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According to Giants.com staff writer Michael Eisen, after meeting with free agent Plaxico Burress, the Giants have decided not to pursue the wide receiver.

"The New York Giants are no longer interested in free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress and have withdrawn their offer," general manager Ernie Accorsi said.

Burress, who played his first five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, arrived at Giants Stadium late Wednesday afternoon.

Eisen went on to note that Burress had dinner with members of the team's coaching staff and front office in Manhattan last night, and returned to the Giants offices this morning. A determination was then made by the team's decision-makers to go in another direction.

It was not immediately clear why the Giants backed away from their pursuit of Burress.

As Associated Press sports writer Tom Canavan noted, the Giants went through most of last season without a deep threat. Tim Carter was lost early in the season with a hip injury and rookie Jamaar Taylor only showed flashes coming back from knee surgery in college.

Amani Toomer battled a hamstring injury much of the season.

On Wednesday night, before boarding a plane, Burress' agent, Michael Harrison, told ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli that he expected to have a faxed contract proposal from the Giants on his desk when he arrived home in Los Angeles later that night.

Harrison seemed confident the Giants would offer more than the six-year, $21 million deal they had suggested in earlier discussions.

Also on Wednesday, the Vikings proposed to Harrison the possibility of a one-year contract. Harrison had hinted to Pasquarelli on Tuesday night that, if his client did not receive what he considered to be a market-value offer on a long-term deal, he might opt for a one-year contract.

On Wednesday night, however, Harrison backed off that stance.

It is believed that Burress and Harrison are seeking a contract similar to the one former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad signed with the Chicago Bears two weeks ago.

In that deal, Muhammad signed a six-year contract that could be worth $30 million, and which includes $12 million in guarantees.

No matter the numbers, the lack of interest in Burress has been one of the most intriguing stories of the opening week of the free agency period.

Burress had 35 catches for 698 yards and five touchdowns last season. His best season was in 2002 when he had 78 catches. When free agency began, he was supposed to be one of the most sought-after players on the market, but the visit with the Giants was his first with any team.

And as Pasquarelli pointed out, while other wide receivers have scored contracts from new clubs, many of them for big money, Burress hasn't even generated much in the way of buzz. Beyond the Giants, the only other team to acknowledge interest in the five-year veteran is Minnesota, and the Vikings have said they will only get involved if Burress reduces his contract desires.

The Vikings, who traded star wide receiver Randy Moss, are also said to be involved in trade negotiations for Washington Redskins starter Rod Gardner.

Meanwhile, the Eagles had no comment about a report on the NFL Network on Monday night regarding their possible interest in Burress. The general belief, however, is that Harrison initiated contact with the Eagles as part of his ongoing effort to spark interest in his client.

The Eagles have not scheduled a visit with Burress, and they seem to be uninterested, at this point.

Of course, this wouldn't be the first time Harrison has been leaked word of contact he initiated in an attempt to aid Burress. ...

Which brings up another point, first floated by Profootballtalk.com editor Mike Florio, who advised readers this morning that there's "a feeling in some circles that Harrison doesn't quite know what the hell he's doing with this one, and that his habit of talking to the media about the situation is putting his client in a box."

Florio went on to suggest some observers believe that Burress missed his visit with the Giants on Monday not because he had the flu, but because he was thinking about dumping Harrison and today's announcement by the Giants could be an attempt to help Burress make that move, in hopes that negotiations with another agent might be more fruitful.

Whatever the case, Burress -- arguably the most talented receiver available in this year's free-agent class -- remains unsigned and apparently unwanted.