City, Giants Making Big Fuss for Nothing Over Plaxico Gun Debacle

Maybe it's me, but I'm a bit perplexed with all of the hoopla surrounding New York Giants mercurial wide receiver Plaxico Burress and his recent arrest for carrying an illegally concealed weapon on his person into a New York night club where he promptly shot himself in the right thigh accidentally.

First of all, with the spate of pro athlete shootings in recent years, culminated by the deaths of former Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams and Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, why is Burress' accidental shooting garnering so much publicity?

Don't get me wrong, I understand the fact that Burress could have possibly shot someone else accidentally when his gun discharged, but in the grand scheme of things, Burress' situation pales in comparison with some of the other more horrific pro athlete police blotter-making events.

While there was a legitimate national shock concerning the deaths of Williams and Taylor, I have to admit that, as horrific as it sounds, not many people outside of his immediate family, friends and teammates, seemed overly concerned when 26-year-old Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot in September and left paralyzed.

While Collier sadly joined Williams and Taylor to become the third NFL players shot inside of an 18-month period, there was nowhere near the national outrage or media coverage surrounding his situation as there is about the enigmatic Burress.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand that Burress plays in the media capital of the United States in New York and that high profile athletes who make mega millions are subjected to almost constant scrutiny, but the three-ring circus that has surrounded Burress' sudden legal woes is absolutely astounding.

Now, New York City police, whom I have absolutely no respect for whatsoever, are making even bigger idiots out of themselves by trying to implicate Burress' teammate, linebacker Antonio Pierce and possibly, running back Derrick Ward.

Once again, maybe it's me, but I just don't understand how a simple accident in which no one but the major principle in the case got hurt, has sent the NYPD on a self-serving witch hunt to nail a famous athlete when they've got more problems than they can count in two lifetimes.

Nail Burress for the gun charge and hit him with a hefty fine and some probation, but let's not make it seem like the guy is enemy No. 1 when the fact of the matter is that Burress, is nothing more than a glory-seeking, prima donna, who just so happens to be a multi-millionaire football player.

"I called him and made a few jokes about the situation and his laugh is what I wanted to hear," running back Brandon Jacobs told 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."

"I don't think people understand how good of a person he really is," fellow wide receiver Amani Toomer said. "A good heart. I think he's a good guy."

Heck, that's more than I can say for tons of pro athletes everywhere.