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)

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress turned himself in to police Monday morning in New York on charges of criminal possession of a weapon.

Burress arrived in a black Cadillac Escalade wearing jeans and a black coat. While he was not visibly limping, Burress did not speak to the media and walked directly into the precinct.

He posted $100,000 US bail on two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which could result in a prison sentence of 3½ to 15 years if he is convicted.

His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said Sunday that his client would plead not guilty to the charges when he due back in court March 31.

"I do not expect that Mr. Burress will make a statement," Brafman wrote in an e-mail to the Associated Press.

"I would ask that his fans, the Giants and the media withhold judgment in this matter until all of the facts have been disclosed," said Brafman, who met with Burress for about an hour Sunday at the player's home in New Jersey.

Brafman is a well-known criminal lawyer who has defended mobsters and other high-profile figures, including hip-hop impresario Sean (Diddy) Combs on a bribery and gun possession charge in 2001.

The NFL said it was monitoring developments, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it would be an outrage "if we didn't prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."

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.

"I don't think people understand how good of a person he really is," fellow receiver Amani Toomer said after catching a 40-yard touchdown pass in the Giants' victory Sunday. "A good heart. I think he's a good guy."

Injured before incident

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 while constantly drawing double coverage, 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."

Mara repeatedly said the Giants would co-operate with the police and the NFL in their investigations.

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