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ALBANY, N.Y. - Plaxico Burress' decision to plead guilty to a weapons charge and accept 2 years in prison surprised his former New York Giants teammates and left at least one claiming the Super Bowl star was punished too severely.
Browns receiver Donté Stallworth served 30 days in jail for running over and killing a man while driving drunk. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick served 18 months in prison for torturing animals and running a dogfighting ring.
Burress shot himself in the leg, but he was illegally carrying a gun in a nightclub when he did it.
"I think they wanted to set an example, which [stinks]," Giants receiver Steve Smith said. "He did something to himself. He didn't hurt anybody else."
Roughly 18 months after Burress caught the game-winning pass in the Super Bowl and 9 months after accidentally shooting himself in a Manhattan night club, he pleaded guilty in a New York City court yesterday to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon.
Burress, who faced a minimum of 3 1/2 years in prison if convicted at trial, instead agreed to a 2-year prison term and must serve at least 20 months. Burress, who was released by the Giants in April, will be formally sentenced on Sept. 22.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has waged a long campaign against illegal guns, had publicly castigated Burress for carrying his .40-caliber weapon.
"You never think somebody who was at that magnitude would get time like this," Smith said. "I heard the mayor, whatever he said."
Burress' attorney, Benjamin Brafman, called the case "a perfect example about how bad judgment can have very serious consequences" and said Burress was treated more harshly because he is a celebrity.
"If Plaxico Burress were not a high-profile individual, there never would be a case," he said. "If he were just John Q. Public, he could have walked out of the club and he never would have been arrested."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Burress on yesterday afternoon, informing him that he is ineligible to sign with any team until he completes his jail term. Burress would be reinstated upon the completion of his sentence, the league said, adding it met with Burress and his representatives on Aug. 12 in New York.
Burress' former teammates clearly were not expecting him to face substantial prison time over the incident.
"My heart kind of dropped, obviously," Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck said after hearing of Burress' plea agreement. "I think sometimes you think about situations like that and it's bound to happen sometime, soon. But once it does happens, it catches you by surprise. Today, when I heard the news, my heart went out to him and his family."
Calling him a friend and great teammate and someone he won a championship with, quarterback Eli Manning wished the best for Burress and his family.
"It's just sad," Manning said. "I am disappointed and just feel bad for how this worked out and the circumstances he has been put through and his family. No one wanted this to happen, and it's a shame it did."
Linebacker Antonio Pierce, who drove Burress to the hospital after the accidental shooting, was unavailable for comment.
NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, who was visiting the Giants yesterday, wants to discuss the commissioner's disciplinary actions in the new collective-bargaining agreement. The current CBA will expire next season.
