The decision on whether or not Plaxico Burress returns to the New York Giants appears to be a long way off. But the way it sounds now, Giants coach Tom Coughlin isn’t ready to welcome back Burress with open arms quite yet.

In a radio interview with WFAN’s Mike Francesa on Wednesday, Coughlin was asked if he would accept Burress back to the Giants if everything worked out in his favor. Burress is facing two felony gun charges, which could result in a prison sentence if he’s convicted, stemming from the November incident in which he shot himself in the leg at a nightclub.

“I’m not ready to say that,” Coughlin responded. “Because, we need to sit down and think about it and talk about that, and to see what the circumstance might be.”

On Monday, Giants GM Jerry Reese appeared to leave the proverbial door open on a possible Burress return.

“I want to see him be OK as a person more than anything else, and if we can see that and he is OK as a person and ready to turn over a new leaf in his life and take care of himself first, I think everything will take care of itself,” Reese told The Associated Press.

Coughlin indicated during the interview that his decision hinged on more factors than just Burress returning. The Giants went 11-1 with Burress, and 1-4 without him.

“Plaxico is a member of our team, and I am concerned about him and for his well-being and that of his family,” Coughlin said. “But the issues that I have to think about, Mike, are that there are 52 other guys in that locker room as well.”

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