Former NY Giants star Burress reapplies for work release from prison (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2...work_relea.html

Ex-Giant Plaxico Burress, serving time on gun charges, applies again for work release

BY Melissa Grace

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, July 2nd 2010, 4:23 PM

It's replay time for Plaxico Burress - who has applied again for work release.

The former Super Bowl hero, who is nine months into a two-year sentence on gun charges, originally applied in November and was shot down. He appealed and lost.

He resubmitted his application Friday - the earliest date allowed under the rules of work release, prison officials said.

No decision will be made for several weeks.

The ex-Giant's lawyer, Peter Frankel, said six anti-violence groups have written letters begging that Burress be released - so he can work for them.

"There are a number of very prominent anti-gun and anti-violence organizations who have written letters on his behalf and who are supporting his release," Frankel said.

The letters will be added to the application next week.

The disgrace 32-year-old football star, whose second child was born after he was sent to prison, appealed the January application slap down - but also lost the appeal.

"He deserves a chance. A lot of people think he deserves a chance," said a source close to the defense.

The insider noted that "the hierarchy who was here before are all gone," referring to the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

Burress was prosecuted under former Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau, and one of his top deputies wrote a blistering letter opposing Burress' first work-release request.

The letter said state officials shouldn't have "sympathy for a man who fell so far, so fast."

Manhattan's new DA, Cyrus Vance, had no immediate reaction to Burress' bid for freedom, but a law enforcement source said the nerw regime is expected to oppose it.

Burress was carrying an unlicensed gun in the Latin Quarter club in November 2008 when he shot himself in the right thigh.

He checked into the hospital under an assumed name, and cops didn't learn about the shooting for several hours.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpag...5447&spln=1

Plaxico Burress: Burress in Silver and Black?

Plaxico Burress - WR - NYG - Jul. 7 - 11:31 am et

The San Francisco Chronicle's Vittorio Tafur suggests Oakland as a potential landing spot for free agent Plaxico Burress now that Plax has reapplied for work release from prison.

Jason Campbell would probably love to see the 6'5 weapon out wide, but there's no indication that Burress' release from prison is imminent. The Raiders are unlikely to block youngsters Darrius Heyward-Bey, Chaz Schilens, and Louis Murphy, so don't look for Plax in Silver & Black anytime soon. Jul. 7 - 11:31 am et

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

 

[David Yudkin]

I'm not familiar with how these things work, but would Burress be allowed to go back to football while going through the system? I thought generally people stayed locally and could not cross state lines . . .

 

[Faust]

I'm not familiar with how these things work, but would Burress be allowed to go back to football while going through the system? I thought generally people stayed locally and could not cross state lines . . .

Good question - I am not sure how these work release programs work. I found the information interesting, and it is worth keeping an eye on for deeper leagues. If Burress can gain an early release and is eligible to return to the NFL - he could be worth rostering.

 

[Jim Dandy]

Next he'd have to apply to Goodell...

-James

 

[Adebisi]

It would be a complete disgrace if he was allowed work release at all.

But it would be an even bigger disgrace if he was allowed back into the NFL by Goodell.

 

[Avery]

It would be a complete disgrace if he was allowed work release at all.

But it would be an even bigger disgrace if he was allowed back into the NFL by Goodell.

I don't get the hate.

Considering the likes of Michael Vick and Donte Stallworth are gainfully employed I don't understand how Burress getting a job in the NFL again would be a disgrace.

Edit to add: Oh, I understand the

...

 

[Pickle Rody]

Not sure what it is like in NY State, but in PA the inmate almost always must return back to the prison each and every evening. Meaning, they may leave during the day for work, but must return to shower and sleep and be there for head count/lock down. Sometimes you may be granted a weekend pass or two to visit your wife & kids, but not every weekend. You always have to return or you will be considered a fugitive immediately.

I can't imagine they let Burress out on work release to practice for football, since he no longer has a job in football. He would actually have to have a job within a several miles of the prison he is currently housed in. The purpose of work release is to give inmates a chance to earn money and/or keep their current job if their employer is willing to wait for the system to actually grant them work release. I would imagine most inmates on work release are probably trying to knock down a child support debt or some other type of debt.

Like I stated, I don't know the NY system, so I may be way off base here with my comments.

 

[Stealthycat]

its pathetic that Burress was sent to prison to be honest

 

[Arizona Ron]

It would be a complete disgrace if he was allowed work release at all.But it would be an even bigger disgrace if he was allowed back into the NFL by Goodell.

Seriously? Many players currently playing have done worse.

 

[finito]

its pathetic that Burress was sent to prison to be honest

I don't know about that. Guy brought an illegal gun into a club and it went off. I have no problem with him being punished for this, but when he's released he should be allowed back in the league for sure, he's paid his debt.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Let him out. I think at most he should serve a 4 game suspension (though I believe the prison time is sufficient).

 

[cr8f]

It would be a complete disgrace if he was allowed work release at all.

But it would be an even bigger disgrace if he was allowed back into the NFL by Goodell.

:X I don't get the hate.

Considering the likes of Michael Vick and Donte Stallworth are gainfully employed I don't understand how Burress getting a job in the NFL again would be a disgrace.

Edit to add: Oh, I understand the

What he did was stupid but in many states is far less of a crime. If he is released I see no reason why he can't get a job.

 

[ookook]

Many citizens of NY have been caught with illegal firearms and gotten parole or much more minimal time.

It matters not where he "fell from": he was given something like the maximum sentence possible and many are not. Why?

He was a victim of his celebrity and a political agenda.

 

[Da Guru]

its pathetic that Burress was sent to prison to be honest

I don't know about that. Guy brought an illegal gun into a club and it went off. I have no problem with him being punished for this, but when he's released he should be allowed back in the league for sure, he's paid his debt.

Burress is finally paying for his stupidity. Burress has never followed the rules. Plax was in trouble in HS, at MSU he was had problems every year but they swept everything under the rug to keep him elgible. At Pitt Plax always was late and pushed the rules. The same at NY..but he finally ran into a coach would did not tolerate it in Coughlin. If Plax could not catch a football he would have been behind bars 12 years ago. The guy made his own bed.

 

[Deuceman]

Let him out. I think at most he should serve a 4 game suspension (though I believe the prison time is sufficient).

Time served Boss. When Plax gets out he's free to sign with anybody and can play immediately. I'm positive I read that Goodell made that statement when Plax went to prison.

 

[Willie Mays Hayes]

Not sure what it is like in NY State, but in PA the inmate almost always must return back to the prison each and every evening. Meaning, they may leave during the day for work, but must return to shower and sleep and be there for head count/lock down. Sometimes you may be granted a weekend pass or two to visit your wife & kids, but not every weekend. You always have to return or you will be considered a fugitive immediately. I can't imagine they let Burress out on work release to practice for football, since he no longer has a job in football. He would actually have to have a job within a several miles of the prison he is currently housed in. The purpose of work release is to give inmates a chance to earn money and/or keep their current job if their employer is willing to wait for the system to actually grant them work release. I would imagine most inmates on work release are probably trying to knock down a child support debt or some other type of debt. Like I stated, I don't know the NY system, so I may be way off base here with my comments.

If what you say is true, he has no shot of playing this year

 

[Bri]

I think he's paid enough for shooting himself and what may have (but didn't) happened by having the gun with him.

 

[massraider]

Many citizens of NY have been caught with illegal firearms and gotten parole or much more minimal time.It matters not where he "fell from": he was given something like the maximum sentence possible and many are not. Why?He was a victim of his celebrity and a political agenda.

Completely true.

 

[Mr. Retukes]

I don't get the hate.

Don't you get it, man??? He shot himself in the butt!!! He's clearly a danger to butts everywhere, and he must be kept in prison so that butts everywhere will be safe.

 

[Couch Potato]

He'll be available before the 2011 season at age 34 most likely, or maybe will be out sometime during the 2010 season or preseason at age 33. In his final year with the Giants he was 35-454-4 in 10 games and had 3 catches or less in 7 of those games, begging the question "Was he already beginning his decline?"

It's very uncertain how much football at a high level, if any, he still has in him when he returns. He'll need to find a new team and he certainly won't jump right into the primary receiver role on his new team, so not a lot can be expected of him numbers-wise in Year 1. Then in Year 2 with this new team he's another year deeper into his 30s. Some guys like Mason and TO can go past 35, but most are finished before then. You have to wonder whether he's done for good from a fantasy perspective.

He is rostered right now in 4 of my dynasty leagues and on the WW in the other 7. I don't own him but have thought from time to time about adding him this offseason for 2011 in one of my deep leagues where he's available, but I've decided to pass.

 

[Adebisi]

It would be a complete disgrace if he was allowed work release at all.But it would be an even bigger disgrace if he was allowed back into the NFL by Goodell.

Seriously? Many players currently playing have done worse.

That's really not adequate justification. There are a number of players in the league right now who really shouldn't be playing professional football. Just because the NFL has been lax with others does not mean it should be lax with Plax.

 

[Adebisi]

Many citizens of NY have been caught with illegal firearms and gotten parole or much more minimal time.It matters not where he "fell from": he was given something like the maximum sentence possible and many are not. Why?He was a victim of his celebrity and a political agenda.

Completely true.

Yes, what a victim. Some celebrities realize that everything they do will be scrutinized, and they had better be careful of their behavior in public - fair or unfair, that is the reality of being rich & famous in America.And then there are people like poor Plaxico Burress.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

It would be a complete disgrace if he was allowed work release at all.But it would be an even bigger disgrace if he was allowed back into the NFL by Goodell.

Seriously? Many players currently playing have done worse.

That's really not adequate justification. There are a number of players in the league right now who really shouldn't be playing professional football. Just because the NFL has been lax with others does not mean it should be lax with Plax.

If you're looking at the decisions of one commissioner for the league's punishments, then it IS an adequate justification. It seems pretty reasonable that Goddell should be expected to maintain consistency in enforcing league suspensions. Whether or not he has is probably another argument, but he should be making the effort. From where I sit, PB has been punished enough. His level of negligence IMO was on par with an NFLer who drives drunk and ran into a telephone pole. Sure, it was stupid, and he could have hurt innocent people. But he didn't. If the NFL was interested in levying consistent punishment at that level of behavioral transgression, then the league would be about 10% smaller than it currently is.

 

[massraider]

Many citizens of NY have been caught with illegal firearms and gotten parole or much more minimal time.It matters not where he "fell from": he was given something like the maximum sentence possible and many are not. Why?He was a victim of his celebrity and a political agenda.

Completely true.

Yes, what a victim. Some celebrities realize that everything they do will be scrutinized, and they had better be careful of their behavior in public - fair or unfair, that is the reality of being rich & famous in America.And then there are people like poor Plaxico Burress.

You can be guilty of a crime and still be a victim.