Plaxico Burress' day off is news to Giants coach Tom Coughlin

Plaxico Burress spent the Giants' first practices Friday doing the same thing he did at nearly every practice last year. But was he standing on the sidelines because his ankle was bothering him again? Or were his unfinished contract negotiations bothering him, too?

That wasn't clear when the defending champs returned to the football field without their No. 1 receiver. Burress' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, insisted the absence was "definitely not connected" to his contract. But Tom Coughlin didn't sound so sure. "I'm not sure what that issue is," the coach said after the morning practice. "Until I have more information, I am not commenting. I just said all I can say." Continue