Back from suspension, Burress has no apologies

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- An unapologetic Plaxico Burress rejoined the New York Giants on Monday, noting he didn't lose any sleep after the Super Bowl champions suspended him for a game.

Burress missed a team meeting two weeks ago without bothering to telephone the Giants.

The receiver who caught the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl attributed his absence on Sept. 22 to a family emergency, which he described as having to take his son to school.

"It was just a situation I had to deal with that morning, and I made the right decision," Burress said during a conference call that lasted about 20 minutes. "I don't have any regrets about the decision I made at all."

Burress said family would still come first next time, but that he would make sure he made a telephone call to let the Giants know about the problem.

"My emotions were that they suspended me," said Burress, who sat out Sunday's 44-6 win over Seattle. "That was the decision they chose to do. I'll take it at that. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I got me some rest and was able to get away for a while and chill out and relax. Things like that happen. I'll keep moving forward and get back to doing what I do: catching footballs, scoring touchdowns and get back to work."

Along with the suspension, Burress was fined one week's pay, or roughly $117,500. The Giants originally docked him $235,000, but the player and the team reached a settlement last week that cut the fine in half.

Burress, who caught a career-high 12 touchdowns last season, never explained why he did not report to Giants Stadium after dropping his son off at school. He indicated that there was more involved without getting into explanations.

"There are some things that you guys don't know," Burress said. "So you can't say it wasn't an emergency on my part because you don't know everything that was going on."

The nine-year veteran refused to be more specific.

"Coach said I was suspended because I needed to be more responsible. I was being responsible, I just put my child first," he said.

Burress also refused to discuss problems with his wife. Police were called to his home twice this year in response to domestic problems.

"There is nothing to tell," he said.