Did Plaxico Burress learn his lesson?

Posted by Mike Florio on June 16, 2011, 2:33 PM EDT

AP

Former Steelers and Giants receiver Plaxico Burress continues to make the media rounds.  Most recently, he appeared on Good Day New York — and he discussed once again the very bad night that culminated in his incarceration.

“I believe it was totally blown out of proportion,” Burress said, per the New York Post.  “I believe with everything that was said by the mayor and the media . . . that it was just over-generalized and I think it went a little further than it needed to go.  But at the same time, I was accountable for my actions.”

Burress is referring to his decision to take a loaded gun into a Manhattan nightclub, and the inadvertent firing of the weapon.  It easily can be argued that the punishment didn’t fit the crime, since the bullet struck no one other than Burress.  But it also can be argued that the goal of the law that put Burress, as Mayor Michael Bloomberg called it, “in the slammer” for an extended stretch has a goal of ensuring that accidents don’t happen.

Still, the fact that Burress did roughly the same amount of time as Mike Vick even though Vick admitted to gambling, dogfighting, and the killing of dogs deemed unfit to die while fighting other dogs, it’s easy to conclude that Burress got the short end of the legal stick.

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I am a firm believer of forgiveness, second chances, and that people can change.  I also agree that compared to Mike Vick, Plax got it worse.  However, the justice system (while flawed) is not supposed to determine legal cases based on other crimes, or moments of intense stupidity.

My issue here is two fold.  First, when I hear the response by Plaxico I have to wonder if he actually learned anything.  Is he remorseful?  Does he realize that he made a bad choice?  Does he truly feel responsible?  Or is he saying he is responsible, because he was caught?  

Yes, we all know that Plax blasted himself, but what if he didn't? What if that gun misfired and hit someone else.  What if that person died or was severely injured?  Then this whole situation is different.  I know our justice system isn't about what people might have done, or almost happened.  I get that.  I am not saying Plax should be punished according to what damage he could have inflicted, or a crime he almost committed. 

I just hope that he is truly taking responsibility for a stupid choice, that fortunately for him, actually could have turned out far, far worse. 

Stanford Routt, "Everyone in the league knows what our game plan is"

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on June 16, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT

AP

One of the great things about Al Davis can also be frustrating.  The Raiders defense of 2010, for instance, looks a lot like the Raiders defense of 1970, minus the same results.

“We basically play man every damn down,” cornerback Stanford Routt told Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan on Sirius XM Wednesday, via Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune.

The hosts tried to point out to Routt that the Raiders can mix in zones, like in a game against the Eagles in 2009.

“We ran a little bit of zone that game, but predominantly, [man] is what we do. If we play 60 snaps on defense, at least 56 of those are going to be man coverage. Everyone in the league knows what our game plan is,” Routt said.

Routt was careful not to complain, pointing out how disrupting the opposition’s timing can make life difficult on quarterbacks.  Then again, he admitted that playing man coverage against concepts like a three-man bunch set is “hard as hell to do.”

Perhaps that’s why the Raiders are willing to pay their cornerbacks like Routt so much money. When they find one they like, they want to keep him.

That’s why potentially replacing Nnamdi Asomugha could prove so difficult.

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Al Davis loves his two deep man defense, but the game at the NFL level is all about adjustments.  Now I love the attitude of saying we are going to make them adjust to what we do, but unless you are dominating, it just doesn't work.  Coaches and most of the QBs in this league are too smart, and make the adjustments necessary to exploit you.  Add Nnamdi's eventual departure, and this might be a rough year for the silver and black defense.  

Hopefully the new coaching staff will have the freedom to actually....you know....coach.

  

Patriots take a back seat in Beantown

Posted by Mike Florio on June 16, 2011, 12:26 AM EDT

Reuters

With the Bruins winning their first Stanley Cup since 1972, every major-league team from Boston has won a championship in the last seven years.

The longest drought is held by the team that was regarded as the first New England dynasty since the Celtics of yesteryear.  Yes, the hockey team, the baseball team, and the basketball team have all won titles since the last time the Patriots hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.

We doubt that this fact will give the Pats any greater incentive to secure victory in the Super Bowl for the first time since February 2005.  But when the team that many regard as one of the best franchises in the NFL is bringing up the rear when it comes to excellence at the local level, it means that the past decade has been a great time to be a sports fan in Boston.

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First off, congratulations to the Bruins, their fans, and the city of Boston.  Being from New England myself, I know how sports crazy the entire region is.  I am not a Bruins fan myself, but seeing a dedicated fan base rewarded after so long is really awesome.  

Like Florio said, when 2005 was the last title year for the Patriots, and they have temporarily taken the back seat, it gives an indication to the wild ride Boston fans have enjoyed over the last decade.