Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó Less than four months after winning the Super Bowl, center Shaun OíHara isnít happy because he believes a couple of New York Giants are putting themselves ahead of the team.
OíHara criticized receiver Plaxico Burress on Thursday for refusing to practice until he gets a new contract and reminded teammates that the Giants won the Super Bowl by sticking together as a team when things got tough last season.
iEither you are with us or against us,î OíHara said between practices. iAnd I think the players are doing a good job of focusing in on their daily tasks and their jobs, and as long as we all continue to do that, this team will succeed.î
The opening two days of the Giantsí first mandatory practices since beating the New England Patriots in February have been somewhat of a circus.
Injured tight end Jeremy Shockey, who expressed unhappiness with his role in the offseason, miffed coach Tom Coughlin by staying in the locker room with his sore ankle instead of coming out to the field to watch practice.
Burress then compounded things Wednesday by demanding a new contract even through he has three years left on his old one. He does not intend to practice until he gets a new deal and hinted he might be a training camp holdout next month.
iI think there is a right way to do things,î OíHara said when asked about Burress, who is due to make $10.5 million over the next three seasons. iI have always felt as a player, you go out there and put your best foot forward and, as a long as you are giving 100 percent effort every time, youíll be taken care of.î
There is no doubt Burress, who has led the Giants in receiving in two of his three seasons here and caught the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the Super Bowl, will be underpaid next season without a new contract.
Terrell Owens of Dallas and Randy Moss of New England each recently signed three-year contracts for roughly $27 million.