Brian Burns hasnt made a major impact yet for Giants

The theory seemed to be sound.Inspired, perhaps.Surround Brian Burns with better players than he was with during his five years as a sometimes solo artist for the Panthers, and his production should rise.

Get him involved in a more positive football environment, and all his athletic attributes would lead to increased success, for Burns and his new team.That theory has yet to be realized, for Burns or the Giants.Through four games, he is not dominating, and the Giants are not winning.It is not as if Burns has failed to play at a high level.

He is too talented to merely blend in.But he has not stood out, and that is not what the Giants want and need from a player they traded for then signed to a five-year deal worth up to $150 million.Burns was brought in to be a difference-maker, but there is not much of a difference with what is going on with the Giants — who sit at 1-3 after a 20-15 loss to the Cowboys and now get 10 days between games before they travel to face Seattle.This is nothing new for Burns.

He piled up 47 sacks for the Panthers and never came close to winning anything in Carolina — the Panthers were 24-59 in five seasons with Burns.“I’ve been here before,’’ Burns said.“So, I’m really just taking it one day at a time, focusing on myself, focusing on looking in the mirror and trying to capitalize on the plays, the opportunities that I get.

The times I do get one-on-ones, the times I do have time to get to the [quarterback], just trying to affect the game any way I can.’’Burns in four games has only just sack.He has 13 tackles, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

He has been more effective than the raw numbers.He is ranked as the 13th most effective edge defender in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.Kayvon Thibodeaux is graded by PFF as the 81st-rated edge player.

Dexter Lawrence is the No.2 interior defender.

That trio has put together maybe a handful of big moments but not enough of them.Bur...