PLAXICO: Hoodlum or Hero?

(Newser) - Police searching Plaxico Burress’s New Jersey house found a 9mm handgun, a loaded rifle, and the bloody clothes the New York Giants receiver wore when he accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan night club Nov. 29, sources told Fox affiliate WNYW-TV. The gun used in the shooting was recovered in a previous search, the Post adds. More »

(Newser) - New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce will testify against teammate Plaxico Burress in order to avoid being charged himself, the New York Post reports. Pierce’s testimony should guarantee Burress is indicted for felony weapons possession. The receiver has been suspended for the rest of the season, and faces 3½ years in prison on the illegal handgun charge. More »

(AP) - Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress is done for the year. The New York Giants fined and suspended Burress today for four games—the rest of the regular season—after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh over the weekend at a Manhattan nightclub. The team also placed him on the reserve non-football injury list, which means the wide receiver couldn't come back for playoffs, either. More »

(Newser) - Plaxico Burress has a lot to answer for, but he can take some cues from the current economy and hip-hop history, writes Chloe Hilliard in the Village Voice . Almost every aspect of his gun infraction has precedent. Her suggestions: Contact Diddy: The rap impresario has had experience with shooting crimes, and got himself and then-girlfriend JLo off scot-free following a 1999 nightclub incident More »

(Newser) - Mayor Michael Bloomberg is furious at the Plaxico Burress cover-up, the New York Post reports. Bloomberg demanded the Giants receiver get no special treatment for allegedly carrying an illegal handgun, and said anything less than the 3½-year minimum sentence would be “a sham, a mockery.” He recommended the district attorney investigate New York-Cornell Hospital for failing to report the gunshot wound. More »

(AP) - Plaxico Burress arrived at a police station this morning 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 plans to plead not guilty to a weapon possession charge during an afternoon court appearance, his lawyer said. Conviction could result in at least 3 1/2 years in prison. More »

(Newser) - Plaxico Burress will turn himself in to police tomorrow and plead not guilty on a felony weapon charge, the New York Daily News reports. If convicted, the New York Giant receiver—who accidentally shot himself in the leg on Friday—would face a minimum 3-1/2 year sentence for carrying an illegal, concealed handgun in New York. Fellow Giant Antonio Pierce may be indicted for allegedly hiding Burress' weapon after the incident. More »

(Newser) - The once-dominant New England Patriots ran into the NFL's top-ranked defense on a rainy, cold day in Foxboro today, the AP reports: The Patriots were sacked four times and gave up five turnovers against the Pittsburgh Steelers—in the second half alone. Ben Roethlisberger tossed two TDs and Jeff Reed kicked four field goals in Pittsburgh's 33-10 win. Eli Manning had his first 300-yard game as the New York Giants beat the Washington Redskins 23-7, without wounded receiver Plaxico Burress, USA Today reports. More »

(Newser) - Plaxico Burress' troubled season continued last night when he accidentally shot himself in the leg in a nightclub, Fox Sports reports. Details are yet to emerge, and Yahoo! Sports reports that someone may have shot the New York Giants receiver, but his injuries are not said to be life threatening. The 31-year-old spent the night in the hospital and is expected to play again this season. More »

(Newser) - The NFL has long been sensitive about criticism of its officials, but commissioner Roger Goodell is more often going after the wallets of players for ripping refs, particularly on the field during games, USA Today reports. Chicago’s Brian Urlacher was fined for such an incident last week, and Goodell could level one today against New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress. More »

(AP) - The New York Giants kicked off their Super Bowl title defense with what else—defense. Playing without Pro Bowl linemen Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, the defense limited the new-look Washington Redskins to 11 first downs and 209 total yards and gave indications that these Giants are back for another run in a 16-7 victory that ushered in the NFL season. More »

(Newser) - They’re the Super Bowl champions, but when the New York Giants take the field against the rival Redskins to begin the NFL season tonight, they’ll feel like underdogs. “Nobody really has a lot of respect for us,” says Plaxico Burress. “Even when we won the Super Bowl, everything was a fluke.” New York has lost five starters, and many doubt they’ll recover. More »