The Giants today made the only logical move they could with troubled wide receiver Plaxico Burress. They placed him on the reserve/non-football injury list, which ends his season and likely means he’s played his last game for the Giants.
In addition, the team fined Burress and suspended him for four games for conduct detrimental to the team, citing multiple and repeated violations of club rules.
Translation: The Giants came down hard on Burress, who early Saturday morning accidentally shot himself in the right thigh with a gun that he did not have a permit to carry in New York. Burress faces all sorts of legal trouble; he’s been charged with two counts of second degree criminal possession of a weapon and, if convicted, faces a sentence of 3 1/2 to 15 years in jail.
Burress showed up today at Giants Stadium and met individually with co-owner John Mara, general manager Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin.
“As we have said since Saturday morning, our concern is for Plaxico’s health and well-being,” Mara said. “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.”
Burress at the stadium underwent treatment for his strained hamstring and gunshot wound. After leaving the stadium, he went to Manhattan for tests on his thigh and was examined by Dr. Scott Rodeo, one of the Giants team physicians.
Burress returned to the stadium in the afternoon and was informed by Reese that he was placed on the reserve/NFI list.
“The decision we made today regarding Plaxico’s roster status was based on the examination of Plaxico by our team physician,” Reese said. “Dr. Rodeo believes Plaxico would be out at least four to six weeks with the gunshot wound. I had two conversations with Plaxico today, and it was obvious that he understood the magnitude of this situation. He knows that we are here to support him and help him get healthy.”
Coughlin said, “When you lose a player of Plaxico’s ability, it is incumbent that everybody step up and fill the void. In the last two seasons, this team has done an outstanding job of that. We made it clear to Plax today that we are here to support him in any way possible.”
No announcement was made regarding Burress’ future with the team but he is unlikely to ever wear a Giants uniform again. His salary for this season is $3.5 million and with the four-game suspension he will not be paid $823,529 is he owed for the remainder of the season.
With Burress’ on-field situation settled, attention now turns to Antonio Pierce, who was at the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan when the shooting took place.
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Police want to know what Pierce did moments after the shooting and whether he took part in a cover-up. He is planning to meet with members of the district attorney’s office “in the near future,” according to his lawyer, Michael Bachner.
Ahmad Bradshaw also has been contacted by New York City police and will make himself available for an interview, according to his attorney, Charles A. Stacy, of Bluefield, Va.
“Mr. Bradshaw has been advised he is not suspected of any wrongdoing and is to be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation of the incident involving Mr. Burress,” Stacy said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.
Pierce also was at the stadium today, as was Bradshaw. Pierce, appearing on Sirius NFL Radio today, declined to answer questions about the shooting.
“It’s not appropriate with the police being involved. … I’ve got to be strong,” he said. “I’ve got to stay my course and deal with my attorney and deal with the officials who tell me what to do. I’ve got to go about my business and when I get to work, I’ve got to go about my work.”
Charles Way, the team’s director of player development, and trainer Ronnie Barnes talked to police Monday. The Giants said late this afternoon that they have been in contact with the police for the past two days and have provided any information they have requested, and will provide more if requested.
This is the second time the Giants suspended Burress this season. He missed the Oct. 2 game against Seattle for missing a team meeting. He also has been fined dozens of times since 2005 for violating team rules, and he was hit with a $45,000 fine by the league for abusing an official and throwing a ball into the stands during a game.
Burress’ next court appearance is scheduled for March 31.
With AP