Cowher Comes Calling on Plaxico, Santonio
Posted by on December 2, 2011 – 2:47 pmCBS analyst Bill Cowher visited a pair of his former receivers this week here at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Cowher, who was the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1992-2006, sat down with both Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes for a feature that will run Sunday on The NFL Today.
The Steelers selected Burress with the No. 8 overall choice in the 2000 draft. He played five years under Cowher, hauling in 261 receptions for 4,164 yards and 22 touchdowns. And now after two years out of football, Burress is writing quite a comeback story with the Jets.
“I think it’s remarkable. It speaks volumes about him and his determination,” Cowher told newyorkjets.com. “I think it’s great when people have a second chance to have an opportunity to do something with it. Plaxico has done that. It’s kind of neat to see him reunited with Santonio. With Dustin [Keller], they have three really quality people at the skill positions. It’s just a good story. I’d like to see him finish the season and finish it strong.”
Burress is averaging a healthy 14.1 yards a reception and his seven TDs pace the Jets. Many people had thought the 34-year-old pro would never be the same on the field after serving 20 months in prison on a weapons charge.
“I’m proud of him and happy for him. I’m happy that he had a chance to redeem himself and get a second chance,” Cowher said. “And he looks good — he looks like the guy, when you throw the ball that you think it’s going out of bounds on third-and-11, he looks like the guy that puts his big old arm span up and catches it. He’s a great target for a quarterback — trust me. He’s a quarterback’s best friend when you look at a target like that.”
Last Sunday, Bills WR Stevie Johnson attempted to poke fun at Burress with his touchdown dance. The latter provided answers on the field with a TD catch of his own and a critical third-down pickup on the winning drive, then acted like a true professional with his postgame comments.
“Nothing was more indicative than last week,” said Cowher. “You get the guy mocking him and the guy in the past may have had more of a redemption-type response, but his was genuine and sincere. It’s just about winning games. I think he’s become not just a better player and teammate but I think he’s become a better person, and that’s also been evident. It’s unfortunate what he went through but sometimes these things in life happen and they happen for the good.“
Holmes, who became the first Steelers receiver selected in the first round since Burress, was the 25th pick of the ’06 draft. Now known for his game-changing plays in Tone Time, it was Holmes who actually capped off his rookie year with a 67-yard OT winner against the Bengals in Cowher’s final game as coach.
“He’s very deceptive, a great route runner and he can run after the catch,” Cowher said. “You saw that at Ohio State and you saw a little bit of that in his first year. Right now he’s developed into a guy who can play big in big games. These two receivers you have have made Super Bowl game-winning catches, so they know what the pressure is like. Pressure is nothing new for these guys.”
Tags: Bill Cowher, Dustin Keller, PIttsburgh Steelers, Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes
Posted in Eric Allen | 28 Comments »
By Kurt on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
Eric,
Do we know what uniforms we will be donning in Washington? It has to be time for the road throwbacks.
By Randy Lange on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
Kurt, I can tell you the Jets will not be wearing their throwback uniforms on Sunday at FedEx Field. I’ll let you know definitively which unis they’re wearing Sunday morning.
By Tom Spicer on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
The Jets will stick with Mark at least this year & next year. Year 4 if he does not put it all together I think they will bring in competition for year 5. I will tell you this unless the Jets see a dominate pass rusher or a saftey they think will be a all pro. They are taking a tackle or a running back with there top pick.
By Tom Spicer on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
No matter what happens this year if we win the Super Bowl or we lose out I will tell you this either Hunter is gone, Grenne is gone or Schotty is gone AT LEAST! maybe 2 of them, MAYBE ALL OF THEM! But at least 1.
By Another Tom on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
We need a complete game vs the skins..Lets start rolling towards the playoffs! maybe our play makers will step up and provide some highlights..not many so far this year..Im thinking the blocked punt for a TD vs. Dallas way back in week 1 is the most memorable big play of the year so far…maybe McKnights kick off return for a TD is another..and Wilkersons only sack resulting in a safety is one more…what others am I missing?
By Clarke W. Griswald on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
Tom Spicer, it’s funny, you say unless they see a dominant pass rusher or safety, they’re going OT in the first round of the draft, but I think, unless they see a dominant OT, they’re going OLB. Look at Slauson, he’s a 6th round pick, I think starting 3-4 OLB’s are harder to find in the bottom of drafts then tackles, plus the Jets need 2 OLB’s.
By Jet Fan Since '64 Tom on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
Wait a minute, what’s with Cowher calling Holmes a great route runner? Everybody knows he’s lousy route runner, Rex tells us that! Holmes isn’t even good enough to take advantage of that elite QB Sanchez that we got, why are we keeping him around anyway? Hasn’t he learned yet to catch balls thrown 2 steps behind him or on the wrong side? Does he expect MS to lead him on EVERY throw, like Ben did when SH was the SB MVP? And what does Cowher know anyway, did he ever get any better results out of SH? WE throw 5-yarders to him, NOT 67-yarders! This has been a message from the Jet Fan Bizarro World. Tune in next wk when we discuss how Darrelle Revis is a bust ’cause he missed a tackle on Tebow and wasted a whole 13 pts. our O went and scored.
By dave on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
Tom
Jets need to sign an experienced right tackle in the prime of his career. Someone who is NFL ready, and renegotiate hunters contract to fit a back-up. Then they draft a pass rushing 3 down OLB in the first round. Then in the 2nd and 3rd a safety and a wide receiver.
By JACK on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
OL Wayne Hunter and TE, Matt Mulligan OL,Viadmir Ducasse, and maybe S, Eric Smith all need to go. Jets will need to fixs that offensive lines in the drafts and from F/A, I hope the Jets are smart enough to go and drafts a RT or a RG, with the 1st pick in the 2012 NFL Drafts. I Think they should take another in the 2nd rd as well. Would love to see the Jets get OG, David DeCastro Stanford or OT/RT Riley Reiff and hope that OL, Jonathan Martin is still there in the 2nd rd went Jets pick again. Those my top 3 OL, man. Then go see if we can get a pass rusher with we never got from last year drafts.
By joe on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
Now that man (COWHER )is a football c aoach.As far as SANCHEZ there is no competition a long Rex and Mike T are around.ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY no way in the world they go to WOODY and tell himt they wasted 50 million dollars of his money (plus draft picks and YEARS of development time )on the wrong guy .This is not some D3 college team its a BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS preducated upon winning superbowls.The guy who takes Rexs place though thats a different story
By joe on Dec 2, 2011 | Reply
LOL easy fix for this organization GIVE CROWHER WHATEVER HE WANTS.Interesting hes has said he wll not comeback unless he feels the team has an ELITE QB in place.
By jorge on Dec 3, 2011 | Reply
yeah hunter is a good backup not a starter we will draft a taclke and a safety a good mlb
By GaryC on Dec 3, 2011 | Reply
even wide receivers have to work in unison, so when you have a receiver who was brought in this year who sits out most of the practices, a rookie receiver who wasn’t getting the reps in training camp because the team brought in another golden oldie and who has been injured what do you expect from Sanchez.give him some slack and get some game changers and stop overrating the jets skill position players, there not that good,except for Keller.
By marcus c boyce on Dec 3, 2011 | Reply
I BEEN HEARING HUNTER WILL NOT BE GONE . HE WILL STAY AS A BACK UP, AN OUR, LG , HE WILL BE THERE HE HAS GOT BETTER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS NEXT YEAR HE WILL BE A FORCE, WATCH THE WAY HE PLAY’S THE LAST FEW GAMES,
By Westcoast GangGreen on Dec 3, 2011 | Reply
Big and stomg athletic safety who are quick..!! Regarding to the up coming draft…
By Hans on Dec 3, 2011 | Reply
Marcus Boyce – what’s your source?
By Jet Fan Since '64 Tom on Dec 3, 2011 | Reply
Last time I looked, GaryC, Keller hadn’t won a SB with three catches on a 2-minute-drill drive in the 4th quarter and the greatest game-winning catch in SB history, winning the SB MVP in the process. Some guy named Santonio Holmes had done all that, though. Let’s wait until Keller proves he can run a route long enough to get the 1st down on a drive like that in the SB instead of stepping out of bounds short of the 1st down before we elevate him above not just Holmes but the elite TE’s in the NFL, of which he is not yet one.
By KeithBeckett on Dec 3, 2011 | Reply
. Rex Ryan has brought something to this franchise I have not seen in 40+ years of supporting it. A “Winning”, attitude and the record since his arrival tells the story. I feel the team may have the best CB(tandem/trio)in the league and the WR tandem ranks with the best of them as well. M.Sanchez is very young and is improved behind an o-line that played it’s best game last week. The Redskin’s will test it once again and both OT’s must be up to the task (Kerrigan/Orakpo). The Jet offense has sputtered behind the predictable play calling of OC B.Shottenhiemer, who has managed to have a 100yd. rusher once this year. It is time to promote B. Callahan to OC as the “TEAM” needs to improve in every area possible.
By Tom Spicer on Dec 4, 2011 | Reply
Tom 64, AGAIN You way overate the talent of Holmes based off of 1 game. 1 time in his career he had over 6 TDS in a season. 1 time in his career he had over 942 yards reciveing. I am not saying he is not good but I would have rather had Braylon than him. Not only was Braylon big but he was our deep threat the last 2 years. Pitt traded Holmes to the Jets cause they knew they had a better player waiting in the wings in Mike Wallace. DO YOU GET IT! Your constant bashing of the QB when there are significantly other BIGGER problems like the right tackle, the running back, the lack of pass rush, bad saftey play & us needing a 3rd good WR like most teams have.
By Tom Spicer on Dec 4, 2011 | Reply
ALL need to be addressed before the QB! But it seem like either YOU dont know what you are talking about OR you have a agenda vs the QB.
By Tom Spicer on Dec 4, 2011 | Reply
Holmes, Career numbers 2006 – 842 & 2, 2007 – 942 & 8, 2008 – 821 & 5, 2009 – 1,248 & 5, 2010 – 746 & 6, 2011 – 494 & 5. The guy had 1 1,000 yard season ONE! Dont great WR’S have 1,00 yards every year! The guy had more than 6 TDS 1 time ONE! Again good WR not great. Stop overating him Plax & Kerley. Holmes is good not great, Plax is not the player he was in 2007 with the Giants & Kerley who you rave about has not even had 1 good NFL game in his LIFE!
By Jet Fan Since '64 Tom on Dec 4, 2011 | Reply
First of all, Spicer, I consider Wallace the most dangerous WR in the NFL now, him and Fitzgerald would be my Top 2. There’s no shame in not being as good as them, but it is shameful to criticize Holmes when a lot of folks outside of NYC think Sanchez is one of the worst QBs in the NFL. Second, like with your weird use of stats with MS, I notice you DON’T print Holmes’ impressive career avg p/catch, which dwarfs that of any WR we’ve had since Walker. Finally, Holmes’ stats with us can’t really be compared to his stats on PIT unless you think MS can be compared to Ben R — go ahead, just TRY to go there! As for Kerley, you must have no eye for talent if you don’t think he’s gonna be great, especially if we get a QB who can throw over 10 yds.
By GaryC on Dec 4, 2011 | Reply
thank you, tom spicer, a guy who can see the forest through the trees when it comes to holmes,listening to jet fan tom,you think we have the second coming of Jerry Rice and Lance Alworth,just remember jet fan tom the play before holmes caught that super bowl winning pass he let the ball go through his hands on previous play.
By marcus c boyce on Dec 4, 2011 | Reply
NO SOURCE BEEN A JET FAN SINCE ’1977 WHEN I WAS 11 YRS OLD WE HAD TEAMS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SUPER BOWL BY NOW I DID NOT SAY WIN BUT IN IT. HUNTER WILL BE A BACK-UP REMEMBER HE NEVER STARTED THEN MAY HE NEED A GOOD OFF SEASON TO WORK ON A FEW THINGS. OUR LG IS THERE FOR HIM TO LOSE. BRICK IS HAVING A OFF YEAR SOME WHAT THESE’S LAST FEW GAMES WILL TELL IF HE MAKES THE PRO BOWL, MAYBIN IS THERE GIVE HIM AN OFF SEASON AND BEEF HIM UP AND HE WILL START NEXT SEASON, TWO YEARS IN A ROW BEING A WILD CARD TAKE’S ALOT OUT OF A TEAM AT SOME POSTION’S WHEN IT COME TO AGE IF WE MAKE THE PLAYOFF’S MORE POWER TO US IF NOT WE WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR FOR SURE SO HOLD ON JETS FAN THE RIDE START’S IN D.C. TODAY.
By jorge on Dec 4, 2011 | Reply
yes i belive that callahan will be the jets oc next year zanches has not goten better and its time to make a change we need to put 24 points agame and put our D in good spots not happening this year
By Jet Fan Since '64 Tom on Dec 4, 2011 | Reply
Spicer and GaryC prattle on, meanwhile Holmes wins the game today by faking a DB out of his shoes. Also makes a ridiculous one-handed catch on a pass of about 7 yds that Sanchez couldn’t put in the right place, but we don’t like to talk about that kind of thing…
By joe on Dec 5, 2011 | Reply
lol to bring a winning attitude to a team (i may be wrong )but wouldnt it help if after 3 years that team actually won something (the operation was a success but the patient died ).Fans can try to MICROMANAGE this team all they want the fact of the matter is that Sanchez is not an elite QB and recent history flat out dictates without an ELITE QB you have ABSOLUTELY NO SHOT AT THE LOMBARDI.
By joe on Dec 5, 2011 | Reply
ps KIND of ls like Tebow (nice story team will win 8,9 maybe 10 games )sooner or later got to duel it out likes of Ravens Steelers Pats and then Pack or Saints FORGET ABOUT IT.