Burress Giants' tough guy

Giants receiver Plaxico Burress yesterday stuck to a recent "prediction" that his team would be the Super Bowl victor against the Patriots. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff)

GLENDALE, Ariz. - It was as close to a guarantee as you could make, and Plaxico Burress was given a chance to back off.

The Giants' loquacious wide receiver chose not to do that at Super Bowl Media Day yesterday, instead sticking to a prediction he gave to the New York Post last week. First he gave the final score: 23-17. Then he was asked whom the winner would be.

"Are predictions guarantees?" he said. "We want to win this game.

"It's interesting. You think of some things in life - as far as professional sports or playing in this game - it's OK to want to win, think big, and dream. We're going to take this thing back to New York City."

As for the score? "My high school basketball number was 23," said Burress, who wears No. 17.

No, it wasn't exactly a guarantee, but with the cameras rolling and the frenzy in full swing yesterday, Burress gave a simple answer.

"The object is to win the game," he said. "That's why we are here."

That prompted coach Tom Coughlin to wince when asked about Burress's statement, wish, prediction, or whatever it was.

Burress, who is New York's answer to Randy Moss, could only laugh at the hint of speculation that Tom Brady might not play or be at the top of his game Sunday because of his high ankle sprain. If anyone knows about high right ankle sprains, it is Burress, the 6-foot-2-inch, 232-pound eight-year veteran from Michigan State who has been dealing with a high ankle sprain all season.

Brady had The Boot. Burress had The Chamber. He slept in a hyperbaric chamber to aid his recovery after sustaining the injury in the second week of the season.

Yesterday Burress said he was healthy enough but conceded he has been limited.

"I had some games where I wasn't able to do the things I'm capable of doing," said Burress, who did quite a bit in the 23-20 overtime victory against Green Bay in the NFC Championship game, making a team postseason record 11 catches for 154 yards. "Jumping in the air or getting off the line of scrimmage or breaking out of my routes. I got frustrated at times, but I stayed faithfully within myself and competed the best I could.

"Going out and playing with these injuries made me a better player, a smarter player, and now that I'm starting to get healthy, it's all coming together."

Burress first stirred the controversy last week when he had the audacity to suggest that the Giants' receiving corps of Burress, Amani Toomer, and Steve Smith might be just as good as the New England contingent.

As evidence, you could start with Burress's numbers this season: 70 receptions for 1,025 yards and 12 TDs. Not bad for someone with a high ankle sprain.

Burress said Coughlin had enough faith to use him even when he wasn't completely healthy.

"He had enough trust in me that I could go out and be successful when I was 70 or 75 percent," said Burress. "That says a lot about him. He knows me as a player, knows what kind of competitor I am."

Burress said he always has been a competitor, but in five seasons with the Steelers, Burress's critics said he was more sporadic than steady in his performance.

This year's trip to the Super Bowl suggests some sort of vindication.

"In life, all you can ask for is an opportunity," said Burress. "Now, we have an opportunity to go on the biggest stage in the NFL. I am happy to be a part of it, but even more so, I am happy to be a part of it with the guys that I'm playing with."

Teammates are just as quick to offer praise, particularly about Burress playing through an injury.

"He's tough. He's competitive. He doesn't talk about it. He doesn't complain about it," said quarterback Eli Manning. "It's not been a deal where if he has a game where he only has a few catches, he doesn't come in and say, 'Well, I've been injured,' or 'I've been hurt, and that's the reason why.' It's never been an issue.

"I know it's been bothering him, I know it's been painful. It's been a difficult situation, not practicing, to come out and play. He's toughed it out, and in the last month, it's gotten better where he is able to practice, and I think it's helped out his game and my game."

Burress has been plagued by ankle problems the last few years. He had surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle in the offseason and sprained his right ankle in training camp. Then he sprained it so badly in the second game that there were questions whether he might be sidelined for an extended period. But he played in every game.

Coughlin made the accommodations.

"Since the time of the injury, there have been weeks when he hasn't been able to practice at all and he has still been focused," said Coughlin. "And he has played very well."

In addition to sleeping in the hyperbaric chamber, he also had acupuncture, doing everything he could to get ready for the next game.

"It just says I want to win," he said. "I wasn't always what I wanted to be, but I didn't make excuses, didn't complain. I just went out and played the hand I was dealt.

"Now that I'm starting to get healthy, everything is coming together."

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com