by MARK MCGUIRE COMMENTARY , The Times-Union

With Monday's postponement of Burress' felony gun case until September, there are greater chances the former New York Giant could play somewhere in 2009. Reported suitors include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Chicago Bears and the Jets .

"We are hoping to have a deal in place with a team for Plax before training camps start," his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said via Twitter on Monday.

Without a legitimate No. 1 receiver -- Jerricho Cotchery is a fine No. 2, but not a main weapon -- you can understand why the Jets would be tempted to bring in a receiver who served as Eli Manning's security blanket during the 2007 Super Bowl run.

With rookie first-round quarterback Mark Sanchez possibly starting in Week 1, you would want to supply him with as many options as possible, even with indications that new coach Rex Ryan will rely heavily on the run.

So Burress certainly fills the right need. Too bad he's the wrong guy. A few of the reasons:

The Jets have already done the one-year rental thing. In his one year New York career quarterback Brett Favre did get the Jets off to an 8-3 start, but faltered down the stretch as Gang Green missed out on the playoffs. While filling a gap, he did nothing for the long-term fortunes of the team, aside from contributing to the firing of coach Eric Mangini.

Make no mistake: Burress is going to do time based on the readily apparent evidence; he faces a minimum three-plus years. And he will be slapped with a suspension on top of whatever is decided in the courts. At best, his career likely ends with the final gun of his future team's 2009 season.

On top of that, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could suspend Burress even before the case is adjudicated, although be assured any team thinking of signing the wide receiver will suss out the NFL's position on the matter before reeling Burress in. If they don't, they're just stupid.

New York is not playing for Super Bowl XLIV. Yes, any team can shoot out of nowhere to capture a conference crown. But with a rookie head coach and QB, the Jets are trying to build a foundation for beyond. Burress makes sense for a team that is that one playmaker away from potentially playing for the Lombardi Trophy.

The last thing this team needs is distractions. Read above: Rookie head coach, rookie quarterback. While there are some distinct personalities on this team -- newcomer linebacker Bart Scott, safety Kerry Rhodes and guard Alan Faneca come to mind -- the Jets do not have a quarterback with the NFL resume that provides de facto leadership in the locker room. In that vacuum, the New York-amped media circus that will follow Burress could consume a team that's trying to establish a new identity.

Reliable hands, not a reliable guy. He tucked a gun in his waistband and shot himself in the leg. He's a menace on Florida highways, racking up tickets as if they were receptions. While with the Giants he was chronically late for team meetings. Simply, Burress is the chairman of the Knucklehead Society, his badge of honor the scar on his thigh.

There's no denying Burress is still a dangerous wide receiver. There's no doubt the Jets need one. And, if he had an ounce of brains, Burress will be on his best behavior this coming season.

The problem is there's ample evidence Burress is an ounce short of where he needs to be. Ryan may favor the running game, but he and the rest of the Jets brass should pass here.

Mark McGuire can be reached at 454-5467 or by e-mail at mmcguire@timesunion.com Visit his blog at http://blogs.timesunion.com/mcguire.

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