Unapologetic Burress returns to Giants
An unapologetic Plaxico Burress rejoined the New York Giants on Monday, noting he didn’t lose any sleep after the Super Bowl champions suspended him for a game.
Burress missed a team meeting two weeks ago without bothering to telephone the Giants.
The receiver who caught the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl attributed his absence on Sept. 22 to a family emergency, which he described as having to take his son to school.
“It was just a situation I had to deal with that morning, and I made the right decision,” Burress said. “I don’t have any regrets about the decision I made at all.”
Burress said family would still come first next time, but that he would make sure he made a telephone call to let the Giants know about the problem.
Along with the suspension, Burress was fined one week’s pay, or roughly $117,500. The Giants originally docked him $235,000, but the player and the team reached a settlement last week that cut the fine in half.
Burress never explained why he did not report to Giants Stadium after dropping his son off at school. He indicated there was more involved without getting into explanations.
Burress also refused to discuss problems with his wife. Police were called to his home twice this year in response to domestic problems.
•Jets’ Smith appeals: New York Jets safety Eric Smith appealed his one-game suspension and $50,000 fine by the NFL for his helmet-to-helmet hit last week on Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin.
Coach Eric Mangini said Smith was going through the appeal process and a ruling was expected today.
The league suspended Smith on Sept. 29 for committing a flagrant violation of player safety rules in New York’s 56-35 win Sept. 28. In a statement, the NFL said Boldin was in a defenseless position when contact was made.
If the suspension is upheld, Smith would have to sit out the Jets’ game Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith wasn’t in the locker room or at practice during media availability Monday.
•Westbrook has broken ribs: All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook broke two ribs in the Eagles’ 23-17 loss to Washington on Sunday, though he stayed in and finished the game.
Westbrook missed one game with an ankle injury, but it’s too early to know if his latest injury will keep him out of Sunday’s game at San Francisco.
“We just have to see,” coach Andy Reid said. “We have to see how it all works out and exactly the pain level there. Right now, he’s very sore, so we’ll see how things go over the next few days.”
•Marinelli won’t quit: The Detroit Lions will have to fire Rod Marinelli if they don’t want him to be their coach.
Marinelli bristled at the thought of possibly quitting when the option was suggested Monday, a day after Detroit fell to 0-4 this season and an NFC-worst 10-26 since he was hired in 2006.
“Just you saying that to me, I would take that as a personal insult,” Marinelli said to a reporter.
The Lions insist they’re still following Marinelli’s lead.
“He’s a great coach,” receiver Mike Furrey said. “He’s so fundamentally sound, teaching guys what to do.
“There’s just something going on right now – I don’t know if it’s football-related – it’s so weird. I can’t even explain it.”
•Henry trial moved to Montana: Former Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry appeared in court Monday, handcuffed and wearing yellow prison clothes for a hearing that stemmed from his arrest last week over an alleged cocaine deal.
A judge set bail for Henry at $400,000 and ordered the case moved to Montana, where authorities say they discovered a car with three kilograms of cocaine and six pounds of marijuana that was supplied by Henry and co-defendant James Mack.
The men were advised of the charges and will enter pleas in Montana. If convicted, each faces a minimum of 10 years in prison up to life, plus a $4 million fine.
Miscellany
Islanders’ Lee injured
New York Islanders defenseman Chris Lee was carried off the ice on a stretcher in the third period of Monday night’s preseason game at Florida.
Lee was injured when he was checked into the boards from behind by Rostislav Olesz of the Panthers.
Olesz was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct on the play.
•KeyArena name cheaper: Without the Sonics as KeyArena’s main tenant, the city of Seattle will get $800,000 less next year for its naming rights. The sponsorship for the building was renegotiated after the NBA franchise moved to Oklahoma City.
KeyCorp decided to keep its name on the Seattle Center arena, but at a lower cost. Center spokeswoman Deborah Daoust says KeyCorp will pay $300,000, compared with $1.1 million last year.