The obvious NFC East connection between Michael Irvin and Plaxico is there, but other than that and the fact that they are/were great receivers, I just can't find any reason that Irvin and Burress should be in the same sentence. You can argue that Burress is approaching an Irvin-esqe level of trouble (with a previous domestic abuse charge, a handful of team suspensions and now this incident), but until he has a birthday party in a hotel with hookers and a plate full of cocaine, I think he's safe.

Which is why the following video exchange between Emmitt Smith, Stu Scott and Steve Young before the game surprised me. Emmitt claimed there was no comparison to his former teammate Irvin, and that Plaxico was a "Cancer" and should be "removed from the locker room". Oh wait sorry that was Plaxico "Berries"....

Emmitt did get in a great descriptive word, "divisive", but he couldn't get his last name right to save his life. Too funny. As far as Plax himself goes, the only reason the Giants should even remotely think about cutting Plaxico Burress is if they think their stable of young receivers is ready. Sure they would save a ton of money but saying Plaxico doesn't come prepared is just false. He rarely practices, but apparently he doesn't need to. In his three previous years with the G-Men he's averaged 1078 yards, 70 catches and a little under 10 TDs. Obviously his interaction with the team before games is less than is to be desired, but he's still only missed three games in his four years on the team, with two of them coming this year. I'm not saying the guy is a Saint, but with as many chances that Pacman has had.....I think the Giants' receiver has a few more left before he's shunned from the league or the team.

If you're a Giants fan and you think he needs to go, while I think you'd be in the minority, you'd have every right to feel that way. The Giants Organization can ultimately do whatever they want with him, and I think the fact that he's in a large market like New York doesn't help his cause, but hearing people like Emmitt and Young sticking up for Irvin in the same breath that they damn Burress....just doesn't sit right with me.

I'd also be interested what Irvin himself has to say about the troubled receiver. If anything is talked about on his radio show today, I'll let you know.
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(Stepping down from my soapbox) Now that's out of the way, let's get to the rest of your Monday Nighter in quotes. Many thanks to JFein who kept track of the quotes throughout the game (quietly starting a slow clap).

"What has happened to the Jacksonville?” - The Mike Tirico in the pregame the introductions on the Monday Night Countdown

“Sage Rosenfels is the kind of guy who’s gonna be a late bloomer.” - Steve Young on the 30-year old Quarterback

“I’d like to take Pittsburgh, but since they aren’t playing, I’ll take Houston.” - Mike Ditka

"The roof is open because of the storm.” - Mike Tirico

“Houston’s QBs have combined to throw 17 interceptions in just 11 games. GACK!” - Tony Kornheiser

“Let me just say that these uniforms make the Texans look like Ketchup bottles.” - Tony Kornheiser

“Del Rio’s got a hot leather jacket on.” - Tony Kornheiser

“18 interceptions in 12 games, on pace for 600.” - Tony Kornheiser
“Who does your math?” - Ron Jaworski

"I love it when receivers catch the balls with their hands." - Ron Jaworski

"Mine was longer." - Ron Jaworski

"He could have gone for 30 yards there." - Tony Kornheiser on Sage Rosenfels not keeping the ball and instead throwing into traffic
"Really Tony? 30???"- Ron Jaworski
"Okay, 15."- Tony Kornheiser

“[David Garrard] has better hands than Jerry Porter.” - Ron Jaworski after the QB caught one of his deflected passes

Mike Tirico: “That’s the tallest building in the world not in a downtown area.”
Tony Kornheiser: “I didn’t know they kept stats on that.”

"Did you just hear that? Jacques Reeves runner-up in the Big Ten 200 meters? How did he know that?” - Tony Kornheiser on Mike Tirico

"Remember when the astronauts were brought into the Astrodome for a great barbeque" - Tony Kornheiser making no sense

"Always a good clue when you see a quarterback's arm go forward and forward and the hand empty, it's an incomplete pass." - Mike Tirico

"Talk about hitting the pillow and not having any regrets." - Mike Tirico

"Slaton untouched by a human hand." - Mike Tirico

Update: Apparently the better part of those came from SS' Live-Blog last night. Great work all.

Jaguars/Texans Live Blog - 2nd Half (SS Reporters)