After flying to North Carolina for a second opinion on his serious sprained right ankle, Plaxico Burress returned yesterday with the same prognosis. He's sore, and will be for weeks, but he plans to start Sunday night against NFC East rival Philadelphia and keep playing right through the pain, no matter how long it takes. "No question. I will play," Burress said. "I will be out there Sunday. I will find a way."

John Madden made a comment in Week 1 while doing the Cowboys-Giants game, suggesting that after running back Brandon Jacobs went down with an injury, the Giants should try to pry Barber out of retirement and coax him back onto the field. "I still really think he could do it if he wants to," Madden said. Barber tried to laugh off Madden's remarks. He said that if any team, including the Giants, were to make such a request and talk to his agent or manager, "They wouldn't even bring them to me because they know I am very comfortable with my new job and what I'm doing now. I'm not looking at the past."

Antonio Pierce joined an exclusive, but growing club on Thursday night: Giants who have been ripped by Tiki Barber. Pierce became the latest target of the ex-running back-turned-media star when Barber took shots at the Giants' linebacker for his odd behavior toward the media this week following the Giants' 35-13 loss to the Packers on Sunday. At first, Pierce refused to speak to the press for four days, a partial violation of the NFL's new media policy. Then, when Pierce finally broke his silence on Thursday, he blew an air horn any time a reporter tried to ask him a question about a Giants defense that has given up 80 points in its first two games. Barber called that behavior "completely disrespectful" on his radio show Thursday night. Then yesterday, former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe concurred, calling Pierce's actions "childish."

Just as Eli Manning was last weekend, more and more it?s looking as though Plaxico Burress will be a game-time decision for the Giants tomorrow in Washington. The receiver returned to practice yesterday on a limited basis after missing the previous three days with a right ankle injury. He?s listed as questionable, and neither Burress nor the Giants would shed any light on his status. ?He was limited,? Tom Coughlin said. ?He did some things. He didn?t complete the full practice, but he did a few things and we?ll see. It?s going to be one of those deals depending on how he feels on game day.?

Brett Favre didn't need a rocket arm to become the winningest quarterback in NFL history on Sunday. His 17 years of football knowledge and a near-perfect second half against a bad defense were plenty. Favre completed his first 14 second-half passes and threw three touchdown passes to rally the Packers to a 35-13 victory over the Giants' porous defense.

After such dire injury news coming out of their loss in Dallas, the Giants are likely to receive welcome recovery news this afternoon with the appearances on the field of Eli Manning and Osi Umenyiora for the home opener against the Packers. Manning (contusion of the right A-C joint) probably will start after testing his right shoulder all week. Umenyiora (irritation of the lateral meniscus, left knee) is probable despite earlier, non team-issued reports that he'd be out for several weeks.

After being cautious this week with his injured right throwing shoulder during practices, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, reports NFL Network?s Adam Schefter. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said Manning looked capable in practice Friday. "He seemed to throw the ball pretty good," he said. "But that is not for me to judge. That?s for others. If you really watch closely, he did the smart thing. He loosened up pretty good and started to get into the velocity throws a little bit later on."

Giants quarterback Eli Manning was at practice Wednesday, taking snaps and handing off as he tested his bruised right shoulder. Giants coach Tom Coughlin gave no indication whether Manning would play Sunday against the Packers but said, "I am encouraged by his progress." Coughlin also said Manning is not as sore as he was a few days ago and that the swelling in his shoulder had subsided. Giants coach Tom Coughlin gave no indication whether Manning would play on Sunday. "I am encouraged by his progress," Coughlin said, adding that Manning is not as sore as a couple of days ago and that the swelling in his shoulder had subsided. Jared Lorenzen took the snaps with the first team, and he would make his career start if Manning can't play.

Byron Leftwich, whom the Jacksonville Jaguars cut prior to the season, is by far the best quarterback available right now, but Leftwich will want to sign with a team that will make him its quarterback of the future, and that will prevent him from joining the Giants.

With the Giants' fate hanging in the balance after Manning took himself out of Sunday night's 45-35 loss to the Cowboys, the sense of dread was palpable throughout the organization. Had the injury been severe enough, the Giants could have said goodbye to this season, and perhaps Tom Coughlin's tenure as coach. But once the results came in from Monday's MRI, the relief was immediate: a bruise to the A-C joint and a slightly separated shoulder. It probably sounds worse than it really is, but the bottom line is that Manning is day-to-day and will not -- I repeat, will not -- be out for a prolonged period. He might even play Sunday against the Packers; if not then, then .almost certainly the following week at Washington. It's a lot better news than what he feared after being injured midway through the fourth quarter Sunday near the end of a transcendent performance that made you believe that Manning's time is here.