Over and over again, the Giants have told anyone who would listen that Plaxico Burress is welcome back to the Giants. He needs to beat his gun charge and start acting like a responsible team member, but those are the only things keeping him from resuming his role as the centerpiece of the team's passing game.
So what to make of word that the Giants offered the Browns a second and a fifth-round draft pick for wide receiver Braylon Edwards? You might think that they are trying to build an overwhelming offensive attack, after all this is the same time that's spent the rest of the offseason loading up on defensive linemen even though they've already got several good ones. The way they responded to the Browns' counter-offer makes you think there's more to it, however.
According to The Giant Insider (which requires a subscription), via Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News, the Browns wanted the Giants to include wide receiver Steve Smith in the deal. The Giants proposed Domenik Hixon or Mario Manningham instead, and no deal was struck.
Now, if the Giants were looking to team Edwards with Burress, who they claim to want back on the team, what's the big loss with Smith? He's a nice receiver, certainly, but he's a cut below Edwards and Burress. He's a possession receiver whose production could be duplicated elsewhere, especially with defenses focusing on such a dynamic pair at the top of the ticket.
Edwards was being sought as Burress' replacement, then, which is a perfectly reasonable thing for the Giants to do. Smith would slide into the Amani Toomer role and they'd figure out the rest of the receiving corps from there.
All of which means that whatever the Giants say publicly about Burress is just posturing, because they can't control either of the two criteria they demand for his return to the team. He's the best option they've got right now, so until they replace him they're going to keep toeing the party line. Don't count on him being the guy wearing number 17 when the season kicks off just yet.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
