The ongoing courtship from afar will finally turn into face-to-face wooing today when receiver Plaxico Burress arrives at Giants Stadium for a visit the Giants hope will result in a signed contract and a new weapon for Eli Manning.
The physically-gifted Burress, 27, is a huge target at 6-5 and 226 pounds but also considered an underachiever. What was once expected to be a fertile market for his services has dried up to the point where there’s no mad rush to sign him. Still, he’s the last possible impact receiver available in free agency and if the Giants land him, in addition to already securing linebacker Antonio Pierce and right tackle Kareem McKenzie, it will be an off-season bonanza.
A Giants source confirmed to The Post what Michael Harrison, the agent for Burress, yesterday told the Associated Press, that Burress will leave Miami this morning for a meeting at Giants Stadium. The Giants and Vikings seem to be his only serious suitors, although Minnesota’s interest may be waning.
“The Giants are very much appealing to Plaxico . . . they have some of the things we’re looking for,” Harrison said.
Harrison added Burress wants to go to a team that has quality players at tight end, running back and quarterback, and that the Giants qualify. With the release of Ike Hilliard on Thursday, there’s an opening in the starting lineup opposite Amani Toomer. Burress’ production thus far in his career is not nearly as consistent as Toomer’s and there might be attitude issues for Tom Coughlin to sift through.
“They need a No. 1 receiver,” Harrison said. “Plus, it’s New York City and Plaxico is a very marketable guy.”
Ever busy, the Giants last night welcomed in 34-year old Jim Miller for the start of a visit that could secure their new backup quarterback. Miller was taken to dinner by members of the coaching staff and today will take a physical.
“I would expect if things go well we’ll be talking about a contract,” Miller’s agent, Joe Linta, told The Post.
The Giants have already courted Jay Fiedler and believe he has more left in the tank to offer as an actual player. The 31-year old Fiedler, though, is still seeking a starting job, and is expected to pay the Bears a visit this week in Chicago. Miller would be a less expensive option and would certainly never balk at a backup role.
“You’re not going to have any rumblings from Jim if things go bad,” Linta said, “where Fielder might go to the media off to the side and say, ‘I should be playing.’ It’s a great fit from the standpoint that he can really be a good sounding board for Manning.”
Miller hasn’t thrown a pass in the NFL in three years and he’s coming off a torn rotator cuff injury that Linta said was fully healed in the second half of last season, when Miller sat on the bench for the Super Bowl champion Patriots.
Linta said the Jets, Browns, Buccaneers and Patriots have expressed interest in Miller, but the Giants have been the most aggressive.
