The point is, I think it's silly to keep him out of a game because he missed practice.
Like I said, we suspend 11 year olds for not getting to practice... Why should a 20 something year old, who's been in the football program of a major college, an NFL team, and I'm wagering a pretty strict high school, be allowed to "not call in". And again, I reiterate that anyone with any sense these days can GET ahold of anybody, anytime they want. I'm sure Burress isn't "handling life" all on his lonesome... I imagine his family has a nanny or at the least a babysitter of some kind. I'm sure he has all the latest technology....
I gotta be honest, I don't care what the situation is, I think it's juvenile and irresponsible of someone NOT to contact their work to let them know they're not coming in today. I'm not saying you have to call them the second you find out you have a problem even, but you do need to call, and anything short of that should be punishable. I think that applies 10 fold to a professional athlete though who is paid multi-millions a year. When you're paid like that you're less your own person really.
And from a coaching standpoint, I 100% believe practice is every bit as important as gameday. That's just how football is from the youngest levels to the professional levels. Roethlisberger got chewed out about that recently and was basically told you either practice or you aren't playing Sunday, end of story. Practice sets up game day in football, and missing it means you're not on the same page as all the other guys who made the sacrifice(s) to be there.
To me, Burress was being a prick, and he deserved fined AND suspended in my view. If it's a habitual thing though, it's even worse.