Burress' return to Giants has upside

Given what happened on Nov. 28, 2008, the idea that Plaxico Burress and Tom Coughlin would even think about meeting Friday night is surprising enough. The idea that the two actually might be working together again before long? It's positively nuts.

After the calamitous sequence of events that followed Burress' self-shooting at a New York nightclub, it would have surprised no one if the two men never spoke again. Burress' mistake cost him more than two football seasons -- and nearly two years in prison -- and might have cost Coughlin a chance at a second straight Super Bowl championship.

But here they are, more than 2 1/2 years later, about to see if there might be enough common ground to forge an unlikely reunion.

Burress paid his debt to society and is free to play again, but the fact that he and the Giants are even considering a second chance is crazy. Then again, perhaps the two parties need each other more than you'd think.

For Burress, there is the chance to rejoin a locker room in which he was genuinely well- liked by almost every player despite his faults. For Coughlin, there is the chance to fill a need at wide receiver because of uncertainty about Steve Smith's left knee.

And if you'd prefer to take a more cynical view of Friday's get-together, then there's this: Even if the two men genuinely don't like each other, they still can benefit from at least considering a second go-round.

For Burress, there is a chance to create financial leverage by agreeing to sit down with Coughlin. After all, he is set to meet Saturday with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to discuss a possible return to Pittsburgh. What better way to up the ante than to play one side against the other?

For Coughlin, there is an opportunity to show his players he's at least willing to forgive Burress for what happened. It will be impossible to forget, though, because the Giants were 10-1 when Burress' epic fall occurred. After the shooting, Plaxico's season was over, and his life would never be the same. And Coughlin hasn't won a playoff game since.

So maybe these men really do need each other more than they'd care to admit. And maybe a frank discussion will provide a spark to think that a second chance is possible. Even if it turns out to be for strictly selfish reasons.

It will be an intriguing moment, for sure, although only a first step. Team president John Mara, who seems to be pushing the idea of a Burress return, says the team still is in the beginning stages of the process.

"The question is: Are we going to be able to move past the past and are we going to be able to live with each other going forward?" Mara said Thursday on ESPN Radio. "That's going to be up to him. It's going to be up to the coach and general manager. And then we've got to get to the salary considerations."

The Giants have several issues to consider in getting under the $120-million salary cap. They've already released offensive linemen Shaun O'Hara, Rich Seubert and Shawn Andrews as well as defensive lineman Rocky Bernard. And they still want to re-sign running back Ahmad Bradshaw and tight end Kevin Boss.

Mara acknowledged there might not be enough financial wiggle room to sign Burress.

"I'm not entirely convinced all of that is going to work, either," he said.

But at least it's worth getting to the exploratory stage. Even if it doesn't work out in football terms for Burress and Coughlin, at least they'll meet face-to-face and let each other know just how painful that night turned out to be.

For both of them.