Plaxico Burress Will Testify in Court

Former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will testify before a grand jury, according to reports. Burress will give his testimony before a Manhattan jury on Wednesday morning. Burress is facing two counts of felony gun possession. In the middle of the 2008 season with the Giants, Plaxico accidentally shot himself in the right thigh at a New York nightclub. The pistol was tucked in the waistband of his sweatpants, began sliding down his leg, and apparently in reaching for the gun he inadvertently depressed the trigger, causing the gun to fire. Burress turned himself in the next week to charges of criminal possession of a handgun.

If Burress is convicted on the weapon charges, he can face up to 3 and 1/2 years in prison. Burress pleaded not guilty, and made the decision to go to trial, rather than accepting a plea bargain and doing only a portion of the full sentence. By going to trial, Burress risks a longer sentence, and if found guilty, he could face the full sentence. Plaxico was free on $100,000 bail. The District Attorney (DA) wants to see Plaxico Burress spend at least two years in prison on the crime.

Burress was drafted eighth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plaxico played five seasons with the Steelers, putting up a total of 261 receptions, for 4,164 yards and 22 touchdowns, in 71 NFL games with Pittsburgh. He played a total of three playoff games with the Steelers, scoring only one touchdown in those games. In March 2005, Burress signed a six-year, $25 million contract with the New York Giants. Plaxico reached the peak of his career in the 2007-2008 NFL season. He was the Giants' top receiver with 70 receptions for 1,025 yards in the regular season. The Giants advanced to the playoffs that season with the help of Burress. In the NFC title game, Burress caught 11 receptions for 154 yards, as the Giants advanced to the Super Bowl. Plaxico Burress is best known for catching the game-winning pass in Super Bowl XLII against the undefeated New England Patriots. Furthermore, Burress predicted a Giants victory before the game.

The New York Giants released Burress in April 2009. Plaxico is currently a free agent, but it does not look like any team is interested in him at the moment. There is a good chance that Roger Goodell will suspend Burress indefinately if he is convicted, just like he did to Michael Vick in 2007. Burress, who will be 32 years old when the season begins, might be 34 or 35 when he can play pro football again in the NFL.

Antonio Pierce, who was Plaxico's Giants teammate, could be facing the same gun possession charges that Burress faces now. Pierce, who was with Burress in the nightclub, allegedly transported the gun from the Manhattan night club to Burress' Totowa home after the incident. Pierce is still signed with the New York Giants, and it is unclear how this will all play out.