New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress (No. 17) leads the club with 18 receptions for 259 yards this season. (Tom Gannam/Associated Press)

The New York Giants suspended wide receiver and Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress on Wednesday for missing a workout earlier in the week.

The reason for the suspension was not disclosed by Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese, who informed Burress of the news before the team's Wednesday practice.

But Burress's agent Drew Rosenhaus claimed it was because he did not attend Monday's workout due to a family emergency. Rosenhaus also said Burress will appeal the ban to the NFL Players Association.

"I hope we can get this worked out and get back out on the practice field and back to playing football for the Giants. That's where he belongs," Rosenhaus said.

The suspension takes effect immediately, which means Burress will miss the Giants' game against the Seattle Seahawkson Oct. 5. Burress will be allowed to return to team activities the following day.

Coughlin insisted that the suspension would not be a distraction.

"This is a team that is focused and displayed mental toughness and they will do the same thing with regard to this."

In three games this NFL season, Burress leads the Giants with 18 receptions for 259 yards with one touchdown.

Last season, he led the club with 70 receptions for 1,025 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns.

Burress also had 18 receptions for 221 yards in the playoffs, including a 13-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XLII in the final minute of the Giants' 17-14 win over the New England Patriots.

The Giants inked Burress to a two-year contract extension in a deal that was signed just hours before New York kicked off the season on Sept. 4 against the Washington Redskins.

With files from Associated Press