Giants' Burress will face gun charge
Reportedly shot himself in the leg accidently at club
Last Updated: Sunday, November 30, 2008 | 4:58 PM ET
CBC Sports
The NFL and police are trying to determine exactly how a shooting involving Plaxico Burress happened at a New York nightclub. (Harry How/Getty Images)The lawyer for New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress said on Sunday his client will turn himself in on charges of criminal possession of a weapon.
Lawyer Benjamin Brafman made the statement after meeting with Burress. The player will plead not guilty to the charges on Monday, Brafman said.
Burress was released from hospital on Saturday afternoon after being shot in the leg at a New York City nightclub. Reports have alleged the wound was accidentally self-inflicted.
"He intends to deal with this responsibly, and we hope it works out in the end," said Brafman. "I would ask that the public, the Giants, the media and everybody else withhold judgment.
"He's presumed innocent, hasn't been convicted of anything, and we have a long road ahead of us."
Burress, 31, caught the winning pass in the team's Super Bowl victory in February and signed a lucrative contract on the eve of this season, which has proven tumultuous.
He was suspended for a game and fined $117,500 US for missing a team meeting earlier in the season. He was also fined $45,000 by the NFL for abuse of an official in a game against San Francisco.
Burress has been hampered by a hamstring injury and wasn't expected to play on Sunday even before the incident. The receiver has caught 35 passes through 10 games, well off the pace he has set over the past seven seasons with New York and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The team's CEO, John Mara, said it was premature to discuss what discipline may be in store for Burress from the team.
"I want to wait until we find out all the facts and circumstances before we make any determination," said Mara. "I don't know what happened there, and until we find out exactly what happened, I'm not going to make any comment or make any decision about what his future is."
New York beat Washington on Sunday to improve to 11-1.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese said before the game that authorities and the NFL had interviewed linebacker Antonio Pierce, who was allegedly with Burress at the nightclub.
With files from the Associated Press
