Posted on 01/26/2008 4:16:13 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) ― Plaxico Burress has made some amazing catches.
And this amazing statement:
His Giants may have better receivers than the Patriots' very deep group of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte' Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney.
The response from New England? No laughter, no putdowns, no he-said-what?
Just check out what happens on the field.
"The good thing about the National Football League and I think in life, you have opportunities," Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said, "an opportunity to make sure that comes to light. So we'll see."
The wide-receiver advantage belongs to New England as it prepares for the Super Bowl against New York next Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.
Moss set an NFL single-season record with 23 touchdown catches, one more than Jerry Rice. Welker tied for the league lead with 112 receptions. Stallworth made catches that gained at least 30 yards in seven of the Patriots 18 games. And Gaffney scored six touchdowns, including an 8-yarder in the last minute to give New England a 27-24 win at Baltimore and a 12-0 record.
That's pretty tough to keep up with.
Harrison, a 14-year veteran, said the group "is the best I've ever been around."
By comparison, the Giants production falls short.
Burress was outstanding with 70 catches for 1,025 yards and 12 touchdowns. Amani Toomer was solid, catching 59 passes for 760 yards and three scores. After that, the numbers fall off.
The tight end matchup is more even.
New York's Jeremy Shockey caught 57 passes for 619 yards and three touchdowns but was sidelined for the season after 11 games. New England's Benjamin Watson had 36 catches for 389 yards in the regular season, but six went for touchdowns. He added two scoring catches against Jacksonville in the divisional playoff game.
Burress, though, is very confident, no matter what the numbers say.
"We have guys that can go out and do things just as well or maybe better than some of those guys," he said last week.
In the Patriots 38-35 win over the Giants in the final game of the regular season, the 6-foot-5 Burress caught two touchdown passes from Eli Manning. He also burned 5-9 cornerback Ellis Hobbs for a 52-yard completion.
"He's got such long arms," Hobbs said. "A normal throw from Eli that is too high for an average receiver is like normal for" Burress.
In last Sunday's NFC championship win over the Green Bay Packers, Burress overwhelmed 6-foot-1 cornerback Al Harris and set a Giants postseason record of 11 catches, picking up 151 yards.
"Plaxico is a really good receiver. I know him personally," Stallworth said. "He's a great player and he's out there to make plays for his team, just like we're trying to do for our team. We're not playing against those guys. I'm not going to be covering Plaxico or anything like that any time soon, so comparisons don't mean anything right now."
Tom Brady and his receivers were the main reasons why New England set an NFL single-season scoring record of 589 points. New York had 373.
The Patriots also led the NFL with 295.7 yards passing per game. The Giants averaged 197.1, ranking way back at 21st in the league. But Moss had a total of just two receptions in the Patriots' two playoff games as Jacksonville and San Diego guarded him with two or three defenders.
"It's not about catches and stats," Harrison said. "It's all about wining. Coach Belichick, whether you're a free agent, a draft pick or a guy that's been here for five (or) eight years, he tells you (to) check your ego at the door, and that's what Randy's been doing."
Stallworth has done that, too. A deep threat, he's usually the third or fourth option when Brady surveys the field for his tempting choice of wide receivers.
But there's some consolation in Stallworth's belief that he's part of the best receiving corps he's played on in his six NFL seasons.
"Obviously, when you have a guy like Randy, and Wes is being able to work the slot really well, and Jabar," Stallworth said. "We wouldn't be able to do what we're doing if the guys up front weren't giving Tom a whole lot of time, and, obviously, Tom getting us the ball, so it's not only receivers. But talent-wise, we're pretty deep."
Burress, though, ranks the Giants' receivers in the Super Bowl right up there with Moss and his partners who have helped Brady set an NFL record of 50 touchdown passes in a season.
"I don't see why not," Burress said. "We're both going to be on the same field."
BTTT
I’m sure the Giant D-Backs are very happy with Burress. /s
Maybe even MORE confident.
Can you name one cheap shot Rodney has taken this season on anybody? What, are you to sensative about players who come to play rough? Are you like some of the rest of the pansy, crybabies around the league?
Rodney does it right...
Around here he goes by Plastic Glass. Now, I know why. What ever happened to just going out there and playing the game?
Come on Plex. Convince coach to put you against Moss for a series. I bet you Randy catches everything thrown to him.
Rodney Harrison has been voted the dirtiest player in the league BY the players in the league at least 4 times in the last 6 or 7 years.
No, I cannot name one cheap shot by Rod this year, but then again I cannot name one cheap shot by Roy Williams, Bob Sanders or Ed Reed either, I don't see their games in this market every week. That's not true, Harrison was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty on a hit on Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Jacksonville in their playoff game, and was taken out of the game by Belichik for a few plays.
That said, yes, Rodney we know you can't wait to lay a shot on Plex, cheap or otherwise. Worst thing is Rodney is a great player and doesn't have to resort to cheap shots as often as he has throughout his career.
He completely PW3ND Al Harris though, you gotta give him that.
MY EYES!!!
I think we all need to remind people even the littlest slight against the Patriots will have disastrous results against the team belittling the Patriots.
That probably was the best game he has ever played. He figured that gave him free reign to open his mouth and say what he said. O.K. Plex, the invitation to cover Moss is still on the table. Come on Plex, back it up, PLEASE!!!!!
Leave the trash talking to that overrated TE who since he hasn’t been in the lineup your QB has looked more like his brother and less scared in the pocket.
Did you see the play? What exactly did Rodney do? NOTHING! It was a very bad call. I'll bet you didn't see the play before either, when Rodney got shoved down to the ground when he was just standing there.
Cheap shot/dirtiest player defined by pansies, doesn't make his playing brassy. When Rodney hits a player I've never seen him do it wrong. He always goes by league rules with his shoulder first. Unlike other real cheap shot artist in the league which spear with their heads. Yes, Rodney may want to lay Plexco out, but he will do it right! You're FOS!
Why are you so clueless about my question? If someone imputes guilt by stating Rodney gives cheap shots doesn't it make sense for the accuser to justify their statement by pointing out a specific instance?
My statement was perfectly legitimate. I haven't seen Rodney commit any cheap shots, and know of no instances where he has. I think people just love to hate him because he may play a little too rough according to their pansy standards!
Patriots overconfident? They literally don’t know the meaning of that word.
If your definition of cheap shot begins and ends with "spearing" then you are an idiot and I have no use for your further commentary.
ESPN - Pats' Harrison can't wash hands of dirtiest player label - NFL
Harrison has also been fined and suspended multiple times, and as of 2002, had racked up over $200,000 in fines by the NFL. A notable suspension occurred in 2002 after a helmet-to-helmet hit on the Oakland Raiders' Jerry Rice[11].
Rodney Harrison is the Dirtiest Player in NFL Football
Pot, Kettle: Rodney Harrison Wants You to Know the Giants Are Cheap Shots
Who is the dirtiest player in the NFL? - Yahoo! Answers
IN CASE YOU HAVEN"T HEARD, RODNEY HARRISON IS A DIRTY PLAYER
You see what you want to see.
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