Plaxico Burress Released From Prison

By Ohm Youngmisuk
ESPNNewYork.com

N.Y. SportsCenter

ROME, N.Y. -- In his first precious moments as a free man again, Plaxico Burress embraced his wife and cradled his two young kids after being released from prison for serving nearly two years on a gun charge.

In the kind of heartfelt emotion that can only come from being away from family for so long, Burress soaked up the reunion with his loved ones. He looked like a giddy kid, even finding a few touching minutes to play with his two dogs.

AP Photo/Heather AinsworthPlaxico Burress told reporters: "As far as football is concerned, if and when everything gets settled, when they get back on the field, I'll be ready."

"I just want to thank God for bringing me through one of the most trying times in my life," said Burress, who wore an old-school Philadelphia Phillies cap, a black zip-up hoodie and shorts. "It's a beautiful day. It's a beautiful day to be reunited with my family. I want to go home and spend some quality time with them.
"I'd like to thank everybody for their prayers and words of encouragement," Burress continued in his brief time with reporters outside the prison. "I'd like to thank all my fans all around the world for the thousands of letters, for their unwavering support. As far as football is concerned, if and when everything gets settled, when they get back on the field, I'll be ready."

Shortly after walking out of the Oneida Correctional Facility around 9 a.m. ET, Burress' lawyer, Peter Frankel, drove the wide receiver to the nearby Lodge at the Turning Stone Resort-Casino for his emotional reunion with his wife Tiffany, his son Elijah, 4, and daughter Giovanna, 1.

After spending more than an hour at the hotel with his family, Burress -- who was followed by a camera crew that was with the family -- spent a few minutes playing with his two dogs in front of the hotel while an SUV was loaded with luggage.

Burress looked incredibly happy and humbled. He played peek-a-boo with his daughter while she was sitting inside the car and he was standing outside before later hopping into the back seat with his children.

Drew Rosenhaus, Burress' agent, said earlier on Monday morning that his client would travel to his home in South Florida and immediately begin training with other football players to begin his NFL comeback.

Rosenhaus, who jumped into Burress' arms moments after he walked out of the prison, also said Burress isn't ruling out a possible reunion with the New York Giants.

"I wouldn't rule out any team, I wouldn't rule out the Giants, I wouldn't rule out any club," Rosenhaus told reporters. "I really won't talk about specific teams because I don't want to hurt his position. As far as the Giants, my personal opinion is he wouldn't rule them out. I certainly wouldn't.

"We are going to be open to all 32 teams," Rosenhaus added. "Ultimately this will be Plax's decision, not mine. I am here to help him pick the best spot and get the very best contract. And that is what we will do."
Brandon Jacobs, one of Burress' best friends on the Giants, said last Thursday that "there is no chance Plaxico Burress is a New York Giant after he comes home" and that the wide receiver was looking for a fresh start, perhaps with the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, on Monday, Jacobs was a tad hesitant to close the door completely on a Plaxico-Giants sequel but did reiterate that Burress will have options. He mentioned the Eagles, Saints, Rams and Colts as potential options.

"I mean, I think there's a chance the Giants, I mean, I know they probably want him back," Jacobs said in an interview with SiriusXM NFL radio. "But with him having more options to pick from, I don't know how that's going to work out."

Several Giants players want Burress back with the team, which has missed the postseason the last two years without him. Coach Tom Coughlin has said that there hasn't been much discussion about a possible reunion.
"First of all what I can say about (Burress being released) is I am happy that he is home with his family," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said on the Stephen A. Smith show on 1050 ESPN New York. "And that's really about all I can say, you know, he is a free agent and I am not at liberty to talk about free agents - Plaxico or any other free agent at this time. I am just happy that he is home with his family."

Former Giants teammate Osi Umenyiora told ESPN in a "SportsCenter" interview on Monday that Burress looked like he was in "tremendous shape" when he visited the receiver in prison.

"I think he'll be able to make an impact immediately," he said. "A guy with that kind of physical ability and that kind of talent ... All you have to do is throw him the ball and he'll be able to make the same kind of plays he was able to make before."

At a quick glance, Burress, who will turn 34 in August, appeared to be in good shape. Rosenhaus said Burress did all he could to stay in shape while in prison.

"He's been very strong," Rosenhaus said. "He did a lot better than I would have. No question worked out, maintained a very positive attitude, always driven to get back to the NFL, be with his family again. As well as you could for 21 months of incarceration.

"Running, staying in shape, sprints, jogging, lifting weights, as much as you can do in a facility like this," Rosenhaus added. "Running routes, didn't have a quarterback here unfortunately. But he did very well -- push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, a lot of core strength, as much as you can imagine in this type of environment."
Burress will become a free agent once the lockout ends and free agency begins. Rosenhaus believes there will be a strong interest in his client. Teams like the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins and Eagles could be interested in the 6-foot-5 receiver, who caught the game-winning touchdown in the Giants' 17-14 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots during the 2007 season.

“I wouldn't rule out any team, I wouldn't rule out the Giants, I wouldn't rule out any club.”
-- Agent Drew Rosenhaus

"Before the lockout started and during that very brief window, right around the time of the draft, the feedback was excellent," said Rosenhaus, who along with all other agents is not allowed to talk to teams until the lockout is lifted. "Plaxico is going to be a top free agent, there are going to be multiple teams interested in signing him. I expect him to get a good contract, I expect him to absolutely be playing. I think he'll be coveted. He'll be one of our top free agents."

Burress has not played football since late November in 2008 when a handgun that was tucked in his sweatpants slipped from his waistband and went off as he tried to grab the gun while in a New York City nightclub. Burress shot himself in the thigh. Nearly a year later, he entered prison to serve his sentence in September of 2009.

Burress was released about three months early for good behavior.

Because he was a high-profile inmate, he was placed in a protective custody unit at the prison, which has 930 inmates, 20 in protective custody. While in prison, he completed an aggression management program and worked as a lawn and grounds laborer, according the state's Department of Correctional Services.

Burress violated prison rules and regulations three times: He lied to a guard about having permission to use the phone; gave another inmate a pair of black and silver sneakers that were deemed contraband; and had too many cassette tapes and an unauthorized extra pillow in his "filthy" cell.

Burress will be on parole for two years. He has to get and keep a job, undergo substance abuse testing, obey any curfew established by his Florida parole officer, support his family and undergo any anger counseling or other conditions required by his parole officer.

"I think he's learned an awful lot," Rosenhaus said. "He knows that he obviously made a mistake and certainly the maturation from being in this type of environment for so many months to reflect on your life and the things you might do differently. To miss two NFL seasons in the prime of your career, to not be with your family, most importantly, to lose out on millions and millions of dollars -- these are things that have forced him certainly to evaluate his life and we all would become a better person."

It didn't take long for friends and former teammates to transmit their good wishes.

In response to a tweet that said: 'Just In!. Plaxico Burress Just Released from Jail!" former Giants star Michael Strahan responded: "About time!!"

Former Giants linebacker (and current ESPN NFL analyst) Antonio Pierce, who was with Burress the night his life unraveled, tweeted the following a couple of hours before Burress was released: "17.. Time well over due.. Great teammate, friend, person and better yet Man. Always a Champ.. Only 1 way to go ... Back to the TOP."

Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade also commented.

James tweeted: "Welcome home Plaxico! Best of luck in the near future both on and off the field. #17 Jersey coming to a city near u."

Wade, who is from Chicago, tweeted what many Bears fans likely are thinking.

"1st I'm happy for Plaxico Burress that he can b reunite with his love 1s that I'm sure he missed more than football .. but as a Bears fan i would love to c him in a Bears uniform," Wade wrote.

Ohm Youngmisuk covers the Giants for ESPNNewYork.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.


Follow Ohm Youngmisuk on Twitter: @notoriousohm

New Meadowlands Stadium awarded Super Bowl XLVIII

By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger

From: http://www.nj.com/

William Perlman/The Star-Ledger

N.J. Gov. Chris Christie, flanked by Giants guard Chris Snee, left, and Jets center Nick Mangold, right, celebrates the announcement that the New Meadowlands Stadium will host Super Bowl XLVIII.IRVING, Tex. -- Get those hand and feet warmers ready -- the Super Bowl is coming to the Meadowlands.

Today, the NFL’s 32 owners voted to award Super Bowl XLVIII to the new $1.6 b

illion home of the Giants and Jets, placing the league’s showcase event at an outdoor, cold-weather site for the first time.

"The league, the sport has come a long way," Giants president and CEO John Mara said to the NFL Network.

The Super Bowl didn't land in New Jersey for the first time without some drama, though. The Meadowlands bid wasn't ratified until the fourth and final round of voting, when, pitted against the bid from Tampa Bay, it garnered a simple majority (at least 17 of 32 votes).

"There was a lot of drama," Giants executive vice president Steve Tisch said of the suspenseful vote. "With every round it got a little more dramatic, a little more exciting, there was a little more anxiety."

The New Jersey/New York bid, which also beat out traditional hosts South Florida for the 2014 game, was considered the favorite heading into today’s secret-ballot vote at the league meetings. Several high-profile owners had publicly backed it in recent days, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had called it an “attractive” option for the NFL.

Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger

Fans in Duffy Square, in New York, celebrate the announcement that the New Meadowlands Stadium will host the Super Bowl in 2014.The three bidding cities each made a 15-minute presentation this afternoon, followed by a secret-ballot vote by the owners to determine the winner.

"It was down to two teams and two cities, two great American cities. I just believe the owners have the faith in us that in three-and-a-half years we’re going to put on a remarkable event," said Jonathan Tisch, the Giants treasurer and co-chairman of the New Jersey/New York bid committee. "The greatest game in the world will be played on the biggest stage in the world."

The historic selection could help accelerate and sweeten a naming-rights deal for the New Meadowlands Stadium. The game is also estimated to pump between tens of millions and hundreds of millions of dollars -- depending on whom you ask – into the metropolitan area. Thirty to 50 percent is expected to stay in New Jersey.

"We had a common goal to build a beautiful stadium," Steve Tisch told the NFL Network. "And we had a common goal to get the Super Bowl in 2014."

The winning bid embraced cold weather, offering self-warming seat cushions and parking lot fire pits, while trumpeting the country’s biggest stage across the river in Manhattan. Many game-week events and hotel rooms will be booked in New York City, but New Jersey is where teams will train and stay and where all game-day activities will be held.

The league waived its weather requirements -- a minimum temperature of 50 degrees, or a roof on the stadium -- to allow the Meadowlands to bid. It remains to be seen if this will be a one-time event, or if a new precedent has been set for Super Bowl bidding.

Tampa Bay is a four-time Super Bowl host, as recently as 2009. South Florida has hosted the game 10 times, more than any other city, but the league previously suggested Sun Life Stadium needs substantial improvements before the championship can return.

"I was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey," Jets owner Woody Johnson said. "To be involved in bringing something like this to the New York/New Jersey region is a tremendous thing."

NFL Considering Changes to Playoff Overtime

by Scott
from http://www.sportsuntapped.com/

NFL

The annual NFL owners meeting will kick off this coming Sunday. One of the issues on the table will be altering overtime rules for the postseason. Under the new proposal, each team would be given one possession. If the score is still tied after that, overtime will continue under sudden-death rules.

This change would apply to the playoffs only, not the regular season. In order for it to go through, 24 votes are needed. Evidently, better kickers and return men have shifted the statistics in favor of the team that wins the coin toss.

“Changes occurred over time, and the numbers have changed to 59.8 percent winning the coin toss and winning the game. The team that loses the coin toss wins 38.5 percent. We are trying to put in a system that emphasizes more skill and strategy as opposed to the randomness of the coin flip.”

Personally, I have no problem with the current system. As the old adage says, defenses get paid too. If one team can’t stop the other, then they deserve to lose. That being said, I do think the change would bring a new level of excitement to the playoffs, which are already pretty damn thrilling.

Will it pass? I’d put the chances at about 50/50. Owners are often resistant to rocking the boat. However, if they feel it can improve the viewing experience and competitiveness, they will pull the trigger. Stay tuned for the answer sometime next week.

Miami's Ugly Attempt At Keeping the Super Bowl

A new roof may be on the way for Dolfans

By TODD WRIGHT

From: http://www.nbcmiami.com/

You may have thought the Dolphins' home stadium had hit bottom with its "Land Shark" moniker, but now another bizarre retrofitting is in the works.

With NFL officials warning that Miami is about to be on the "Do Not Host Super Bowl" list, stadium officials are suggesting a 621,000 square-foot roof be attached on top of the stadium.

The immediate online responses to the roof ("mind numbing ugly," "could scare away a hurricane") have been brutal. Thankfully, the proposed changes inside are getting much better reviews:

The good news for football fans at both levels is that seating is being brought in closer to the sidelines. The gap between the bleachers and the field was always a gridiron drawback, and it's corrected somewhat with the latest revisioning. Plus those upgraded video screens looks awful sweet.

More lower bowl seats and big-screen TVs are also proposed renovations.

Vid:

LOOK

Dolphins Boardroom: Who's Got Next?

The roof would cover all the seats in the stadium, while at the same time allowing the sun and rain to come down on the field.

So while spectators would be spared the rain, which plagued the last Super Bowl here, the field and game play would be subject to the elements.

Dolphins CEO Mike Dee made it clear Thursday the renovations are not about the loyal Dolfans who faithfully come to the games during the regular season. This is all about the Super Bowl.

"This is not about the Dolphins or the stadium," Dee said. "It's about economic development. It's about being able to compete for events on a national and international level."

The next question is who is going to pay for all these renovations, which could escalate to close to $300 million.

Chad Ochocinco Changing His Last Name Yet Again

Posted By Glenn S. Moore

Oh boy. If NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell thought Chad Ochocinco’s name changing days were over, he has another thing coming.

Ochocinco announced on his live USTREAM broadcast Sunday morning that he will be legally changing his last name to “Hachi Go” next season.

“Hachi Go” is Japanese for 8 - 5.

While cooking breakfast, only six hours before his Cincinnati Bengals took on the Detroit Lions, he held up a custom made Cincinnati Bengals jersey with “Hachi Go” on the back.

“I’m not sure how Mr. Goodell is going to take it,” Ochocinco said as he held up the jersey.

But why “Hachi Go”?

A Japanese film crew was in town a couple weeks ago to do a piece on the Bengals for a NFL show over there. They said all NFL fans in Japan know who Chad Ochocinco is and they seriously made a proposal to Chad to change his last name to “Hachi Go”.

“Some fans of mine that are Japanese said I should change my last name to ‘Hachi Go’.”

He legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ochocinco on August 29, 2008. The Cincinnati Bengals decided to allow him to have it on the back of his jersey, though Ochocinco continued to wear his old “C. Johnson” jersey during the 2008 football season, due to contractual obligations with Reebok. He has played with “Ochocinco” on the back of his jersey since the 2009 preseason. He wanted it to read “Ocho Cinco” but the NFL will only allow his legal name as spelled on his name change paperwork.

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Madden to serve as special adviser to Goodell

NEW YORK (AP)—Hall of Fame coach John Madden will serve as a special adviser to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The league said Thursday that as part of his unpaid position Madden will chair the coaches group in the competition committee. Madden will also participate in meetings of a general managers committee and be part of a weekly call with Goodell or another NFL official to discuss issues from the previous week’s games.

Madden retired from broadcasting in April. He says the new role allows him to stay active in football. Goodell says that when Madden suggested helping out, “it was an offer we couldn’t refuse.”