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Michigan State WR
Plaxico Burress
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NEW YORK — For a while there, it sounded as though Michigan State WR Plaxico
Burress would never be drafted. There were criticisms of his route-running, of his
attitude, of his maturity. You name it, Burress did it wrong.
But the Steelers needed a big, play-making wide receiver in the worst way, and Burress
made the most sense to them. So when it was their turn to pick at No. 8 in Round One, the
Steelers didn’t hesitate.
"We needed a playmaker, and he was the best playmaker on the board," Steelers
head coach Bill Cowher said. "We looked at what was best for our team, and we felt
like Plaxico Burress was a guy we couldn’t afford to pass up."
Burress doesn’t have the speed of Florida State WR Peter Warrick, but the MSU
product has great size (6-5, 233 pounds), which will present problems for most
cornerbacks.
Part of the problem with Burress was his inability to make scheduled meetings. He
missed appointments with both the Eagles and Steelers, though he later met with Cowher to
apologize.
"I was coming in from California, and I was tired," Burress said. "I
ate, and I laid down and slept right through. I called coach Cowher and explained, and
he’s been great. We have a great relationship."
Now, Burress needs to build a similar relationship with his new teammates.
Stay out(side): John Randle’s time at defensive end may not be over. The
Vikings’ addition of Boston College DT Chris Hovan could keep Randle outside on base
downs while the team rotates inside with Hovan, Jerry Ball and Tony Williams. On passing
downs, though, Randle could join Hovan inside in an attempt to free up pass rushers on the
outside. Remember, the Vikings are void of experience and depth at cornerback, so they
badly need to get after the quarterback. Keeping Randle at end would also fulfill a need,
considering Minnesota’s current DE starters are the nondescript John Burrough and
Fernando Smith. However, Randle has done his best work at tackle, not end.
Needing more: The rebuilding of the 49ers has begun, only without QB Chad
Pennington. Most mock drafts had the Marshall product being taken by the 49ers with their
No. 1 pick, but the team passed on him in favor of Michigan State pass rusher Julian
Peterson. San Francisco’s belief: It had too many holes elsewhere that needed
immediate attention, such as Peterson’s LB spot and at cornerback. The latter need
was addressed with the Niners’ second first-round pick, spent on Ohio State’s
Ahmed Plummer. San Francisco eventually selected Hofstra QB Giovanni Carmazzi in the third
round.
Moving day: Look for former first-round pick Aaron Gibson to move from tackle to
guard as the Lions shuffle their offensive line. The selection of Oklahoma OT Stockar
McDougle necessitates the switch and gives Detroit a much bigger presence up front. Both
Gibson and McDougle are over 350 pounds and have the ability to engulf defenders. They
also help give Lions head coach Bobby Ross the physical ground attack he craves. Add
free-agent RB James Stewart to the equation, and it becomes even more physical.
Mr. Everything: Where should the Bears play New Mexico LB-SS-TE Brian Urlacher?
According to PFW personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum, the Bears just need him on the field.
"It doesn’t matter," Buchsbaum said. "He’ll adapt."
Urlacher’s best-selling traits are his athleticism and his versatility. Buchsbaum
calls him one of the top three athletes in the draft, along with Penn State LB LaVar
Arrington and Florida State WR Peter Warrick.
Crowded corner: With the selection of Jackson State’s Rashard Anderson, the
Panthers are loaded at cornerback. Anderson joins Eric Davis, Doug Evans and free-agent
pickup Jimmy Hitchcock to form a deep and talented group. However, all four don’t
figure to be with the team on opening day 2000. Both Davis and Evans have high price tags,
which could result in one of them being moved.
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