Time for Burress to get on the field

We've seen plenty of Plaxico Burress since he signed with the Jets 17 days ago. Heard a lot from him, too. On conference calls, in interviews before clusters of reporters and cameras, in a sit-down on HBO's "Real Sports." Even in a phoner on ESPN's telecast of the Jets-Texans preseason opener Monday night.

What we haven't seen or heard is what the 34-year-old receiver needs most of all: actual time on the football field, the sound of his hands wrapping around Mark Sanchez's passes.

That all figures to change Wednesday. Or so Burress and the Jets hope.

Burress has barely worked out since joining the team, thanks to a sprained ankle he suffered while working out on his own days after signing a one-year contract. That's hardly the intro the Jets were expecting.

In theory, signing Burress made so much sense, based on talent and potential. Before his Giants career ended with his self-shooting in a New York nightclub Nov. 28, 2008, he was one of the NFL's most dangerous deep threats and one of its best red-zone targets. With the Jets hoping to improve on last year's desultory red-zone production, they gambled that Burress would be a significant upgrade, even after nearly three years away from the field, 20 months of which were spent in prison on illegal weapons possession charges.

That gamble may pay off, but the Jets and Burress need to see for themselves just what they can expect from him. Burress has indicated he'll be ready to practice fully starting Wednesday, and that the Jets can expect to see him in the lineup for Sunday night's preseason home game against the Bengals.

That moment can't come soon enough for Burress, who needs to get on the field and start developing the kind of chemistry with Sanchez that he had with Eli Manning. Sanchez has spent more time talking with Burress than throwing to him. The two went out for Mexican food in New York last week to get better acquainted, with Sanchez picking up the tab because he'd lost a bet to Burress.

But the only way they'll truly establish a bond is when Burress starts running routes and Sanchez starts throwing to him. Only then will we get an idea of what's in store for an offense that should feature a more explosive dynamic with Burress and fellow wideouts Santonio Holmes and Derrick Mason.

With Holmes, the Jets already know what they have: a game-breaking receiver who is money in the fourth quarter. Re-signing Holmes last month was the single biggest transaction of the Jets' offseason, and the receiving game starts with him.

Mason's acquisition will go a long way toward taking the sting out of the Jerricho Cotchery mess that led to his eventual request to be released. Look, we all know Cotchery was a valiant competitor, as proven by his first-down catch in overtime against the Browns after his groin ripped on the play. And there was no better locker-room presence than Cotchery.

But it's naive to think Mason can't be a capable replacement, perhaps even an upgrade. For years, Mason has been one of the most productive slot receivers in the NFL, and remains a threat, even at 37. Look how quickly he fit in Monday, catching three passes from Sanchez in only two series.

But the real key is Burress. Holmes needs a big-play threat on the other side, and Mason's intermediate-range receiving ability is only a piece of the puzzle. Burress is the larger issue.

"Hopefully, he's ready to go," Holmes said of his new teammate. "We've got a lot of work to look forward to, and if he's as eager as I am, [opponents] will have a lot of trouble on their hands when they play us on defense."

But only if Burress is in the lineup. The Jets hope he's in there for good starting Wednesday.