Giants release Burress

In a surprising move, the Giants have announced that they've released wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

"I am an optimist, and I believe most situations can be worked out," Giants GM Jerry Reese said on the team's Web site. "We hung in there as long as we could in hopes that there could be a resolution to this situation other than the decision we made today to release Plaxico. It wasn't to be, so now we have to move on. Like everybody else here, we want nothing but the best for Plaxico, and we are appreciative of the contributions he made to this franchise."

Burress, of course, has been the topic of much discussion since shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub last November.

He faces a felony weapons charge and could be subject to punishment from the league.

Burress' crowning moment with the Giants came when he caught the game-winning pass in the 2008 Super Bowl against the then-undefeated Patriots.

He also fared well against the Eagles. In seven regular-season Giants-Eagles games over the past four years, the Birds kept Burress out of the end zone just twice. He had four 100-yard games.

And since I know some of you will bring it up, a comment from reader phila7475:

Cue the Eagles WR rumors

I'm not going to go down that road, but I think what Eagles fans should be keeping their eyes on is what the Giants will do at wide receiver. Their passing game struggled down the stretch last season without a go-to wideout. And New York inquired about Browns receiver Braylon Edwards earlier this offseason.

Do they get on the phone with Cleveland once again?

I know we've beaten the Anquan Boldin thing to death here at MTC, but the Giants and Eagles have both been rumored to be potential suitors for the Cardinals receiver all offseason.

As to where Burress will end up, I would doubt that teams will show any interest until they find out what happens with him legally.

More to come as we find out more details about the Giants' decision.