Plaxico Burress Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress accepted a plea bargain, on Thursday, agreeing to serve two years in state prison. Burress was facing a possible minimum sentence of 3 and 1/2 years in prison, which would have definitely ended his football career. Burress pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a lesser charge, than the two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment, he was facing when he was indicted, earlier this month. Burress will be sentenced on September 22, and will begin serving his time immediately.

Burress was drafted by the Pittsburg Steelers in the 2000 NFL Draft, and played five seasons for the team. During his time with the Steelers, Burress quickly became one of the premier wide receivers on the team, behind only Hines Ward, and amassed a total of 261 receptions for 4,164 yards and 22 touchdowns. In 2005, Plaxico signed a six-year contract with the New York Giants, and helped take the Giants to the playoffs in all four seasons, that he was with the team. Burress was the top receiver, and averaged 70 receptions a season, for over 1,000 yards.

Plaxico had his best season in 2007, when he was the top receiver for Eli Manning, and the Giants made the playoffs for the third consecutive year. After making it through the first two rounds of the playoffs against the Buccaneers and the Cowboys, the Giants faced the Green Bay Packers in the NFC title game. Burress caught a franchise playoff record 11 receptions for 154 yards, with the Giants winning the game in overtime. The Giants won the Super Bowl over the undefeated New England Patriots, with Burress catching the game-winning touchdown pass from Eli Manning, with under one minute in the game.

But throughout all the success that Burress has achieved, he has had his share of problems. The complete downfall of Plaxico Burress started in November 2008. Burress was at a New York nightclub, when he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh. The story goes that Burress had a pistol was tucked in the waistband of his sweatpants, and it began sliding down his leg. Burress reached for the gun, but accidentally touched the trigger, with the gun shooting his thigh. The injury was not life-threatening, but Plaxico's problems were only starting. Burress faced charges of criminal possession of a handgun. Learning of all the details, the Giants released Burress in April 2009.

Burress could be out of prison, as early as mid 2011, and has said that he would like to resume his NFL career after he serves his time. Some important things that Burress has to deal with, if he wants to make a comeback, is his age and rust. Burress will be almost 34 years old, and would not have played an NFL game in over 30 months. But Burress shouldn't have a problem finding a team that will give him the opportunity, to show if he still has it or not.