Plaxico Burress / Photo: Newscom

Source: NFL Media

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Statement on Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress / Photo: Newscom

“I was truthful, I was honest and I am truly remorseful for what I’ve done, what happened and what I did. I just want to thank everybody—family, friends and fans—for their support.”

Despite Plaxico’s plea for compassion and understanding from the grand jury, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau is insisting on jail time. And that’s probably what Plax will get. The NFL has already started their investigation into the shooting. So, in addition to potential jail time, Plax will most certainly face disciplinary action from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell under the league’s personal-conduct policy.

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Plaxico Burress Testifies Before Grand Jury

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell / Photo: Newscom

On the other hand, as far as Plaxico is concerned, Commissioner Goodell said he would not wait for the legal process to run its course before taking action. He has already initiated a review of the felony weapons charge against Plax, whose actual trial might not start until after the 2009 season.

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Roger Goodell to Review Vick, Burress

Giants GM Jerry Reese made the following statement announcing the decision:

“I am an optimist, and I believe most situations can be worked out. We hung in there as long as we could in hopes that there could be a resolution to this situation other than the decision we made today to release Plaxico. It wasn’t to be, so now we have to move on. Like everybody else here, we want nothing but the best for Plaxico, and we are appreciative of the contributions he made to this franchise.”

While Plaxico could be (and has proven to be) one of the better receivers in the National Football League, his off the field behavior and unwillingness to cooperate with team rules over the years has rendered him unemployed. Certainly, a talent like Plaxico’s is coveted by every NFL team, but when you factor in his legal problems and poor attitude, he’s certainly no longer a hot commodity. I mean, he’s currently facing a felony weapons charge that could put him in prison for over three years if he’s convicted. His case was adjourned this past week while his attorneys and prosecutors worked on a possible plea agreement. And he’s not due back in court until June 15. So, I can see why the Giants didn’t want this hanging over their heads this offseason. It was, as Mr. Reese said, time to move on. And that’s just what the team is doing.

Source: Giants.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Giants Release Plaxico Burress

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

We already know that N.Y. Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was with Plaxico Burress when Plax accidentally shot himself in the leg at a New York City nightclub last week. But what exactly was his involvement? That’s what police are trying to find out in an ongoing investigation.

I wonder where Antonio was while it took Plaxico roughly 90 minutes to get treatment. Obviously a cover-up was the plan because Antonio eventually drove Plaxico to the hospital after it was finally decided where “discreet” treatment could be obtained. And the doctor (Dr. Josyann Abisaab) that finally treated Plaxico is expected to be called-in for questioning next week because neither Dr. Abisaab nor Antonio called the police to report the shooting. Antonio’s attorney, Michael Bachner, said Antonio “had no idea Plaxico had a weapon.” That most certainly could have been the case beforehand but it still doesn’t excuse the failure to do the right thing after the fact — which was report the incident to police. So, yes, it appears Antonio Pierce will suffer some sort of punishment because of his teammate’s stupidity. And his own apparent loyalty to that teammate.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Antonio Pierce Involved in Shooting?

N.Y. Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was suspended for the rest of the 2008 season today. The Giants fined and suspended Plaxico four games for conduct detrimental to the team for multiple and repeated violations of club rules. He was placed on the non-football injury list, officially ending his season. Plaxico accidentally shot himself in the right thigh over the weekend at a Manhattan nightclub. He was arrested and released on $100,000 bail yesterday. Giants president John Mara said:

“As we have said since Saturday morning, our concern is for Plaxico’s health and well-being. This is an important time for him to take care of his body and heal up and also deal with the very serious legal consequences and other issues in his life. When I spoke with Plaxico he expressed great remorse for letting down his teammates.”

This is undoubtedly the right move. Plaxico had become too much of a distraction and with the dark cloud hanging over him after this most recent incident, I don’t really think the Giants had any other logical choice. With the childish behavior of Plaxico Burress out of the way, the Giants can hopefully get back to doing what they do best without the additional interference.

Source: Giants.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Plaxico Burress Suspended

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

N.Y. Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was taken to court in handcuffs, then posted $100,000 bail on weapons possession charges today after accidentally shooting himself in the leg at a nightclub last week. He was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which could result in a sentence of at least 3.5 years in prison. As Plaxico awaits his next court date March 31, the Giants aren’t sure what action they will take against him. The NFL said it was monitoring developments. And NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it would be an outrage “if we didn’t prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

Here’s what actually happened on Friday evening. Police said Plaxico and Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce arrived at the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan with three other people around 11:30 p.m. I have no idea who the three other people were but they apparently weren’t members of the N.Y. Giants. Plaxico had been allowed to bypass security (even though they knew he was armed they wanted to be cool with the pro athlete) according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Around 12:05 a.m., as Plaxico was being escorted to a VIP area (ooh sounds so exciting) with a drink in one hand, he somehow ended up fumbling his gun and it discharged, hitting his thigh. Antonio was with him when that occurred, police said. Plaxico then spent about 90 minutes looking for a hospital that would treat him discreetly. He even used a different name — Harris Smith. He ended up at New York-Cornell, where he gave the phony name and said the incident had occurred at an Applebee’s. It was about this same time when he realized it was probably a bad idea to take a gun into a New York City nightclub.

I know some NFL players have licensed guns for protection at their homes, but few are stupid enough to stick one in their pants and take it to a nightclub. What was he planning to do with it? Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said he spoke with Plaxico on the phone after yesterday’s win over the Redskins and they actually laughed about the situation:

“I called him and made a few jokes about the situation and his laugh is what I wanted to hear. If he didn’t laugh I knew he was going to be down, which he shouldn’t be down. It’s a mistake that happened, something that shouldn’t have happened and that’s that.”

Well, that’s very sweet, but that’s not that. This is more than a mistake. Plaxico is looking at three and a half years in jail. There’s nothing funny about it. I know a fair amount of NFL players that think they’re invincible, but one look at Michael Vick should clear up that misconception. My feeling is that Plaxico Burress is headed for a similar fate.

Sources: NFL.com, New York Post, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Plaxico Burress Posts $100K Bail

With Plaxico Burress being arrested on weapons possession charges, the NFL reissued their “Guns and Weapons Policy” today. This policy applies to all employees of the NFL and its member clubs, including players.

Prohibitions. Whether possessed legally or illegally, guns and other weapons of any kind are dangerous. You and your family can easily be the losers if you carry or keep these items in your home. You must not possess these weapons while traveling on League-related business or whenever you are on the premises of the following:

• A facility owned, operated or being used by an NFL club (for example, training camp, dormitory, locker room, workout site, parking area, team bus, team plane, team hotel/motel);
• A stadium or any other venue being used for an NFL event (for example, a game, practice or promotion);
• A facility owned or operated by the NFL or any League company. Put simply, the League, the Players Association and law enforcement authorities urge you to recognize that you must not possess a gun or other weapon at any time you are performing any service for your team or the NFL.

Legal Possession. In some circumstances, such as for sport or protection, you may legally possess a firearm or other weapon. However, we strongly recommend that you not do so. Any weapon, particularly a firearm, is dangerous—especially so when it is in a vehicle or within reach of children and others not properly trained in its use.

Understanding the Law. If you legally possess a weapon, you must understand the local, state and federal laws that apply. The NFL Security Representative in your area will help you get information about these laws. You should be aware that if you take a weapon from one place to another — for example, across state lines — a different set of laws may apply.

Discipline. If you violate this policy on guns and other weapons, you are subject to discipline, including suspension from playing. And if you violate a public law covering weapons — for example, possession of an unlicensed firearm — you are not only subject to discipline, including suspension from playing, but also subject to criminal prosecution.

Remember, be careful and understand the risks.

Source: NFL Media

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Guns and Weapons Policy

In an update to yesterday’s post, N.Y. Giants receiver Plaxico Burress plans to turn himself in to police tomorrow morning in New York City and plead not guilty to criminal possession of a weapon after accidentally shooting himself in the leg Friday night. The law supposedly calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of 3.5 years for illegal possession of a handgun in New York City.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Plaxico Burress Will Be Charged

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

N.Y. Giants receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the right thigh yesterday evening and spent the night in a New York City hospital as a result. Thankfully, the injury was not life-threatening, but that good news only opens the door to what could be a lot of bad news for Plax and the Giants. Not that there hasn’t been enough of it already.

Obviously, it’s been a tumultuous season for Plax. Take a look at his lowlights since catching the winning score in the Super Bowl back in February:

• He skipped offseason workouts and a minicamp over a contract dispute.
• October 5, he was suspended one game for a violation of team rules.
• October 19, he verbally abused officials and was fined $45,000.
• October 26, he was fined and benched for missing treatment for an injury.

This latest incident increases the frustration for an organization that embodies the “team first” concept. And Plax clearly doesn’t get what this concept is all about. The Giants have managed a league-best 10-1 record largely without his services (35 catches and four TDs), so the thought of giving him his walking papers has to be a viable — and money saving — option. The distractions he brings to a team that is very much a favorite to repeat as Super Bowl champions has to be nearly intolerable.

Plax is already forfeiting a $100,000 bonus for every game he misses. He is listed as out for tomorrow’s game against the Redksins with a hamstring injury, so this doesn’t change anything for that game. But it will most likely force him to miss more time and cost him more money — a lot more money — as the legal process unfolds.

What could unfold is an eventual suspension if Plax is ruled to have violated the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. I wonder what he was doing with a gun in the first place? Was it his gun? Was he licensed to have it? And what was he doing with it out in public, presumably at an NYC night club? New York has some of the toughest gun control laws in the country so it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Many questions remain until the police get to the bottom of exactly what happened last night. But the Giants have to start thinking about life without Palxico Burress. It might give them their best chance to win the Super Bowl again.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Plaxico Burress Injured in Shooting