Giants Say “Good Riddance” to Plaxico Burress

Posted by Bossip Staff

The Giants have finally thrown the towel in on their troubled business relationship with their self-sniping WR, Plaxico Burress:

The New York Giants released Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress on Friday, a little more than four months after the talented but troubled wide receiver accidentally shot himself in the thigh in a New York City nightclub.

Burress’ four-year tenure with the Giants was highlighted by a game-winning touchdown catch in the Super Bowl against the previously undefeated New England Patriots in February 2008, but it was also dogged by fines and suspensions.

Burress’ status has been uncertain since he shot himself in the thigh on Nov. 29 with an unlicensed gun he’d stuffed into his waistband. He faces a felony weapons charge that could put him in prison for at least 3½ years if convicted.

Burress’ case was adjourned on Tuesday while his attorneys and prosecutors worked on a possible plea agreement. He is due back in court on June 15.

The 31-year-old, who was suspended by the Giants for the final four weeks of the season for conduct detrimental to the team and fined after the shooting, also faces possible NFL sanctions for violating its personal conduct policy.

A senior Giants official told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio it had become clear in January that Burress didn’t want to be in New York when agent Drew Rosenhaus sent an e-mail to the rest of the league saying Burress could be available in a trade.

The delay in ending the court case this week also appeared to play a role in the Giants’ decision.

“I am an optimist, and I believe most situations can be worked out,” general manager Jerry Reese said in announcing the decision. “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.”

Benjamin Brafman, Burress’ attorney, said he has not spoken to Burress since the move was announced.

“My own view as a lawyer and a Giants fan is that the team made a huge mistake,” Brafman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “He is a good man, a good football player and I only hope that with the benefit of hindsight the Giants don’t ultimately regret this decision.”

This just goes to show that no matter how talented an athlete is, there is a limit on the amount of f*ckery a team or the league is willing to put up with…sort of.

More pics below.

via ESPN