EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Plaxico Burress ended his puzzling foray into free agency with the same team that didn’t want him a week ago.

The free agent wide receiver officially joined the New York Giants on Friday, a week after rejecting an offer from the team. He then fired agent Michael Harrison and signed with Drew Rosenhaus, who renewed negotiations.

The six-year, $25 million contract was reached Thursday, and includes an $8 million signing bonus, a football source told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The speedy former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver met with the Giants last week and Harrison negotiated the same deal. But Burress turned it down, and New York to pulled its offer from the table.

“In free agency, when a player leaves our facility, we withdraw the offer and go on to other things,” Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi said in a statement.

But Burress liked the situation in New York enough to work out a deal. He now becomes Eli Manning’s No. 1 receiver.

Burress, 6-foot-5 and 226 pounds, will be an attractive target for Manning, who is heading into his first season as a starter. Burress had 35 catches for 698 yards and five touchdowns last season and is a proven deep threat.

Burress spent the last five seasons in Pittsburgh after the Steelers selected him in the first round of Michigan State in 2000.

Also, the Giants re-signed running back Mike Cloud, who joined the team in September after being released by the New England Patriots. Cloud is likely to again back up Tiki Barber.

AP-ES-03-18-05 1723EST