Players Reactions To Plax

Here are quotes from Giants players regarding Plaxico Burress (via Bergen Record)

Eli Manning: “I heard about Plaxico and just, again, our concern this whole time has been about him and his family. He’s a friend of mine, a great teammate, won a championship with him. I’m saddened by the news, two years, and I just wish the best for him and his family and we’ll try to support him anyway we can.
“I had no idea how it was going to happen, how it was going to turn out. You hear a lot of things and this and that, but I didn’t know how it was going to turn out.
“It’s just said, I’m disappointed, I feel bad for how it’s worked out and the circumstances he’s been put through. No one wanted this, wanted this to happen, it’s just a shame that it did. Obviously everybody can learn from other people and what goes one. As an athlete or anybody, you have to be careful about what you are doing or where you are, and know the circumstances and penalties for your actions.
“I would hope he would want to come back and someone would want to give him a shot. It all depends on the circumstances but I hope someone would give him a shot.”
Justin Tuck: “A talent like himself, he’s one of the reasons why I can say I’m a Super Bowl champion. I hope everything works out for him and when he gets out, there will be an opportunity for him to get back on the football field.
“We all know Plax does a great job of keeping himself in shape. But right now football is the farthest way from my mind. You’re talking about a guy who has to do jail time now. That’s the focal point. Everything his family and what they are going through
“Yes, I was surprised. In the back of your mind you know it’s bound to happen sooner or later. Once the sentence came down, I don’t care how much you kept up with all the proceedings, nobody really expected it. We thought somehow or another everything was going to turn out in the best interest of Plaxico. And we were hoping and praying for that. It is what it is now and all we can do as the New York Giants and former teammates of Plaxico now is to support him however we can.
“Hopefully guys realize that the laws are put there for a reason and you have to abide by them.”
Shaun O’Hara
“My first reaction is your heart goes out to Plax and his family. We’re wishing him the best. We really don’t have an interaction with him like we used to when he was a teammate. But we’re still supporting him and this is a time he needs support from everyone.
“I was surprised. When you think of a lot of things Plaxico had to deal with as repercussions from that night, he punished himself the most already. To add another two years on to that, my personal opinion is that’s a little harsh, they’re trying to make an example of him. But what can you do?
“I’m pretty sure the players are much more aware now, and anyone who has an affiliation with the NFL knows. I think it is a tough lesson for Plax to learn but I hope it serves people in the future from going through the same situation he’s had to go through.”
“I’m sure Plax is going to have enough people talking about what he’s done to himself. As former teammates and friends we’re just trying to be as supportive as we can. I think he’s shown his remorse and it’s really unfortunate. Everybody has to learn from this, not just Plaxico. You have to learn what we have and what we have is a privilege. And you can never take that for granted, you can never lose sight of what we have a privilege of doing.”
John Mara
“We’ve been hearing things like [two years] but it’s a terrible tragedy when I think about what he threw away just by making some poor choices. Hopefully it’s a lesson for our players to learn.
“He was a part of our family and I know a lot of players are hurting right now just thinking about it because he was a friend to them. As I said I hope it’s a wake-up call for some of them. I hope we’ve all learned a lesson. You make a bad choice, a bad judgment, and it can cost you a career and cost you having to go to prison.
“It’s a terrible situation when you think about what he threw away by doing what he did. He had all that talent, he had a brand new contract and a brand new baby, it really is an American tragedy.
“Fortunately he only hurt himself, he didn’t hurt anyone else and he wasn’t killed. So there have been worse situations in the past, but the effect it’s going to have on his family and his son, that’s what I think is the real tragedy.
“I think he’d be entitled to a second chance, sure, but let’s wait and see what happens when he comes out.
“The laws in New York are pretty strict for this type of offense, and rightfully so. I think had this been Joe the Plummer, would he have gotten two years? I’m not so sure about that.
“The guy was a great player for us, he made some poor judgments, and now unfortunately he has to pay for it.”
Kevin Dockery: “It’s a very unfortunate thing for him. He has to do jail time but that’s something we all wished he could have avoided. He was definitely not a bad guy, he just made a bad decision that night. He still has a lot of friends on the team, we’re still here to support him.”
Corey Webster: “Plaxico is a good guy, he was always a good friend of mine. I had no idea what was going to happen, we always wished and prayed for the best. I think everybody deserves a second chance it was something that happened and he’s very sorry for it. Hopefully he can get it behind him and move forward for him and his family.”
Mathias Kiwanuka: “Obviously it’s a sad day for him and we wish him the best as he goes through this process. I know it’s going to be really tough, it’s going to weigh on him. Hopefully he can come out with a clear head and get his life on the right track and regain a spot in this league. He’s a tremendous player, he’s a gifted athlete. I just hope he retains that ability. It all depends on how well he keeps up while he’s in there and how quickly he can rebound. But a player of his caliber he still has a lot left in his tank and as tough as it will be to be away from the game, he’s one of the guys who can do it.”
Sinorice Moss: “I didn’t know that. Wow! It’s been a very, very tough situation since the beginning and out concern was that Plax…I’m speechless right now, I can’t even think of anything to say right now. But just hearing about this whole situation from the beginning, Plax is a good friend of mine. I still speak to him a lot even after he departed from this team. They made a decision on what he had to do and he’s going to be well. I’m sure it’s going to be tough but Plax is a man of good, he’s going to do what he has to do and serve his time. I’m saddened to hear about this news, I just wish him the best.”
Rich Seubert: “My thoughts are with him and his family. They are going through a hard time, obviously. I’m sure he’ll come out of this stronger. (Compared to his own missing time with a serious injury). That’s not even close to what he’s going through. I know Plax when he’s eligible to play he’ll be fine and out there playing with somebody.”
Domenik Hixon: “I don’t think football is necessarily a concern right now. You definitely don’t want a friend and former teammate to be in jail so this is kind of shocking.”
Steve Smith: “I’m just praying for him, I enjoyed all the times we had together and I just hope he comes out of this just fine. It’s a surprise, you don’t think someone who’s at that magnitude would get time like this. I heard the mayor was taking it seriously. I think they wanted to set an example. It sucks, being assigned to a cell when he didn’t hurt anyone else.”
Madison Hedgecock: “He just made a poor judgment, that’s all it was. I don’t think he intended to hurt anybody, just the gun went off. I think everybody deserves a second chance, so why not him. If a team wants to take a chance on him and bring him back, that’s great. It would be great for him, great for the team. Only time can tell on something like that. Only time will tell on something like that, you have to make plays. If someone gives him the opportunity to do that, I think he well.”
Danny Clark: “I think what’s most important to him is getting through this deal, and football is secondary at this point.”
DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFLPA
“It was something that he had to take care of. There is a life on the field, there’s certainly a life off the field. We have the opportunity to be around and involved in the great game of football, for me the business of football. But at the same time theirs is a life outside of football. I’m sad, but it was something he had to take care of off the field.”


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