In the first bit of NFL news unrelated to the lockout in some time, former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will be released from prison on Monday. Burress has been locked up at Oneida State Correctional Facility since 2009 and hasn't played a down of football since 2008. The lockout is still on-going, but once it ends, Burress will be a free agent looking for a new team.
Burress will turn 34 in August so he's already on the back side of his career. Nonetheless, there is expected to be some interest in him and he's been attached to a couple of teams through league rumors and his own comments. The most prominently featured team is the Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally, Burress has indicated interest in the St. Louis Rams in large part because of his prior relationship with Steve Spagnuolo while both were with the New York Giants.
While multiple teams will probably express interest in Burress, it's tough tell if the two Bay Area teams will get in on the action. The Oakland Raiders have a mix of talent with Louis Murphy leading their receivers in catches last season and Jacoby Ford stepping up over the second half of the season with big-play ability. TE Zach Miller led the team in overall receiving, while RB Darren McFadden was third on the team. Darrius Heyward-Bey is fast approaching bust factor and Chaz Schilens can't stay healthy. The team might have a potential steal in fifth round pick Denarius Moore.
On the other side of the Bay, the 49ers have Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan locked into the top two receiver roles. After that Ted Ginn, Kyle Williams, Ronald Johnson, and Dominique Zeigler will all be competing for playing time at the third and fourth receiver positions in the new Jim Harbaugh offense.
In looking at both teams, they've got some solid receiving talent on the depth chart, but they've also got a good number of question marks. That's not to say Plaxico Burress would really make a difference for either team, but it might be in their best interests to at least kick the tires on the soon to be free wide receiver.