed of the situation said Rosenhaus sent out another e-mail yesterday in which he clarified he doesn't have permission to seek a trade for any of the three clients he listed.
Neither the collective bargaining agreement nor the NFL Players Association regulations for agents prohibit an agent from alerting teams of a player's potential availability via trade. It would be a violation if an agent took steps to facilitate a trade, such as contract negotiations or conversations about compensation.
Of course, any inquiries from any team about Burress' availability would be speculative at this point. Burress, 31, faces two felony counts of illegal possession of a firearm following his self-shooting at a Manhattan night club in November. If convicted, Burress could be sentenced to 3½ to 15 years in prison. The Giants are taking a wait-and-see approach with Burress, so any prospective trading partner would seemingly also want to see what develops at the 9-year veteran's next court date, which is scheduled for March 31.
The Giants have sent mixed signals publicly when asked about their future plans for Burress. Reese said after the playoff loss to the Eagles last month he would "absolutely" welcome Burress back "if everything goes all right." But a few days later, when Tom Coughlin was asked during an interview on WFAN if he'd be in favor of Burress' return, the coach replied, "I'm not ready to say that. We need to sit down and think about it and talk about that and to see what the circumstance might be."
Last week, FOXSports.com reported the Giants sent Burress a letter in December stating they were attempting to recoup past and future bonus money because they believed Burress had defaulted on his contract. Shortly after the Giants suspended Burress four games, the NFLPA said the team withheld a $1-million payment of his signing bonus.
Teams normally don't attempt to recoup money until they plan to divorce themselves from a player. But the Giants might be making procedural moves to establish they fully intended to recoup bonus money in the event Burress is incarcerated and/or suspended.
