Giants surprised by Burress plea

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Plaxico Burress’ decision to plead guilty to a weapons charge and accept two 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 Donte’ Stallworth served 30 days in jail for running over and killing a man while driving drunk. Former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick served 18 months in prison for torturing animals and running a dogfighting ring for years.

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 sucks,” 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 nine months after accidentally shooting himself in a Manhattan night club, he pleaded guilty in a New York City court on Thursday to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

Burress, who faced a minimum of 31‚Ñ2 years in prison if convicted at trial, instead agreed to a two-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.

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 Thursday, informing him that he is ineligible to sign with any team until he completes his jail term. Burress will be reinstated upon the completion of his sentence, the league said.

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. “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.”