Receiver Plaxico Burress said in a radio interview earlier this week that, “no doubt about it,” he wants to play next season for the Carolina Panthers, who are quarterbacked by last year’s rookie of the year, Cam Newton.
But Burress has received calls from other NFC South teams, the Panthers haven’t called yet, he told WFNZ in Charlotte on Monday.
“My brother lives right there in Charlotte, my cousin lives there in Charlotte, and all my family is there in Columbia, South Carolina. It would just be a great situation all the way around and being close to everybody.
“Not just that, but playing with Cam, who I think is one of the top five quarterbacks in all of football, and as long as I can remember, Steve Smith, has been one of my favorites. I just think it’s a great situation.”
Burress told WFNZ that NFL teams are interested in him but he hasn’t found the right fit. In February, Burress had expressed a strong desire to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, but there apparently doesn’t seem to be a match between the team and receiver, as he remains unsigned.
“I just want to put myself in a position to go out and have success and to make the guys around me better and obviously play with a quarterback who can really play the position,” Burress said. “It’s just about me picking my spots and seeing where I’m a good fit. You just look at a situation like Carolina. You can’t come across a better situation than that.”
Burress returned to the NFL last season after missing two seasons thanks to a prison sentence for accidentally shooting himself in the leg at a nightclub.
Burress, 34, tied for the Jets’ lead with eight touchdown receptions but never really clicked with quarterback Mark Sanchez, finishing with 612 yards and 45 receptions.
