I figured the Giants would do something sooner than later. No shock. And it would not surprise me if we have seen the last of Plaxico in a Giants uniform.
The Giants have, in the past couple of years, parted ways with other strong personalities. Players you figured they would miss so much it would effect their ability to win. Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, Michael Strahan and now Plaxico Burress. But in each case, they haven't been slowed by the loss of these "key" personnel. Rather, they seem to get better and better as the team becomes less about the individuals and more about the collective.
I believe we will see the same thing happen here. As I posted yesterday, a host of good young receivers sit in waiting to do their part. Domenik Hixon has already done some very nice things on the field. Steve Smith and Sinorice Moss have played lesser roles, but will now be called on for more.
The Giant machine, as it is constructed now, will just fill in the gap left behind by the loss of Plaxico and roll on. I can't write here that they will for sure win a second consecutive Super Bowl. We all know that anything can happen in the playoffs. Last year isn't so far away that we can forget that. But I do know that the Giants will be a force in the playoffs and if they don't win it all, it is a sure bet that it will take a great effort by another team to dethrone them.
As a diehard New York football Giant fan, you would think I'd be devastated over Plaxico's most recent mess. But I like the way this team is coached and I feel the same way I hope the rest of the team feels. While I'm sure they are not happy about this whole thing, they know they have work to do and they can't let it get in their way. They proved that this past weekend as the incident unfolded, as the Giants took care of business by going to Landover, MD to defeat the Redskins 23-7.
Last season the Giants had to deal with Jeremy Shockey and his gametime antics of complaining about not getting the ball and showing up Eli Manning by getting in his face. Was it a coincidence that once Shockey was hurt and out for the season that Eli blossomed and helped the Giants run the table in that miracle finish? I guess there is no way to know the answer to that for sure.
The Plaxico situation is somewhat different in that he is trouble OFF the field as opposed to ON the field. On the field the players love him and he is a excellent receiver. His off-the-field distractions he has brought with him have yet to effect the team. But will that last forever, given the severity of this latest blunder? We aren't even sure what role exactly Antonio Pierce played in this incident. Do we need Pierce worrying about an inquiry into something he did wrong in being involved with Plaxico, or worrying about how to stop Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook this weekend?
In the end, I believe the Giants team won't miss a beat and will continue their march to another Super Bowl. They don't need Plaxico. Yes, they could use him and yes he will be missed (I think he might be gone for good -- we'll see). There are, however, a good cast of young receivers sitting in waiting... Domenik Hixon (who is already stepping it up), Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss... that can team up with the cagey veteran Amani Toomer.
And as far as Plaxico goes, I truly hope he will get his act together and will reemerge at some point, in a place where he can be as positive an influence OFF the field as he has already shown he can be ON the field. Even if it is not in Giant blue.