Plaxico Burress
| Plaxico Burress | |
|---|---|
| Born: | August 12, 1977 Norfolk, Virginia |
| Charges: | |
| Sentence: | 2 years in state prison, 2 years supervised release |
| Facility: | Oneida Correctional Facility (New York State) |
| Status: | Released (June 2011) |
Plaxico Antonio Burress is a former American football wide receiver who played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).[1] A standout at Michigan State University, Burress was the eighth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is best remembered for catching the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII, one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history, as the New York Giants defeated the previously undefeated New England Patriots.[2] His promising career was derailed in 2008 when he accidentally shot himself with an unlicensed handgun at a New York City nightclub, resulting in a two-year prison sentence under New York's strict gun laws.[3]
College Career
Plaxico Burress was born on August 12, 1977, in Norfolk, Virginia. He attended Green Run High School in Virginia Beach before enrolling at Michigan State University, where he played for the Spartans from 1996 to 1999.[1]
At Michigan State, Burress was a dominant receiver, earning consensus All-American honors in 1999. During his college career, he recorded 131 receptions for 2,155 yards and 20 touchdowns. His size (6'5", 232 pounds) and athleticism made him one of the most coveted receiver prospects in the 2000 NFL Draft.
NFL Career
Pittsburgh Steelers (2000-2004)
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Burress with the eighth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. During his five seasons in Pittsburgh, Burress developed into a reliable deep threat, accumulating 261 receptions for 4,164 yards and 22 touchdowns in 71 games. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2002 after recording 78 catches for 1,325 yards and 7 touchdowns.[1]
Despite his production, contract disputes led to his departure from Pittsburgh after the 2004 season.
New York Giants (2005-2008)
On March 17, 2005, Burress signed a six-year, $25 million contract with the New York Giants. In his first season, he caught 76 passes for 1,214 yards, helping the team earn an 11-5 record and first place in the NFC East.[4]
Burress became a fan favorite and one of quarterback Eli Manning's primary targets. The partnership reached its pinnacle during the 2007 season.
Super Bowl XLII: The Greatest Upset
The 2007 New York Giants entered the playoffs as a wild card team and embarked on an improbable postseason run. In the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field, Burress set a franchise playoff record with 11 receptions for 154 yards in the freezing conditions.
In Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, the Giants faced the New England Patriots, who were attempting to complete a perfect 19-0 season. The Patriots were heavily favored, having gone 16-0 in the regular season with the most prolific offense in NFL history.[2]
With 35 seconds remaining and the Giants trailing 14-10, Burress ran a fade route against cornerback Ellis Hobbs in the left corner of the end zone. Eli Manning threw a perfectly placed pass that Burress caught for a 13-yard touchdown, giving the Giants a stunning 17-14 victory and denying the Patriots their perfect season.[2]
The catch remains one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history, and the upset is considered one of the greatest in professional sports.[4]
The Nightclub Shooting
The Incident
On November 28, 2008, less than a year after his Super Bowl heroics, Burress was at the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan with teammate Antonio Pierce. He was carrying a Glock semi-automatic pistol tucked into the waistband of his sweatpants, despite not having a valid license to carry a firearm in New York.[3]
During the evening, the pistol slipped down his leg. When Burress reached for it, the gun discharged, shooting him in the right thigh. The bullet narrowly missed a nightclub security guard who was standing inches away. Burress was treated at a nearby hospital and released.[5]
The Legal Issues
The gun was not licensed in New York or New Jersey, where Burress resided. His concealed carry permit from Florida had expired in May 2008. New York has among the strictest gun laws in the nation, with mandatory minimum sentences for illegal possession of loaded firearms.[3]
The case drew immediate attention from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who called for full prosecution and stated it would be "an outrage" if Burress was not prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.[5] The incident also put teammate Antonio Pierce under investigation for his role in helping Burress leave the nightclub and potentially concealing evidence.
Impact on the Giants
The 2008 Giants had been one of the best teams in football, entering the incident at 11-1 and considered favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions. The shooting derailed the team's season.[6]
The Giants suspended Burress for four games and eventually placed him on the non-football injury list, ending his season. The team's chemistry fractured, and they were eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs. Many players and analysts have noted that the incident prevented what could have been a dynasty.[6]
The Giants released Burress in April 2009, shortly after his indictment.
Criminal Case
Charges
Burress was indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and one count of reckless endangerment. Under New York law, he faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 3.5 years if convicted at trial.[3]
Plea Agreement
On August 20, 2009, Burress reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a lesser charge that carried a recommended two-year prison sentence.[7]
Sentencing
On September 22, 2009, Burress was sentenced to two years in state prison, followed by two years of supervised release. He was taken into custody immediately after the hearing. His reaction to the sentence was one of disbelief—he had hoped for a lighter punishment given the circumstances.[3]
Incarceration
Burress served his sentence at Oneida Correctional Facility, a medium-security state prison in Rome, New York. With credit for good behavior, he served approximately 20 months of his two-year sentence. His wife Tiffany, a practicing attorney, was pregnant during his trial and gave birth to their daughter Giovanna while Burress was incarcerated. He has spoken publicly about how painful it was to be in prison during his daughter's birth.[8]
Burress was released on June 6, 2011.[8]
Post-Release and NFL Return
After his release, Burress returned to the NFL at age 33. He signed with the New York Jets in July 2011 and had a productive season, catching 45 passes for 612 yards and 8 touchdowns.[9] He played one final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012, appearing in four games before retiring from professional football.
Life After Football
Following his playing career, Burress has worked as a co-host of "Up On Game" on Fox Sports Radio. He has used his platform to speak about gun safety and the dangers of illegal firearms possession.[10] He returned to Michigan State in 2021 to complete his bachelor's degree in communications.
Burress has been open about learning from his mistakes and has become an advocate for responsible decision-making. Through his experiences, he has become a cautionary tale about how quickly success can unravel due to a single poor decision.
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Plaxico Burress". ESPN. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Giants Shock Patriots in Super Bowl". The New York Times. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Plaxico Burress sentenced to two years in prison on gun charge". New York Daily News. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Super Bowl XLII: Giants' stunning upset of Patriots". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Mayor Bloomberg Says Burress Should Be Prosecuted". Bloomberg. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Burress shooting rocks Giants". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Plaxico Burress pleads guilty to gun charge". Associated Press. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Plaxico Burress gets second chance". ESPN. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Plaxico Burress officially signs with New York Jets". ESPN. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Up On Game". Fox Sports Radio. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.