STEELERS Burress boycotts Pittsburgh's mini-camp

His agent claims it has nothing to do with his contract.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Plaxico Burress is boycotting the Pittsburgh Steelers' mini-camp but his agent said it has nothing to do with his contract, which expires at the end of the coming season.
Coach Bill Cowher said he was disappointed.
"It is an un-excused absence," Cowher said after Friday's first practice. "I'm very disappointed in his decision and we are ready to move on with or without him."
Burress' agent, Gene Mato, said Burress wasn't attending the three-day mini-camp because of a "personal matter." Cowher received a call from Mato's associate, Scott Parker, on Thursday and was told Burress wouldn't be attending.
The Steelers haven't talked with Burress about an extension, but Mato said that has nothing to do with Burress' absence. "He'll talk about it when he comes back," Mato said.
Had been at Steelers' drills
Burress' teammates don't believe it will become much of a distraction. He had been working out at the Steelers' practice facility prior to the start of mini-camp.
"I've seen him a couple times coming in with the coaches but I didn't expect anything like this today," said receiver Hines Ward. "Is it disrupting? I don't know. Like I said, he is one of our veteran guys who a lot of younger guys look up to. It's still early. It's mini-camp. It's our first mandatory practice and he's the only no-show."
Burress' production fell from 78 receptions for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns in 2002 to 60 receptions for 860 yards and four touchdowns last season. The numbers were Burress' lowest in all three categories since his rookie season in 2000. In the last four games of the 2003 season, Burress caught only nine passes for 123 yards.
Missed opportunity
Quarterback Tommy Maddox believes Burress is missing an opportunity to regain the chemistry the two had in 2002.
"I think any time you can throw, it benefits. Every day you get the chance to throw with somebody it helps you out," Maddox said. "With that said, it's still really early before the season."
Mini-camp is a time for rookies to become accustomed with their surroundings. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers' first-round draft pick, is just starting on that long road.
"It's fast," said Roethlisberger. "The toughest part about it is not necessarily knowing the play but being able to remember what the coach tells me to tell the rest of the team. I asked coach if I could have a play sheet on my wrist."
It's a long way from the no-huddle offense he ran at Miami, Ohio.
"You just had to make a few calls, tell the O-linemen what to do," he said. "Today, just trying to remember all the motions and shifts was tough, but I'm starting to get it."
More velocity
Roethlisberger threw with more velocity than all the Steelers quarterbacks. Maddox was intercepted by Kendrell Bell, who returned it for a touchdown. The play followed a Maddox pass which linebacker James Farrior dropped.
"I told Hines it looks like we haven't thrown the ball in five months," said Cowher. "But there was good energy and there's a lot of excitement."
Two other Steelers missed the first day of mini-camp practices. Tight end Jay Riemersma is recovering from last season's shoulder injury. Reserve offensive tackle Josh Burr is sidelined with a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in NFL Europe. Jeff Reed dressed but won't begin kicking for another two weeks.
The Steelers also have two new starters. Clark Haggans, as expected, took Jason Gildon's place at left outside linebacker. Gildon will be released after June 1. The other new starter is three-year veteran Chris Hope at free safety in place of recently released Brent Alexander.