Report: Plaxico wants to join Eagles

New York Jets receiver Plaxico Burress is keen to fly the nest and join the Philadelphia Eagles when he hits free agency next month, WCAU reported Thursday.

Burress, who landed with the Jets on a one-year deal last year following his release from prison on gun charges, will become a free agent March 18.

The former Giants star, a hero in New York's Super Bowl victory over the Patriots in 2008, had 45 receptions for 612 yards and eight touchdowns during his 16 games in a Jets uniform last season.

The report claims Burress confirmed at Sunday's Giants-Patriots Super Bowl rematch that he "badly" wants to join the Eagles.

The move threatened to further damage the team's popularity rating, though, after Burress was named third on the Forbes list of America's most disliked athletes, two places behind Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.