"I look myself in the mirror every morning and say, 'You got yourself into it now you get yourself out of it. Get your life back on track,'" Burress told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap. "I was reckless. I made a very bad decision. I'm suffering major the consequences for it. It took away what I love to do most, which is play football. I lost my job. That's where I am right now."
Burress says that when he walked into the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan, the security guards patted him down and let him in with his gun. That raises the rather obvious question of why security bothered patting Burress down if they were going to let him in the club with a gun.
But he did go in with the gun, and he says that when he was going up the stairs to the VIP area of the club, he stumbled on the steps, his gun slipped down in his jeans (not sweatpants, as has been widely reported), and as he reached down to stop it from hitting the ground, he hit the trigger and the gun fired a bullet into his leg.
Burress acknowledges that the gun was unregistered and he was therefore carrying it illegally, and now he is preparing himself for prison.
"I really don't know what to expect, to be honest with you," Burress told Schaap. "I know people that went in and came out and they tell you about it, but as a person -- nobody wants to go to prison."
Plaxico Burress Saga
On April 3, the Giants released Plaxico Burress, ending his turbulent four-year stay in New York. Click through to see more on how Burress' relationship with the Giants unraveled.
Jeff Zelevansky, Getty Images
David Tyree had the highlight-reel catch of Super Bowl XLII, but Burress had the game-winner. It was easily Burress' top moment as a pro, but what followed was far less rewarding.
Jim McIsaac, Getty Images
Unhappy with his contract situation, Burress skipped the Giants' mandatory 2008 summer mini-camp and then sat out much of the preseason with an ankle injury. Then, shortly before the start of the regular season, the Giants agreed to a five-year, $35-million contract extension with the disgruntled receiver.
Evan Pinkus, Getty Images
No mandatory mini-camp, no preseason, no problem. In New York's Week 1 win over Washington, Burress made 10 catches for 133 yards.
Seth Wenig, AP
In a stunning Week 6 Monday night loss to Cleveland, Burress scored a touchdown but was otherwise shut down, all part of a sub-par season that saw Burress fail to top 100 yards receiving in any game other than the opener.
Diamond Images / Getty Images
Burress had a bit of a meltdown in the Giants' Oct. 19 win over San Francisco. The NFL fined him $45,000 for his actions in that game, when he verbally abused an official and threw a ball into the stands. That came just two weeks after the Giants suspended Burress for their Oct. 5 game for missing a team meeting.
Evan Pinkus, Getty Images
In an easy New York win over Baltimore during Week 11, Burress tweaked his hamstring, which had him set to be inactive in Week 12 against Washington - until he suffered a more serious leg injury.
Kathy Willens, AP
Out at a club, just hours after it was reported that he would be inactive against the Redskins because of his hamstring injury, Burress suffered a gunshot wound to his leg - self-inflicted by accident.
Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
Burress surrendered to police Dec. 1 and was charged with two counts of illegal handgun possession after shooting himself in the leg at a nightclub. The Giants also suspended him for the rest of the 2008-09 season.
Louis Lanzano, AP
Burress found himself the subject of a lawsuit in late December, allegedly for striking a woman with his car. Then in March, Burress was cited for four traffic tickets on one stop - speeding, improper display of tags, improper lane change and improper window tinting.
Chris McGrath, Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-25-2009 @ 9:24AM
redw637936 said...
They are making an example out of Burress because he is black and making big money in pro football, had that been Ed Manning i doubt very much they would have treated him like that , he would have gotten a fine and a slap on the risk and maybe probation, iam sure about that.
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8-25-2009 @ 10:41AM
Kaldawen said...
First off it isnt because he is black. The laws in NY are different then laws everywhere else. So lets get off the race thing. He is a good receiver that is for sure. Im glad DA's finally got enough nuts to convict sport stars. They are no different then the rest of us. If he gets 2 years for being stupid so be it. He will think twice about doing it again when he gets out huh?
8-25-2009 @ 4:27PM
Mark said...
If Eli Manning walked into the same club and the same thing happened, he would be facing the same charges. The difference is Eli Manning isn't dumb enough to carry an unregistered gun with him into a club. The difference isn't race, it's stupidity.
8-25-2009 @ 5:12PM
riteway121 said...
It's always RACE with you people-- but the reality is, if the majority of the NFL is black than it stands to reason that if an an athlete gets into trouble he might be black!
BOTTOM LINE- This is not about race-- the guy brought a loaded gun to an establishment! Dangerous to him and to others.
8-25-2009 @ 6:44PM
hankkh said...
Yeah, ole Ed Manning would have gotten off with a slap on the wrist lol
8-25-2009 @ 9:30AM
Brenda said...
I truly fail to see why Burress is facing 2 years of prison for shooting himself in the leg. Granted, the gun was not registered and should have been, but I am a proponent of these pro athletes carrying a gun for their own protection! Somehow, this does not compare to Vick and his abusive behavior of innocent animals, while being the highest paid NFL athlete. This was just an evil way for him to get his enjoyment!!!! The two examples just do not compare in my book, for the same punishment to be delivered. I think the DA is going a little overboard on this one, and the Eagles have signed the scumbag Vick, who should never have been allowed back in the NFL to start with again!!!!!!!!!!! If there is something I am missing in this scenerio, please advise.
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8-25-2009 @ 12:29PM
mycroft717 said...
Brenda, You are indeed missing something here. Vick , whose actions I am not supporting , served just under 2 years in prison , was forced into bankruptcy and has been equated with the worlds great evil people , for being ( primarily ) the bankroll for a Dog fighting ring. He was also on hand ...AND a participant in cruelty to his dogs. Nothing good about his actions or his treatment of animals.
Plaxico was in a club with an illegal weapon ,in a state with severe gun control laws , where said weapon discharged causing him a gunshot wound. He has admitted his error and faces jail time for it. Two years may be , in my view , too harsh but it is the law.
There is another case that screams at me though ... a certain unnamed pro football player caused the death of a human being , while drunk AND high on pot and was given a 30 DAY jail sentence. He was released after 24 days...Days Brenda ...for killing a human being ...Where is your righteous indignation for the death of an innocent human being ?
I love my dogs ( who are asleep at my feet as I type this ) and shudder to think of dogs being forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of some people ... but the killing of a man while drunk and high ... and facing civil suits , rovoked driving rights and house arrest , while serving 24 DAYS in jail and being disappointed that you are suspended for a whole year from the NFL ... makes me want to puke. We have , collectively lost our minds if we are okay with this kind of thing...A professional sports career should be a priviledge ... not a right !
8-25-2009 @ 6:02PM
Michigan Man said...
You missed the state where the two were tried. Diferent states have different laws, which is the case here. Maybe this applies here.
8-25-2009 @ 9:37AM
Brenda said...
red, do not bring race into this!!!!! This has nothing to do with race and I am sick of the race card being pulled all over these blogs!!!!! If you read my post, I am confused as to why
Burress is getting the same prison time as Vick. The two offenses just do not compare!! I, personally, do not care what color either men are! And, by the way, that is "Eli" Manning that you made reference to in your post.
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8-25-2009 @ 2:13PM
Havok said...
Brenda, the two cases are totally different. Vick got the feds involved for bankrolling a dog figthing ring. Plax was carrying a loaded, unregistered weapon in a state where gun laws are very severe.
Different cases, different states, different laws
8-25-2009 @ 9:59AM
countflock said...
'I Was Reckless; I Made A Very Bad Decision' - I'll have DUH for $200, Alex. What an idiot.
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8-25-2009 @ 10:05AM
kawasaki9r said...
This has nothing to do with race. The law is the law and he broke it. He even admits it now (if you read the story). To be honest, he is lucky he didn't shoot himself in a vital organ or his "family business" and also that he didn't accidently shoot someone else walking up the stairs. A crime relates to what you are doing and what could come of it, not what does. If I shoot someone, whether they die or not, my intent was murder. Also, if I have something that is illegal, it doesn't matter why I have it, it's still illegal. If you go somewhere that you believe you need a weapon to go to, maybe it isn't a place you should be???
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8-25-2009 @ 11:02AM
oldjhead said...
This guy acknowledges his mistake. He doesnt try to sugarcoat it or blame it on anyone, but himself. It has nothing to do with race. For you to suggest it does, in my opinion, makes you racist. give the guy a break and allow the system to work it out.
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8-25-2009 @ 11:16AM
Shirley said...
He's black with an ego...what do you expect?
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8-25-2009 @ 11:26AM
kmgolf said...
Didn't watch the entire interview...is the concept of a safety ever brought up in it? Just wondering if it wasn't turned on, which is a huge deal.
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8-25-2009 @ 12:07PM
Becky said...
If he would of been a famous movie star, he would of been put on probation. Because he isn't that famous, I agree they are making an example of him.
Really what did he do wrong???
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8-25-2009 @ 12:21PM
Ray said...
no safety on that gun?
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8-25-2009 @ 1:17PM
Na Fareal Dawg said...
As an NY resident, gun control is something very serious. Honestly, i think the punishment is too harsh but they are making an example out of him. The question that im surprised no one asked was, why not just get a registered gun? I have to wonder how the person who gave him the gun feels. lol.
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8-25-2009 @ 1:36PM
michael said...
I would really like to see at least a few white athletes thrown under the bus the same way black athletes are thrown under the bus. Big Ben perhaps? Shockey maybe? Hopefully my great,great,great grandchildren will see such a day.
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8-25-2009 @ 4:22PM
Mark said...
There are very few white athletes left and the ones left haven't committed a crime like this yet. If they did, they would be facing the same kind of time. It's funny how the people that cry racism are the racist's themselves.