PSR In-Depth:
Receiving Options
Ward And Burress Have Limited Choices
By Jerry DiPaola

Say what you want about Plaxico Burress.

Call him unprofessional for skipping each of the Steelers' 19 spring practice sessions.

Call him overrated after he followed two 1,000-yard seasons with a series of poor games and dropped passes last season that doomed the Steelers and quarterback Tommy Maddox as much as any part of the team.

In fact, you might be correct on both counts: Burress let his team and his teammates down during and after the 2003 season.

But don't call him or Hines Ward stupid.

Both of the Steelers' starting wide receivers know the Rooney family too well. They know that if they transform their unhappiness over their contractual situations into holdouts that keep them away from St. Vincent College beyond the July 30 reporting date, it won't add one penny to the contract each eventually will sign.

Dan Rooney, the Steelers' chairman and one of the smartest businessmen in the city of Pittsburgh, doesn't respond to threats. He doesn't cave into demands from the agent of even a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver. He wants his players to be happy, but he believes in honoring contracts, too. He makes exceptions, but he does it rarely and reluctantly.

He knows that Burress and Ward are frustrated that they have not been offered contract extensions this year while those around them have been sated by the Rooney largesse. But Rooney also knows right from wrong, and he believes Burress was wrong for staying away this spring, voluntary practices or not, and Ward will be just as wrong if he holds out for even a brief period later this summer.

There is no contesting the fact that Ward is underpaid this year at a charge against the Steelers' salary cap of $2.17 million. A total of 28 wide receivers in the NFL will cost their teams more this year. A total of three, none of them in the AFC, by the way, caught more passes than Ward last season.

Ward has been the team's most valuable player or shared that honor in each of the past two seasons. From 2001-2003, he strung together the three best seasons by a Steelers' wide receiver in franchise history. Together with Burress, he has been part of the three highest single-season reception totals by a Steelers' duo.

Ward wants more money; he deserves more money; if he stays healthy, he will get more money. But he might have to wait until 2005. Steelers' president Art Rooney II said the team made a "rare exception"when it renegotiated Maddox's contract that had three years remaining on it. Ward is signed through 2005. The Steelers have some leverage, and plan to use it.

Burress' story is a little different, but no more advantageous to him. He has one year left on a contract that will cost the Steelers about $200,000 more against the cap than Ward's deal.

Again, the Steelers have the leverage. Burress is obligated to fulfill the terms of that contract and, likely, will do so. He must prove to other teams that he is closer to the player who averaged 72 receptions, 1,167 yards and 6.5 touchdowns in 2001 and 2002 than the one whose numbers fell to 60 catches, 860 yards and four TDs last season. The difference is not astronomical, unless you are talking about Burress' market value.

If he continues his holdout and has a slow start to the regular season as a result, it could cost him millions of dollars in free agency next year.

Speaking of market value, Burress' holdout did him no favors in the eyes of his current employers. If they had any thought about extending his contract, his insubordination and disrespect of coach Bill Cowher and his staff ended that. The Rooneys don't reward people when they refuse to do what they are expected to do.

Don't worry about Burress, though. He will sign a contract, a big one, with another team next year. Former Philadelphia Eagles' running back Duce Staley skipped the entire preseason in 2003, joined the Eagles before the first regular-season game, played well, albeit as a backup for most of the season, and ended up getting a $4 million signing bonus from the Steelers in March.

"It didn't affect my relationship with the team at all,"Staley said of his holdout.

The difference: The Steelers needed Staley to improve their running game and were willing to overlook his transgression because it came against Eagles' coach Andy Reid, not Cowher.

A similar holdout by Burress probably wouldn't cost him a place in the Steelers' 2004 starting lineup. He is a better receiver than Antwan Randle El, the obvious replacement, and the Steelers aren't blessed with veteran depth at the position. Without Burress, the team would have to hope Randle El steps up his game and unspectacular talents such as Chris Doering or Lee Mays can improve enough to be productive as the No. 3 receiver.

That represents a lot of crossed fingers.

That's why the Steelers weren't eager this off-season to trade Burress.

First, his return in a trade would not offset his loss from the lineup.

Second, any team trading for him wouldn't do it without a new contract agreement that would be difficult to negotiate.

Third, the Steelers are counting on Burress to play well in an attempt to make himself attractive in free agency. That way, everyone is a winner.

For this season, at least, the Steelers need Burress, who needs the vehicle the Steelers provide to showcase his talents.

At the same time, the Steelers need Ward, who doesn't want to look like anything less than a good, team player.

When Burress skipped the mandatory minicamp in May, it was Ward who stepped up and said, "It's sad to see one of our leaders not here."

It would be sadder for the Steelers if Ward did not appear for training camp. He sets a better and more respected example for his teammates than Burress ever will.

Contacted near the end of June, Ward said he had no plans to report late for camp. But he said the situation depends on ongoing talks between his agent Eugene Parker and the Steelers.

"Until Eugene tells me otherwise, I am planning on reporting to camp,"Ward said. "That is my plan to be there."

If Ward and/or Burress are late for training camp, it would be a meaningless, symbolic gesture that would be quickly forgotten, if they return in time to contribute to the team in a positive manner.

If they hold out for even a brief period and then open the season by dropping passes in a series of defeats, they wouldn't be any more popular than Kordell Stewart after getting showered with beer.

Jerry DiPaola covers the Steelers and NFL for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.