Burress is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and faces a mandatory sentence of 3 1/2 years in jail, for each offense.

Roger Goodell Decision Nears

NBC’s Pro Football Talk reported that Goodell and Burress are expected to meet during the week of August 3 — two weeks from now.

Burress has clearly violated NFL Personal Conduct Policy, and is guaranteed some sort of suspension.

Plaxico Who?

Goodell must suspend Plaxico Burress soon, to keep his name out of headlines, during NFL season.

A timely Grand Jury indictment, followed by a mandatory sentence, will keep his name out of UFL headlines too.

UPDATE : July 28, 2009

Newsday just reported that Burress will testify before Grand Jury at 10 A.M. tomorrow.

Yesterday, New York Post reported that Morgenthau wants Burress to serve at least two years in prison.

Burress deserves it.

Note

Although Morgenthau has been Manhattan’s District Attorney for 34 years, I managed to spell his name wrong several times, Where Did My Brain Go?

There are now 5 teams interested in Plaxico. I expect more teams to enter the mix over the next few weeks as well.

I thought it was hysterical, but apparently NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, was annoyed. Because nfl.com reported, that shortly after his agent's silly Tweet, Burress was notified by Adolpho Birch, Vice President of Labor and Law Policy of NFL, that his case was being reviewed by Commissioner Goodell.

Last season's Personal Conduct Policy prohibits:

Possession of a gun or other weapon in any workplace setting, including but not limited to stadiums, team facilities, training camp, locker rooms, team planes, buses, parking lots, etc., or unlawful possession of a weapon outside of the workplace

Burress is guaranteed some sort of suspension, and does not need a contract to be suspended, because under Personal Conduct Policy, the NFL can suspend:

unsigned veterans who were under contract in the prior League Year

I think he will be suspended for a full season, because he is unsigned. Imagine if he drew an eight game suspension, and then, despite Brafman's best efforts, was tried, convicted, and sentenced, before he could play?

Where's the Deal?

Plaxico Burress's attorney, Benjamin Brafman, has been unable to negotiate a deal with NYC, to keep his client out of jail, for over six months. On March 15^th, he requested an adjournment, instead of getting it over with. Burress and Brafman do not have to return to Manhattan Criminal Court until September 23^rd — after the season has started — which makes no sense to me.

But it sure made sense to Brafman, because after court he boasted:

“I do not see any reason why he should not be able to play this entire season. Even if there is an indictment, it's inconceivable to me in its present posture that this case would proceed to trial until the spring of 2010.

Stacked Deck

I think Plaxico Burress is going to jail, because Mayor Bloomberg said:

“I think it would be an outrage if we didn't prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, particularly people who live in the public domain.”

In 2001, Brafman, working with legendary attorney Johnny Cochran, managed to get Puff Daddy acquitted of weapons and bribery charges, despite 100 witnesses.

Brafman attacked the credibility of the witnesses, saying:

“They want you to conclude on the basis of two pimps from the street, a deadbeat dad, and two people in the club that gave conflicting stories, and lawsuits testimony that has no logic, no merit and does not make sense.”

This time, Brafman does not have Cochran, and there are very credible witnesses.

His attorney, Benjamin Brafman, announced that he has been unable to reach an agreement with New York City, to keep his client out of jail, and will request an adjourment when the most idiotic New York Giant of all-time, returns to court on Monday.

Burress is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and faces a mandatory sentence of 3 1/2 years in jail, for each offense.

As previously noted, Mayor Bloomberg, the number one fellow you should not annoy, is very annoyed, because he expects Burress to be a role model for youngsters.

Bloomberg has every right to be annoyed. You simply cannot let people get away with shooting unlicensed handguns in Manhattan night clubs.

Despite rumors that Jets and Bears want to sign him, I think the 31 year-old Burress’s NFL career is over.

Consider that Brafman, a high-profile attorney, who previously defended “Puff Daddy” and Michael Jackson, has been unable to reach an agreement for several months. Plus — Burress still faces some kind of punishment, from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

I think Burress will serve three years, and then be suspended for another year, which will end his career.

Hey Plax! The next time you want to stuff something down your pants, try a codpiece, instead of a loaded gun!

General Manager Jerry Reese said:

“We hung in there as long as we could in hopes that there could be a resolution to this situation other than the decision we made today to release Plaxico. It wasn’t to be, so now we have to move on. Like everybody else here, we want nothing but the best for Plaxico, and we are appreciative of the contributions he made to this franchise.”

I was surprised when Burress asked for an adjournment in Manhattan Criminal Court last week. Giants play their first pre-season game on August 17th — what was he waiting for? Now I think that Mayor Bloomberg is following through on:

“They are the role models for our kids, and if we don’t prosecute them, to the fullest extent of the law, I don’t know who on Earth we would. It makes a sham, a mockery of the law.”

Burress joined Giants in 2005, and caught Eli Manning’s seven longest passes. In Super Bowl XLII, he caught the winning pass, with 35 seconds left in the game. The Giants lost five of their last six games without him last season.

Unfortunately, he will probably be spending this season in jail.

I hope that I never write about idiots and New York Giants at the same time again!

Plaxico Burress briefly appears in Manhattan Criminal Court today. His attorney, Benjamin Brafman, is expected to request an adjournment, to negotiate a plea bargain for the idiotic wide receiver.

In case you forgot, Burress was charged with two counts of second degree criminal possession of a weapon, and faces a minimum sentence of three and a half years.

Special Case

New York Times reported that in 2008, 90% of the 986 cases of this type, were settled for reduced charges.

Unfortunately for Burress, those statistics do not apply to his case, because Mayor Bloomberg said:

“They are the role models for our kids, and if we don’t prosecute them, to the fullest extent of the law, I don’t know who on Earth we would. It makes a sham, a mockery of the law.”

Even Stupider

Three months before he shot himself, Burress signed a $35 million contract which will probably be nullified if he goes to jail. He lost at least $2 million of salary and bonus last season.

Burress had one of the most expensive Saturday nights of all time — and don’t forget that NFL will fine him too.

Although General Manager Jerry Reese said:

“Right now he is still a Giant and if things work out and he’s on board with what we want coming back, we’d love to have him back.”

I think he will eventually wind up on Raiders in UFL, with Michael Vick.

Next Season

Giants signed Micah Rucker, a wide receiver, who is listed as 6'6" to replace Burress. Don’t forget that Amani Toomer is also not returning to Giants next season.

Pre–Season

Giants announced pre–season schedule yesterday.

Giants start on August 17^th against Panthers. They will also play Bears, Jets, and Patriots in pre–season.

The score sounds close, but the game wasn’t. Giants scored first touchdown, as first half expired. After Justin Tuck jumped high, and blocked a field goal attempt, Kevin Dockery picked up the loose ball, and carried it 71 yards to the end zone.

It was encouraging to see Giants losing 10-7 instead of 13-0, at the half. Unfortunately, Giants did not score again, until their final play of the game.

Eli Manning summarized the game well. Manning said:

“Offensively, we could hardly do anything right and they came out and played better than us”

Domenik Hixon, who replaced Plaxico Burress, dropped Manning’s best pass of the day. Manning found Hixon, all alone, 50 yards downfield, and threw a perfectly timed pass, which hit Hixon in the chest. Hixon said:

“It’s was right there and I didn’t finish looking the ball in”

Steelers Help Giants

Despite losing, New York Giants won NFC East for the first time since 2005, because Pittsburgh Steelers defeated Dallas Cowboys.

Steelers were losing 13-3, early in fourth quarter, when they inexplicably skipped field goal attempt, and tried running for touchdown. After they were stopped on one-yard-line, their defense played inspired football, and Pittsburgh scored 17 consecutive points – including two touchdowns in 24 seconds.

Giants face the same Cowboys next Sunday night.