Giants OLB Brian “Spider-man” Burns plays with Super Hero like Resolve

New York Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns is nicknamed Spider-man, the popular Marvel Comics character who patrols the streets of New York to stop criminals from doing their thing.

However, Burns does a different kind of patrol for the Giants, keeping opposing quarterbacks from doing their thing against Big Blue.

While his sack total (4.0) may seem paltry compared to the expectations that came with his five-year, $141 million contract, signed after the Giants acquired him in a trade with the Carolina Panthers, a closer look at the numbers shows see that Burns is indeed doing well. his thing against opposing quarterbacks.

Burns has a 14.6% quarterback pressure rate in 197 pass-rush snaps, according to NFL NextGen Stats.

And according to TruMedia, Burns’ 31 quarterback pressures this season rank seventh in the NFL. Burns is also the only player in the league this season to post more than 4.0 sacks and defend six-plus passes.

Not bad for a man who continues to fight his toughest opponent yet: his body. Burns has been dealing with a sore groin since Week 3, one that left him leaving the Giants locker room after last week’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a very severe limp reminiscent of that of Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker “Mean Joe” Greene. staged lamely in the 1979 Coca-Cola commercial.

Burns, who has had his practice reps taken care of as his injury remains an issue, had a great group of teachers during his time in Carolina when it came to being tough and not giving in to the aches and pains – some of which are a real problem. challenge – that comes with the game of football.

Among those he cited as role models for the toughness he now tries to emulate are former linebacker Luke Kuechly, running back Christian McCaffrey and outside linebacker Shaq Thompson.

“Yeah, I had a lot of guys to look up to,” Burns said with a smile.

Burns weighed his words carefully when asked how he was feeling physically, doing his best to downplay the nagging discomfort he has been trying to manage through treatment for several weeks now.

“Life stays alive,” he said with a shrug when asked how he managed to be on the field despite a painful injury.

Does this mean he is improving health-wise?

“Yes, I think so,” he said. “I’m still trying to make sure everything goes smoothly for (Monday), but yeah, I’m feeling better.”