plaxCBS analyst was on ESPN 1000 yesterday and this what he had to say about the Bears interest in troubled WR Plaxico Burress:

“If I was running a franchise, I don’t want him, so, do the Bears try to go out and get him? Why would you want that problem? I mean, look, Plaxico Burress, he put himself in this position. I mean, he’s a guy that left his family, his wife and kids at home and had to go to a nightclub and carry a loaded weapon with him in New York. And then shot himself. Is this a guy you want on your football team?’’

“I hate to guess, I’m not going to try to put that weight on him, but if I’m a team and I know Plaxico’s gifted—I get it, he’s a big target with speed and creates great separation, what a target; the Giants won a Super Bowl with him—but I don’t need all that, I don’t need all that in the papers all the time about every move he makes off the field. A total distraction. I think the Giants this year are going to find out, now that they’ve had time to regroup: he destroyed their season last year. His selfish act cost the Giants a chance at repeating. I would really be surprised if anybody was that anxious to get him if they had to deal with that hanging over their head the whole season long about what’s going to happen at the end of the year. It’s not worth it to me.’’

“I don’t see any conceivable way that he could be cleared of these charges, there will be an uproar in New York if they say, ‘Okay, we’re going to let him go.’ They’re not going to give him preferential treatment. You know what the outcome’s going to be on this deal … So why do you want this hanging over your team? Is it worth it for one year? I don’t want that. I wouldn’t want it.’’

My thoughts:

I think the Bears really need the veteran receiver to help out the younger receivers and Cutler, but Nantz has many good points.

You don’t want another distraction like Tank Johnson or Cedric Benson on your team.

Don’t get me wrong Plaxico Burress is a great player, but there’s a reason he is still a free-agent.

I’d prefer Brandon Marshall over Plaxico.

Marshall, who wants more money, asked to be traded yesterday.

Although Marshall made some stupid mistakes outside of football, he had great chemistry with Jay Cutler in Denver and really improved his game every year.

I would love to have Marshall as one of our receivers, he would bring the veteran presence that is just not there.

Trading for Brandon Marshall is a good move, but signing Plaxico Burress is a bad one.

all quotes from chicagotribune.com