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Burress wants bigger role for himself
The former No. 1 pick anticipated much more from himself and a much more prominent role in the offense in his fourth season with the Steelers.
"It's like the total opposite," he said. "You expect to come in and be a little more a part of what's going on."
Burress' 14.4 average per reception leads all Steelers' pass-catchers, and he ranks second to wide receiver Hines Ward in catches (82-54) and receiving yards (990-775). But after catching 13 touchdown passes the previous two seasons, Burress has just two in 2003 (seldom-used tight ends Jay Riemersma and Mark Bruener and fourth receiver Chris Doering have one each).
Burress is convinced he can do better, and has begun to contemplate whether he'll have to change teams to realize his NFL dreams.
"You go public with it and you're selfish," he said. "But if you don't say anything or you walk around like everything's cool, then everybody else thinks it's cool.
"This is my fourth year and one day, no matter where it may be, I'll get to the level of play that I know I can play at and my role will increase, no matter where I am. As a player, one day I'll get to that point where I'm happy and all those good things."
Burress' contract expires at the conclusion of the 2004 season. Although the Steelers often attempt to work out extensions for their core players rather than allowing them to become unrestricted free agents, Burress doesn't believe such an offer will be forthcoming this offseason..
"I really don't think so," he said. "I don't expect them to."
Which means the Steelers will likely be content to allow Burress to play out next season and then let the free-agent chips fall.
"I think that's what's going to happen," he said.
As for this season ...
"With every player, as you get older, you expect for your role to increase," Burress said. "You want to fulfill your potential. You're curious as a player and an athlete and a professional as to how good (you can become) and where you want to get to. It's just kind of been a total opposite for me. It's just one of those things.
"I feel I'm one of the better receivers in this league. The present circumstances that I'm in, I don't cry about it. I just try to relish my opportunities. I play beside a Pro Bowl receiver (Ward). Nothing against him or anybody; he's a great player and he deserves everything he gets. I just have to keep working hard."
Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey said Burress hasn't been featured in the offense this season because "nobody's featured" in the Steelers' way of doing things.
"It just kind of unfolds," Mularkey said. "I think they've had their share of opportunities, all of them."
Burress produced 1,008 receiving yards, a 15.3 average and six receiving TDs in 2001. His numbers jumped to 1,325 receiving yards, a 17.0 average and seven receiving touchdowns last season..
He'll have to elevate his per-game average from 59.6 receiving yards to 75 over the season's final three games to register a third consecutive 1,000-yard campaign.
Mularkey said it's still too early to characterize Burress' season or anyone else's as a success or a failure.
"That's for when the season's over, to look back and go over cut-ups," Mularkey said. "It's too hard to dissect right now. Obviously, there are things that stand out that don't put you at the same level as we were the last two years, but I'm not pointing any fingers.
"Everybody's busting their tail and I have no problem with anything if a guy is busting his rear end on a play."
Mularkey assessed Burress' last two games as the most complete games he's played back-to-back in his career in terms of catching the ball, route running, blocking, carrying out assignments and hustle.
Burress caught eight passes for 112 yards on Nov. 30 against Cincinnati and three for 38 yards and a touchdown last Sunday against Oakland.
Still, the player know as "Plax" since becoming the Steelers' No. 1 pick in 2000 remains perplexed.
"I don't know what's going to happen offensively with this team at the end of the season, who's going to be where or what's going to happen," Burress said.
Notes: Running back Jerome Bettis (shoulder) practiced for the first time this week Friday and said he'd play against the Jets. Bettis is listed as probable.
