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Monday's fantasy picks Plaxico Burress surrenders Monday
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NEW YORK (AP)—Plaxico Burress arrived at a police station early Monday, where he was expected to be charged after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh at a Manhattan nightclub.
The New York Giants star wide receiver arrived in a black Cadillac Escalade wearing jeans and a black coat. Burress, who was not visibly limping, did not speak to the media.
Burress plans to plead not guilty to a weapon possession charge during a Monday afternoon court appearance, his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said outside the police station. Conviction on the charge could result in at least 3 1/2 years in prison.
“He is standing tall. He is a mature adult,” said Brafman. “I think any professional athlete in this situation would be concerned.”
Brafman refused to respond to media reports about an alleged coverup, other than to say: “I think a lot of what’s been in the press is not accurate.”
He said Burress is feeling OK. “If they let him play, he will be able to play. … I think he will be a superstar for the rest of his career.”
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“My hope is that it plays out well and he can continue his career, because he’s a good person I think, with a brilliant athletic career. And it would be a terrible sadness if an isolated incident could ruin a life,” said Brafman.
Brafman met with Burress for about an hour Sunday at the player’s home in New Jersey.
“I would ask that his fans, the Giants and the media withhold judgment in this matter until all of the facts have been disclosed,” Brafman said earlier in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
Brafman is a well-known criminal lawyer who has defended mobsters and other high-profile figures, including hip-hop impresario Sean “Diddy” Combs on a bribery and gun possession charge in 2001.
Burress shot himself Friday night and was released from a hospital early Saturday, the Giants said.
“As far as we know, he’s going to be OK,” general manager Jerry Reese said Sunday before the Super Bowl champions’ 23-7 victory at the Washington Commanders.
Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said he spoke to Burress on the phone after the game.
“I called him and made a few jokes about the situation and his laugh is what I wanted to hear,” Jacobs said, according to Newsday. “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.”
Before the shooting, Burress already had been ruled out of the game because of a leg injury.
New York police and NFL security are investigating what happened Friday. Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was interviewed by NFL security at the team’s hotel Saturday, Reese said.
The NFL wouldn’t comment on the expected charge, Burress’ plan to plead not guilty or the league’s investigation.
“We are cooperating with the police and continuing to monitor the situation,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
Pierce—who started against Washington—reportedly was present for the latest dramatic turn in a tumultuous season of fines and suspension for Burress.
In this Feb. 4, 2008 file phot…
AP - Nov 29, 2:55 pm EST
“Antonio is working on trying to beat the Commanders right now,” Reese said before kickoff. “That’s where his focus is and where it should be right now.”
Pierce deflected several questions after the game. He wouldn’t say whether he has a lawyer and when asked if he is concerned about his own situation, Pierce replied only: “No. I’m fine where I’m at.”
Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he spoke to his players about Burress’ situation but wouldn’t get into specifics.
“We all are upset about what happened with Plaxico, and hopefully he’s going to be fine and so on and so forth. That’s our first concern,” Coughlin said. “Once that was taken care of, we knew that he was OK, then the guys got right back to focusing on the reason we were here.”
Coughlin wouldn’t address Burress’ future with the Giants, saying only, “Questions of that nature will be discussed going forward, I’m sure.”
Hours earlier, Reese and Giants president and CEO John Mara also avoided discussing what Burress’ status with the team might be.
“I want to wait until we find out all the facts and circumstances before we make any determination,” Mara said. “I don’t know what happened there, and until we find out exactly what happened, I’m not going to make any comment or make any decision about what his future is.”
Reese and Mara said they hadn’t spoken to Burress, who hurt his hamstring two weeks ago and was going to miss the game against the Commanders because of that injury.
“I reached out to him,” Reese said. “I did not get a return phone call.”
Mara repeatedly said the Giants would cooperate with the police and the NFL in their investigations.
Burress caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in the Giants’ Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots in February, following a regular season in which he scored a career-high 12 TDs. He was rewarded with a $35 million, five-year contract, only hours before the current season.
Burress has 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns while constantly drawing double coverage this season.
Off the field, he was suspended for a game against Seattle in October and fined $117,500 for missing a team meeting and failing to notify the Giants of his absence. He said he had a family emergency.
Burress also was fined $45,000 by the NFL for his conduct during a game against San Francisco in which he abused an official and tossed a ball into the stands.
“I don’t think people understand how good of a person he really is,” fellow receiver Amani Toomer said after catching a 40-yard touchdown pass in the Giants’ victory Sunday. “A good heart. I think he’s a good guy.”
AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich in Landover, Md. and Football Writer Dave Goldberg contributed to this report.
Monday's fantasy picks Plaxico Burress surrenders Monday
More NFL Videos
YAHOO.Sports.Window.set('sk-right-video', 'uvp-link');
NEW YORK (AP)—Plaxico Burress arrived at a police station early Monday, where he was expected to be charged after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh at a Manhattan nightclub.
The New York Giants star wide receiver arrived in a black Cadillac Escalade wearing jeans and a black coat. Burress, who was not visibly limping, did not speak to the media.
Burress plans to plead not guilty to a weapon possession charge during a Monday afternoon court appearance, his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said outside the police station. Conviction on the charge could result in at least 3 1/2 years in prison.
“He is standing tall. He is a mature adult,” said Brafman. “I think any professional athlete in this situation would be concerned.”
Brafman refused to respond to media reports about an alleged coverup, other than to say: “I think a lot of what’s been in the press is not accurate.”
He said Burress is feeling OK. “If they let him play, he will be able to play. … I think he will be a superstar for the rest of his career.”
[SIZE=-2]ADVERTISEMENT[/SIZE]
“My hope is that it plays out well and he can continue his career, because he’s a good person I think, with a brilliant athletic career. And it would be a terrible sadness if an isolated incident could ruin a life,” said Brafman.
Brafman met with Burress for about an hour Sunday at the player’s home in New Jersey.
“I would ask that his fans, the Giants and the media withhold judgment in this matter until all of the facts have been disclosed,” Brafman said earlier in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
Brafman is a well-known criminal lawyer who has defended mobsters and other high-profile figures, including hip-hop impresario Sean “Diddy” Combs on a bribery and gun possession charge in 2001.
Burress shot himself Friday night and was released from a hospital early Saturday, the Giants said.
“As far as we know, he’s going to be OK,” general manager Jerry Reese said Sunday before the Super Bowl champions’ 23-7 victory at the Washington Commanders.
Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said he spoke to Burress on the phone after the game.
“I called him and made a few jokes about the situation and his laugh is what I wanted to hear,” Jacobs said, according to Newsday. “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.”
Before the shooting, Burress already had been ruled out of the game because of a leg injury.
New York police and NFL security are investigating what happened Friday. Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was interviewed by NFL security at the team’s hotel Saturday, Reese said.
The NFL wouldn’t comment on the expected charge, Burress’ plan to plead not guilty or the league’s investigation.
“We are cooperating with the police and continuing to monitor the situation,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
Pierce—who started against Washington—reportedly was present for the latest dramatic turn in a tumultuous season of fines and suspension for Burress.
In this Feb. 4, 2008 file phot…
AP - Nov 29, 2:55 pm EST
“Antonio is working on trying to beat the Commanders right now,” Reese said before kickoff. “That’s where his focus is and where it should be right now.”
Pierce deflected several questions after the game. He wouldn’t say whether he has a lawyer and when asked if he is concerned about his own situation, Pierce replied only: “No. I’m fine where I’m at.”
Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he spoke to his players about Burress’ situation but wouldn’t get into specifics.
“We all are upset about what happened with Plaxico, and hopefully he’s going to be fine and so on and so forth. That’s our first concern,” Coughlin said. “Once that was taken care of, we knew that he was OK, then the guys got right back to focusing on the reason we were here.”
Coughlin wouldn’t address Burress’ future with the Giants, saying only, “Questions of that nature will be discussed going forward, I’m sure.”
Hours earlier, Reese and Giants president and CEO John Mara also avoided discussing what Burress’ status with the team might be.
“I want to wait until we find out all the facts and circumstances before we make any determination,” Mara said. “I don’t know what happened there, and until we find out exactly what happened, I’m not going to make any comment or make any decision about what his future is.”
Reese and Mara said they hadn’t spoken to Burress, who hurt his hamstring two weeks ago and was going to miss the game against the Commanders because of that injury.
“I reached out to him,” Reese said. “I did not get a return phone call.”
Mara repeatedly said the Giants would cooperate with the police and the NFL in their investigations.
Burress caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in the Giants’ Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots in February, following a regular season in which he scored a career-high 12 TDs. He was rewarded with a $35 million, five-year contract, only hours before the current season.
Burress has 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns while constantly drawing double coverage this season.
Off the field, he was suspended for a game against Seattle in October and fined $117,500 for missing a team meeting and failing to notify the Giants of his absence. He said he had a family emergency.
Burress also was fined $45,000 by the NFL for his conduct during a game against San Francisco in which he abused an official and tossed a ball into the stands.
“I don’t think people understand how good of a person he really is,” fellow receiver Amani Toomer said after catching a 40-yard touchdown pass in the Giants’ victory Sunday. “A good heart. I think he’s a good guy.”
AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich in Landover, Md. and Football Writer Dave Goldberg contributed to this report.
