Many people know that New York Giants fined and suspended wide receiver Plaxico Burress for the rest of the regular season after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh in a Manhattan nightclub with an unregistered .40-caliber Glock pistol on November 29, 2008. The team also placed him on the reserve non-football injury list, which means he can't come back for the playoffs, either. Illegal weapons possession in New York carries a penalty of 3 1/2 to 15 years in prison, but Burress pled guilty August 20, 2009, in return for a two-year sentence, with possible time off for good behavior.

This is what Giants' defensive end Michael Strahan had to say about him Sunday, December 7, 2008, on Fox Sports:

"Memo to every NFL player out there: You got a big, fat gift from my former teammate Plaxico Burress last week, a first hand, nationally reported, in your face warning! Learn from this! Don't think you're above the law; don't think you're going to get special treatment; don't think they're going to cut corners because of your fame. If anything, those corners have gotten a lot sharper!

"Look at Michael Vick. No way was he getting off, because for all intents and purposes, he's the sports version of Martha Stewart. Plax, my friend, you are in the same boat! By making an example of you, Vick, and, yes, even Martha Stewart, the authorities, with each incarceration, scare the heck out of at least someone who's even thinking of committing the same crime!

"Now, it's an effective easier way to do it like that, so they don't have to go out and search for dogfighters or to convince guys not to carry around guns!

"The days of covering up mistakes, screwups and even crimes for our celebrities and our sports heroes are over! The other cheek no longer turns! I'm not complaining about it, but I am complaining that too many guys still feel they're going to be treated above the law!

"Nobody is going to give you special treatment. Instead, they're going to make an example of you!

"I can't stress this enough; the more famous you are, the bigger target you'll be! Immunity has been replaced with a huge red X across your chest!

"And finally, for goodness sakes, if the place you're going makes you feel like you need to bring a gun to be safe, don't go! If you really, really can't resist, fine - you hire security. You make enough, and it's certainly cheaper than bail and a lawyer!"

John Lindorfer

Adding to his troubles is the Giants' withholding of his $1,000,000 signing bonus because he isn't playing. He will probably wish he had some of that when his civil case comes to trial. Alise Smith, 27, of Miami, Florida, is seeking damages for injuries suffered when he allegedly rear-ended her on an access ramp of the Florida Turnpike in May, 2008. The alleged accident allegedly totalled his alleged $140,000 Mercedes-Benz on which he allegedly had insurance that allegedly expired three days previously because he allegedly failed to pay his alleged premiums. The police allegedly cited him for careless driving.

Burress was indicted on two counts of weapons possession and one count of reckless endangerment, but under a plea deal reached August 20, 2009, he pled guilty to a single, lesser charge of attempted criminal possession of a weapon. The gun was not licensed in New York or in New Jersey, where Burress lived. His license to carry a concealed weapon in Florida expired in May 2008.

On September 22, 2009, Burress was hauled off to Rikers Island to begin serving his 2-year prison sentence. He was released after 20 months because of good behavior. For his subsequent, um, indiscretions, visit here.

Talk about big, dumb jocks....