Burress expected to be charged

The Giants’ receiver accidently shot himself in the leg at a New York nightclub.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Plaxico Burress plans to turn himself in to police this morning in New York City and plead not guilty to criminal possession of a weapon, his lawyer said.

Benjamin Brafman wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Sunday that he was advised the New York Giants’ receiver will be charged after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh.

“I do not expect that Mr. Burress will make a statement,” Brafman wrote.

He met with Burress for about an hour Sunday at the player’s home in New Jersey.

“I would ask that his fans, the Giants and the media withhold judgment in this matter until all of the facts have been disclosed,” Brafman wrote to the AP.

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.

Burress shot himself at a Manhattan nightclub Friday night and was released from a hospital early Saturday, the Giants said.

“As far as we know, he’s going to be OK,” general manager Jerry Reese said Sunday before the Super Bowl champions’ 23-7 victory at the Washington Redskins.

New York police and NFL security are investigating what happened Friday. Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was interviewed by NFL security at the team’s hotel Saturday, Reese said.