Gui Buck:

While I appreciate your original take and empathize with your Thursday morning boredom, I disagree with your argument.

First of all, even though the incident where Plax’s wife called the cops was first reported when Plax was suspended, it actually occurred over the summer.  So it doesn’t seem like domestic problems were the cause of the missed meeting or treatment, though who the hell really knows?  And while I agree that employees – athletes included – should be cut a little slack in extreme cases of domestic problems, why do you assume his antics this year are as a result of this?  To me, these incidents are a continuation of the chronic disrespect for authority that has resulted in 40-50 fines during his Giants career.

I also disagree that Tom’s taking too hard a line.  You seem to be suggesting that the Giants escalated things when they sat him on Sunday.  I think Plax escalated the situation by missing the treatment.  Coming off the suspension, that was basically a big “Fuck You” to Coughlin and his rules – Plax basically forced Tom’s hand on this one.

But I hear your overall point: Because Plax is, in the end, a solid enough teammate and because this seems like a manageable enough situation, it’s incumbent on Coughlin to play it tactfully.  If they can, they should go out of their way not to embarrass Plax, lest the Proud Man react the wrong way.  But if Plax is gonna keep asking for it, Tom has no choice.  As he wrote in his book, A Team to Believe In, “I don’t fine players.  Players fine themselves.”

Also, this is football.  If you hate regimentation and rules so much, you’re free to make your living elsewhere.  We just gave the guy a new contract – all we ask is that he doesn’t completely blow off the rules.

**

According to Mike Garafolo’s article, Wade Phillips said his team will double-team Plax this Sunday, just like they did for at least those last two games last year (after Plax torched them in the season opener.)  You have to think that announcing the coverage schemes is nothing but a bit of gamesmanship by Phillips – what possible advantage it might confer, however, I don’t know.

According to Mike Garafolo’s article, Plax has been being double-teamed all season, which explains his sub-par numbers – he’s averaging 35.5 yards per game over the last four games.

So while Plax is struggling to get untracked, it doesn’t necessarily mean he hasn’t been a crucial part of our attack this year.  Quibble with Plax’s numbers all you want, but there should be no issues with our overall passing attack.

In the Star Ledger today, Mike Garafolo says the Giants will go to the draft looking for a corner if DeAngelo Hall slips away.

If they don’t get Hall (because another team offers a better deal to Atlanta or they can’t negotiate a new contract with Hall’s agent), the Giants will likely go to the draft to find their corner. And while it’s still extremely early in the process, there’s a chance they could wind up with their second consecutive winner of the Thorpe Award (for best defensive back in college football) after drafting Aaron Ross last year.

Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason is projected by many draft gurus to be selected late in the first round or early in the second. A few scouts, who requested anonymity because they don’t want to publicly reveal their team’s draft boards, agreed Cason is currently a late-first to early-second selection. The Giants, at No. 31 overall, are likely taking a long, hard look at Cason.

There are a few other cornerbacks who might be available late in the first round: Troy’s Leodis McKelvin (5-11, 190 pounds), Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (6-2, 183) and Kansas corner Aqib Talib (6-1, 202), who grew up in Trenton before moving to Texas.

At 6-0, 191 pounds, Cason has a similar build to Ross’. And like Ross, Cason played a lot of zone coverage in college but has a long build — something the Giants knew would help Ross play tough on receivers at the line of scrimmage. Cason has also shown the ability to play man-to-man coverage.

Good plan, since they need help in the secondary.

From the Daily News, Plaxico Burress may be looking to get a new contract.

Drew Rosenhaus, Burress’ agent, didn’t deny that a few minutes ago when he spoke to reporters at the NFL scouting combine here in Indianapolis. There have been rumors for months that Burress is going to ask to renegotiate his deal – and those rumors have only gotten stronger since he caught the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLII.

“That is going to be between myself and the Giants,” Rosenhaus said. “I can’t comment on that publicly.”

If Burress does ask to renegotiate, it could be one of many offseason headaches for GM Jerry Reese. If Michael Strahan decides not to retire, he’s expected to ask for more money. There are already several NFL sources who expect Osi Umenyiora to ask to redo his deal. And there was some speculation that Jeremy Shockey, another Rosenhaus client, was going to ask for more money – though that was before his season ended with a broken leg.

Bob Glauber in Newsday reports Tom Coughlin will sign a four year extension worth about $5 million a year.

Two league sources familiar with the Giants’ situation told Newsday Monday that there are few hurdles left in negotiations, and that a deal could be completed sometime this week. One source said the contract will be a four-year extension through the 2011 season. No financial terms were disclosed, but the deal likely will average about $5 million — or perhaps slightly higher — per season.

Last-minute hang-ups could delay the extension, but if the two sides agree to the terms, an announcement could come within days, sources said.

The Giants would not comment Monday on the status of negotiations with Coughlin’s agent, Gary O’Hagan, who could not be reached for comment.

Coughlin’s original four-year deal with the Giants was to have expired after the 2007 season, but a year ago, he agreed to a one-year extension after the Giants went 8-8 and qualified for the playoffs. The Giants wanted Coughlin to agree to the one-year extension so he would not be coaching the final year of his contract in 2007 and be perceived as a lame duck.

Coughlin, 61, underwent a major soul-searching period last offseason, even consulting beat reporters and columnists about how to better interact with the media. He enacted several new measures with the team, including the appointment of a leadership council and the election of team captains. He was much more tolerant of the media during news conferences, and his more approachable and positive demeanor was welcomed by players, particularly veterans.