Giants Burress will be a game-time decision Sunday

[November 22, 2008]  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The chances of Plaxico Burress making another winning touchdown catch this weekend at the University of Phoenix Stadium are questionable at best.

The New York Giants' star receiver was limited at practice Friday because of an injury to his right hamstring and he will be a game-time decision on Sunday when the Super Bowl champions play the Arizona Cardinals.

"Knowing me, as of right now, I will play, but like I said you have to be smart about it because it is a hamstring," Burress said after practice. "The weather is going to be cold out here for the rest of the season and hamstrings really don't normally do well in the cold weather. So like I said, I am just going to make the decision based on how I feel when we get out there and warm up on Sunday."

Burress tweaked the hamstring in practice Wednesday and he did not work out Thursday. His hamstring was a little sore after practice Friday, but it did not bother him when he jogged.

"It is a different ballgame when you are out there making moves and sprinting and stuff," Burress added.

Coach Tom Coughlin listed Burress as questionable for the game, which will be the Giants' first at the Arizona stadium since beating the New England Patriots 17-14 in the Super Bowl in February.

Burress caught a winning 13-yard pass from Eli Manning in the left corner of the end zone with 35 seconds to play.

"I don't even know what corner it was," Burress said. "I don't know, man, I was running and turning around and doing so much on that play that I don't even remember what corner it was. I was so out of it that game. I was just happy that we won."

Burress has shown the ability to play with pain. He played almost the entire season last year with an ankle injury that prevented him from practicing.

Coincidentally, Burress injured a knee a week before the Super Bowl and could not practice. He had two catches for 27 in the championship game.

"I think that place has a hex on me a little bit, when it comes to game week, but I don't know," he said. "It is unfortunate that it happened, but I am in good spirits about it and it is not serious. But then again, I know how these hamstring things go. You just have to take it day to day and rest. When I am ready to go, I will see."

Burress said a hamstring is a lot different from an ankle or knee injury. He said the last time he had a hamstring injury, he missed six games with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he said that pull was worse.

"It is not something that you can cover up or anything like that," Burress said. "It is one of the things that makes my body go, so like I said, if I am not able to do the things that I am capable of going out and doing, it is going to be very obvious."

Burress has 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns, but his receptions have declined steadily since catching 15 passes in the first two games. He has gotten double coverage in almost every game since and he has caught no more than three passes in the last five games.

[Associated Press; By TOM CANAVAN]

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