EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -Plaxico Burress spent much of Tuesday at Giants Stadium facing the possibility his career with the Super Bowl champions could be over, while police were still trying to sort out the events surrounding the Manhattan nightclub shooting.
The star receiver drove up to the stadium tunnel, one day after he was charged with illegal gun possession. Burress was required to be there because he is on the active roster and injured. He left after about six hours.
Burress accidentally shot himself in the right thigh at a club last weekend in a case that could land him in jail and has angered the mayor of New York.
Giants sent an official who deals with player issues and two trainers who provided information about the shooting, but they are still waiting to speak to more informed witnesses. That includes people at the hospital that treated Burress and teammate Antonio Pierce, who was at the club.
Police want to know what the linebacker did moments after the shooting and whether he took part in a cover-up. Police also want to talk to Giants running back Ahmed Bradshaw, who they now believe was at the club as well.
Pierce is planning to meet with members of the district attorney’s office “in the near future,” according to his lawyer, Michael Bachner.
Appearing in his regular Tuesday afternoon spot on Sirius NFL Radio, Pierce declined to answer questions about the shooting.
“It’s not appropriate with the police being involved. … I’ve got to be strong,” he said. “I’ve got to stay my course and deal with my attorney and deal with the officials who tell me what to do. I’ve got to go about my business and when I get to work, I’ve got to go about my work.”
Burress was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which could result in a prison sentence of 3 1/2 years to 15 years if convicted.
tion and community service. Such plea deals and sentences are frequent in New York for first-time offenders.
A few hours after Burress arrived Tuesday, Giants general manager Jerry Reese said outside the stadium there was “nothing to report right now.”
Asked if commissioner Roger Goodell was planning on meeting with Burress or Pierce, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said: “This is an active law enforcement investigation and our focus is on cooperating with the NYPD.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke out again Tuesday, saying he talked to Giants owner John Mara and Goodell. He told them then law says “you see something, you got to call the cops. That’s the thing you should do.”
Bloomberg also said the state should consider revoking the liquor license of the nightclub, the Latin Quarter, for allowing Burress to enter with a gun.
The New York Police Department has expressed frustration with the NFL and the Giants. Police said they were promised Pierce would appear Monday at the same police precinct where Burress surrendered, but Pierce has not shown.
“After the events in question, Mr. Pierce did what any other reasonable person would do under the circumstances, he hired counsel,” Pierce’s lawyer said. “After we were hired, I was in immediate and direct contact with the DA’s office.”
een notified that Pierce will be charged.
“Mr. Pierce, given the extraordinary circumstances of that evening, acted responsibly in trying to save what could have been the life of a friend,” Bachner said.
Burress was treated at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The hospital said officials “take this very seriously, and are conducting a thorough investigation into why this gunshot wound was not reported to the police department in a timely fashion.”
Hospital spokeswoman Kathy Robinson said Tuesday an individual has been suspended in connection with the case, but would not say if the person was a doctor or hospital staff member.
A person familiar with the case said a doctor who was not a staff member came to the hospital shortly after Burress arrived there around 2 a.m. and treated him. The doctor’s privileges to work out of the hospital have been suspended, according to the person. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
eld a gun to his head, Clifton police Capt. Robert Rowan said.
“He said to him, ‘Give me everything you got,’ and Mr. Smith turned over his jewelry and money and cell phone,” Rowan said Tuesday.
The man is still being sought, Rowan said. It was unclear if Smith’s driver was at the townhouse during the holdup.
Burress’ trouble came just 10 months after he made the winning catch in the Super Bowl. But on Monday, Burress was hauled out of a police precinct in handcuffs facing two weapons charges.
He posted $100,000 bail and was told by the judge that his next appearance won’t be until March 31. In the meantime, the Giants and the NFL will have to make a decision about what to do with the troublesome wide receiver.
The 31-year-old player did not say anything in court Monday and did not make a statement to police when booked at a midtown precinct. His lawyer stressed that Burress is innocent until proven guilty and denied Burress took part in any cover-up.
“He is standing tall. He is a mature adult,” said Benjamin Brafman, his defense lawyer. “I think any professional athlete in this situation would be concerned.”
Burress shot himself in the right thigh in the VIP section of the nightclub about 1 a.m. Saturday, police said. He did not have a permit to carry a handgun in New York.
hearing a popping sound before Burress’ legs began to shake, according to a criminal complaint. It said the person saw a bloody pistol fall out of his pant leg and land on the floor before Burress said, “Take me to a hospital.”
Originally, police said running back Derrick Ward was with Burress and Pierce at the club, relying on information from club security guards. Police later confirmed Ward was not present, and instead believe Bradshaw was at the club and hope to speak to him.
The Giants released a statement, saying they are working closely with NFL security, but disputing the police’s version of their involvement.
“In the early hours of Saturday morning, as we started to get a sense of what we were dealing with, we did, in fact, notify NFL security, which then contacted the police,” the team said.
The Giants have not decided what to do with Burress, who was suspended for a game and fined for missing a team meeting in September. New York could suspend him again or deactivate him for Sunday’s home game against the Eagles. The Giants could go as far as releasing Burress, but that would put a strain on the team’s salary cap next season.
e only one to speak to reporters, but did not get into specifics about the Burress episode.
“It’s not the time or the place,” Hixon said. “We’re concerned about his well-being.”
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Associated Press Writers Colleen Long and Verena Dobnik in New York, Beth DeFalco in Trenton, N.J., and AP Football Writer Dave Goldberg contributed to this report.
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