What is the news on Plaxico Burress? (1 Viewer)

[HardNoser]

Anyone heard any news on Plax? Will he be playing next year? Legal issues or NFL suspension.

 

[doubletrouble]

waiting until his trial in March

 

[TitusIII]

The Giants need him(well, Eli obviously does), and I heard a bunch of Giants saying they want him back after they lost to Philly. It will take some serious PR spin, but I expect him to be wearing a Giants uniform this fall.

 

[Avery]

The Giants need him(well, Eli obviously does), and I heard a bunch of Giants saying they want him back after they lost to Philly. It will take some serious PR spin, but I expect him to be wearing a Giants uniform this fall.

PR has nothing to do with it. The legal system does. If he's not in jail/suspended, he'll be a Giant. American's overall are pretty forgiving of someones sins if they serve a penalty and display the appropriate compunctious behavior.

 

[infantsam]

that mayor really looked out for blood

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

 

[Tanner9919]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

I'm a Giants fan, and I hope he's gone from the team...that is, when he comes back from jail because he most definitely will do jail time..I hope they trade him away..he's constantly hurt, constantly late for meetings from what the other players are saying, a general nuisance in the lockeroom..good riddance, imo..

 

[RC94]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

Why is it so entertaining to you? Some fans thought Hixon would step up and be a good replacement. It appears those fans were wrong. You have never been wrong about predicting a player's worth?

 

[Koya]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

I'm a Giants fan, and I hope he's gone from the team...that is, when he comes back from jail because he most definitely will do jail time..I hope they trade him away..he's constantly hurt, constantly late for meetings from what the other players are saying, a general nuisance in the lockeroom..good riddance, imo..

I am a Giants fan, and hope he is back. I did think the Giants would not have dropped off SO precipitously without him, but there was never a doubt in my mind that Plax was one of 5 Giants that they could not afford to lose (Eli, Osi - ouch, Jacobs, Plax, Pierce). Tuck really impressed and covered for Osi, but Hixon can't hold a candle to Plax.Now, onto his behavior - while Plax is late to meetings and does get dinged, the guy is NOT a bad teamate. He seems to actually be a decent guy - just immesnely stupid (I dont mean that jokingly, the guy is just not bright. At all). He does not cause division in the clubhouse, he never throws a teammate under the bus. He is just childish and as mentioned, dumb.What he did was stupid, but it was not out of malice, and other than stupidity + bad luck, he did nothing more or less than countless other pro athletes do all the time. This does not excuse it, but let us keep some perspective.This is not TO we are talking about, though certainly Plax leaves much to be desired in his actions.Assuming he is not back with the team, the Giants very much need that big physical receiver. Eli has some great skills and some great positives, but being uber accurate and consistent are not two of them. He will win you games in the clutch, but he is immensly better with a target like Plax out there. For example, if the Giants get Boldin, I dont think you replace Plax even though Boldin is a "better" all around receiver. They need that big body for the jump ball.

 

[Koya]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

Why is it so entertaining to you? Some fans thought Hixon would step up and be a good replacement. It appears those fans were wrong. You have never been wrong about predicting a player's worth?

We could get into the actual definition of irony also, but Ill save that for another day.maybe VBD is just upset that no team will ever have a SB victory the likes that we enjoyed just a year ago. Greatest moment ever.

 

[Avery]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.

The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

In actuality, if Burress was help to the same legal standard as the average citizen, he would likely be allowed to plead the charges down and serve no time.The true irony here is people asserting their legal prowess when then no next to nothing about the standards and procedures of the legal system in general and New York city in particular.

 

[Warhogs]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.

The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

In actuality, if Burress was help to the same legal standard as the average citizen, he would likely be allowed to plead the charges down and serve no time.The true irony here is people asserting their legal prowess when then no next to nothing about the standards and procedures of the legal system in general and New York city in particular.

I am not familiar with how this is normally handled in NYC but I suspect SeniorVBDStudent is not either. I would be quite surprised if they went hard after the average Joe Blow who did the same thing.

 

[Avery]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.

The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

In actuality, if Burress was help to the same legal standard as the average citizen, he would likely be allowed to plead the charges down and serve no time.The true irony here is people asserting their legal prowess when then no next to nothing about the standards and procedures of the legal system in general and New York city in particular.

I am not familiar with how this is normally handled in NYC but I suspect SeniorVBDStudent is not either. I would be quite surprised if they went hard after the average Joe Blow who did the same thing.

In similar cases where there is no prior felony record and there was no assault, altercation or intent (meaning the gun wasn't pulled on somebody) the case is often pleaded down.Bloomberg is trying to make some sort of example out of Burress and overstepping his bounds as mayor and has quite possibly, by calling for Burress' head before trial (remember, presumed innocence?) poisoned the process and made it difficult for Burress to have a fair trial.

I'm not defending Burress and as a Giants fan am unsure whether I'd want him back in blue, but regardless Bloomberg should have shut his mouth and let the legal system take it's proper course.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.

The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

In actuality, if Burress was help to the same legal standard as the average citizen, he would likely be allowed to plead the charges down and serve no time.The true irony here is people asserting their legal prowess when then no next to nothing about the standards and procedures of the legal system in general and New York city in particular.

I am not familiar with how this is normally handled in NYC but I suspect SeniorVBDStudent is not either. I would be quite surprised if they went hard after the average Joe Blow who did the same thing.

In similar cases where there is no prior felony record and there was no assault, altercation or intent (meaning the gun wasn't pulled on somebody) the case is often pleaded down.Bloomberg is trying to make some sort of example out of Burress and overstepping his bounds as mayor and has quite possibly, by calling for Burress' head before trial (remember, presumed innocence?) poisoned the process and made it difficult for Burress to have a fair trial.

I'm not defending Burress and as a Giants fan am unsure whether I'd want him back in blue, but regardless Bloomberg should have shut his mouth and let the legal system take it's proper course.

I'll be the first to admit that I was taking a pot shot at Giants fans who flip-flopped on whether or not Plax should come back, and that there are plenty of Giants fans who don't want him back.I'll also admit that I'm far from an expert on the legal particulars of this case, but I do recall that much was made of the specific legal prohibitions that Plax had violated in metro New York and that it was specifically reported that mandatory prison time and no plea bargains were relevant to this event.

 

[Uber]

I'll also admit that I'm far from an expert on the legal particulars of this case, but I do recall that much was made of the specific legal prohibitions that Plax had violated in metro New York and that it was specifically reported that mandatory prison time and no plea bargains were relevant to this event.

LOL, what does this even mean?Conviction of some crimes carry mandatory prison terms.

The point is that Joe-Blow would be allowed to plea down to a lesser charge that does not have mandatory prison terms. Plax is not being given that opportunity, basically because he plays int he NFL.

 

[Liquid Tension]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

This is a bit silly. Anyone who thought the team was better without Plax is a moron: I said it then and I say it now; he is a weapon and the Giants are better with him than without him. Now, when you take his salary into consideration you could argue the same money could be spent on someone else and that is fine with me because he does disrupt the team looking for his own set of rules (not a bad guy, but just irresponsible).The Giants didn't lose because of Plax, they lost for a variety of reasons of which Plax was just one of the 10.

 

[The_Fonz]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

Why is it so entertaining to you? Some fans thought Hixon would step up and be a good replacement. It appears those fans were wrong. You have never been wrong about predicting a player's worth?

We could get into the actual definition of irony also, but Ill save that for another day.maybe VBD is just upset that no team will ever have a SB victory the likes that we enjoyed just a year ago. Greatest moment ever.

Last year was awesome wasn't it? It helped me swallow losing to the Eagles(especially after they lost to the Cards) Now I can go back to reminding the eagles fans of how many SB rings they have....ZERO!I was one that was happy to see plax go after Hixon stepped up in the Seattle game. But it has become painfully obvious how important he is to the offense. There aren't that many great and big WR's like him out ther to pick from....most seem pretty happy where they are. I'd love to get Boldin but I don't think he would create the same problems for the opposing defenses.

 

[The_Fonz]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

This is a bit silly. Anyone who thought the team was better without Plax is a moron: I said it then and I say it now; he is a weapon and the Giants are better with him than without him. Now, when you take his salary into consideration you could argue the same money could be spent on someone else and that is fine with me because he does disrupt the team looking for his own set of rules (not a bad guy, but just irresponsible).The Giants didn't lose because of Plax, they lost for a variety of reasons of which Plax was just one of the 10.

That pass early in the Philly game that went deep to Steve Smith....you know damn well that Plax would have caught that one....it was a perfect pass for Plax. Can't say we would have won but it would have changed the game without a doubt.

 

[Avery]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.

The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

In actuality, if Burress was help to the same legal standard as the average citizen, he would likely be allowed to plead the charges down and serve no time.The true irony here is people asserting their legal prowess when then no next to nothing about the standards and procedures of the legal system in general and New York city in particular.

I am not familiar with how this is normally handled in NYC but I suspect SeniorVBDStudent is not either. I would be quite surprised if they went hard after the average Joe Blow who did the same thing.

In similar cases where there is no prior felony record and there was no assault, altercation or intent (meaning the gun wasn't pulled on somebody) the case is often pleaded down.Bloomberg is trying to make some sort of example out of Burress and overstepping his bounds as mayor and has quite possibly, by calling for Burress' head before trial (remember, presumed innocence?) poisoned the process and made it difficult for Burress to have a fair trial.

I'm not defending Burress and as a Giants fan am unsure whether I'd want him back in blue, but regardless Bloomberg should have shut his mouth and let the legal system take it's proper course.

I'll be the first to admit that I was taking a pot shot at Giants fans who flip-flopped on whether or not Plax should come back, and that there are plenty of Giants fans who don't want him back.I'll also admit that I'm far from an expert on the legal particulars of this case, but I do recall that much was made of the specific legal prohibitions that Plax had violated in metro New York and that it was specifically reported that mandatory prison time and no plea bargains were relevant to this event.

Pet peeve of mine, here.People often like to paint someone who changes their mind on an issue in a negative light with snide terms like “flip-flopping”. In point of fact, as those of us who use our intellectual powers of analytical thought may in fact change our opinions as we gather more information on an issue. Being so steadfast in your opinions that they will not ever change regardless of what we learn is a weakness of intellectual laziness.

As for this issue, as a Giants fan I’m undecided on Burress. I’m glad the Giants suspended him for the season. At first I never wanted to see the jackass in Giants blue again. Now as I learn more, I’m a bit less sure about the issue. As a fan, I’m taking a bit of a wait and see attitude and see what else we learn about Burress and whole crappy, situation.

 

[Koya]

Just listened to Archie Manning here on the fan in NY - and as I have noted before, Plaxico is NOT a bad teammate, and in fact, according to Archie, is very well LIKED in the Giants locker room.

So yes, you have a bunch of childish acts and some selfishness along with a lot of pure stupidity, but this is not a bad person, and certainly not a bad teammate we are talking about. If he can get past the legal issues, I think the Giants will give him one more chance. But that is a big if, and I can see them parting ways regardless depending on how things unfold over the offseaason.

 

[Avery]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

This is a bit silly. Anyone who thought the team was better without Plax is a moron: I said it then and I say it now; he is a weapon and the Giants are better with him than without him. Now, when you take his salary into consideration you could argue the same money could be spent on someone else and that is fine with me because he does disrupt the team looking for his own set of rules (not a bad guy, but just irresponsible).The Giants didn't lose because of Plax, they lost for a variety of reasons of which Plax was just one of the 10.

That pass early in the Philly game that went deep to Steve Smith....you know damn well that Plax would have caught that one....it was a perfect pass for Plax. Can't say we would have won but it would have changed the game without a doubt.

If you're talking about the in route, it was a piss-poor pass.

 

[Mustang Man]

Here is the news on Plax and take it from a Cowboys fan we have a lot of examples. He is a complete moron. Giants stay away far away.

 

[Koya]

Here is the news on Plax and take it from a Cowboys fan we have a lot of examples. He is a complete moron. Giants stay away far away.

What does being a Cowboy fan have to do with it? Plax and TO are opposites in many ways. TO seems to have a brain on him, it just works in ways to self destruct a teams season. Plax is a teammate that is well liked and wanted by other teammates, but he is both irresponsible in regard to being on time etc, and utterly stupid which is a cause for numerous other issues. Like shooting himself.

 

[fatness]

What is the news on Plaxico Burress?

When he drinks water it leaks out his leg.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.

The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

In actuality, if Burress was help to the same legal standard as the average citizen, he would likely be allowed to plead the charges down and serve no time.The true irony here is people asserting their legal prowess when then no next to nothing about the standards and procedures of the legal system in general and New York city in particular.

I am not familiar with how this is normally handled in NYC but I suspect SeniorVBDStudent is not either. I would be quite surprised if they went hard after the average Joe Blow who did the same thing.

In similar cases where there is no prior felony record and there was no assault, altercation or intent (meaning the gun wasn't pulled on somebody) the case is often pleaded down.Bloomberg is trying to make some sort of example out of Burress and overstepping his bounds as mayor and has quite possibly, by calling for Burress' head before trial (remember, presumed innocence?) poisoned the process and made it difficult for Burress to have a fair trial.

I'm not defending Burress and as a Giants fan am unsure whether I'd want him back in blue, but regardless Bloomberg should have shut his mouth and let the legal system take it's proper course.

I'll be the first to admit that I was taking a pot shot at Giants fans who flip-flopped on whether or not Plax should come back, and that there are plenty of Giants fans who don't want him back.I'll also admit that I'm far from an expert on the legal particulars of this case, but I do recall that much was made of the specific legal prohibitions that Plax had violated in metro New York and that it was specifically reported that mandatory prison time and no plea bargains were relevant to this event.

Pet peeve of mine, here.People often like to paint someone who changes their mind on an issue in a negative light with snide terms like “flip-flopping”. In point of fact, as those of us who use our intellectual powers of analytical thought may in fact change our opinions as we gather more information on an issue. Being so steadfast in your opinions that they will not ever change regardless of what we learn is a weakness of intellectual laziness.

As for this issue, as a Giants fan I’m undecided on Burress. I’m glad the Giants suspended him for the season. At first I never wanted to see the jackass in Giants blue again. Now as I learn more, I’m a bit less sure about the issue. As a fan, I’m taking a bit of a wait and see attitude and see what else we learn about Burress and whole crappy, situation.

And a pet peeve of mine is a sports fan culture where flip-flopping is situation normal. ARod's a bum. We love ARod. We're better off without Plaxico. We need Plaxico. Sorry we're not going to see eye to eye on this one.

 

[Avery]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.

The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

In actuality, if Burress was help to the same legal standard as the average citizen, he would likely be allowed to plead the charges down and serve no time.The true irony here is people asserting their legal prowess when then no next to nothing about the standards and procedures of the legal system in general and New York city in particular.

I am not familiar with how this is normally handled in NYC but I suspect SeniorVBDStudent is not either. I would be quite surprised if they went hard after the average Joe Blow who did the same thing.

In similar cases where there is no prior felony record and there was no assault, altercation or intent (meaning the gun wasn't pulled on somebody) the case is often pleaded down.Bloomberg is trying to make some sort of example out of Burress and overstepping his bounds as mayor and has quite possibly, by calling for Burress' head before trial (remember, presumed innocence?) poisoned the process and made it difficult for Burress to have a fair trial.

I'm not defending Burress and as a Giants fan am unsure whether I'd want him back in blue, but regardless Bloomberg should have shut his mouth and let the legal system take it's proper course.

I'll be the first to admit that I was taking a pot shot at Giants fans who flip-flopped on whether or not Plax should come back, and that there are plenty of Giants fans who don't want him back.I'll also admit that I'm far from an expert on the legal particulars of this case, but I do recall that much was made of the specific legal prohibitions that Plax had violated in metro New York and that it was specifically reported that mandatory prison time and no plea bargains were relevant to this event.

Pet peeve of mine, here.People often like to paint someone who changes their mind on an issue in a negative light with snide terms like “flip-flopping”. In point of fact, as those of us who use our intellectual powers of analytical thought may in fact change our opinions as we gather more information on an issue. Being so steadfast in your opinions that they will not ever change regardless of what we learn is a weakness of intellectual laziness.

As for this issue, as a Giants fan I’m undecided on Burress. I’m glad the Giants suspended him for the season. At first I never wanted to see the jackass in Giants blue again. Now as I learn more, I’m a bit less sure about the issue. As a fan, I’m taking a bit of a wait and see attitude and see what else we learn about Burress and whole crappy, situation.

And a pet peeve of mine is a sports fan culture where flip-flopping is situation normal. ARod's a bum. We love ARod. We're better off without Plaxico. We need Plaxico. Sorry we're not going to see eye to eye on this one.

Good enough.I just don't think it's necessarily wrong to change you mind about a player, a person, a decision, a relationship, a situation or a foreign policy when you get more information then you had when you first chose what side you believed in. To clarify, that's different then changing your mind every time the wind blows. Thinkers are always gathering new information and reassessing their opinions.

You can call it flip-flopping, I call the opposite intellectual laziness.

 

[The_Fonz]

that mayor really looked out for blood

Shame on him for expecting a famous athelete to be held accountable to the same legal standard the average citizen in that community would be held to.The true irony here is witnessing the migration in viewpoints of some Giants fans whose initial belief that the Giants would be fine without Plax has been supplanted by fear.

This is a bit silly. Anyone who thought the team was better without Plax is a moron: I said it then and I say it now; he is a weapon and the Giants are better with him than without him. Now, when you take his salary into consideration you could argue the same money could be spent on someone else and that is fine with me because he does disrupt the team looking for his own set of rules (not a bad guy, but just irresponsible).The Giants didn't lose because of Plax, they lost for a variety of reasons of which Plax was just one of the 10.

That pass early in the Philly game that went deep to Steve Smith....you know damn well that Plax would have caught that one....it was a perfect pass for Plax. Can't say we would have won but it would have changed the game without a doubt.

If you're talking about the in route, it was a piss-poor pass.

No, the deep ball that was just out of Steve Smith's reach. Early in the first quarter i think.

 

[Donnybrook]

Per KFFL:

Giants | Burress in legal fight with team over cashFri, 06 Feb 2009 18:45:20 -0800Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com, reports New York Giants WR Plaxico Burress is in a legal fight with the team over money. The NFLPA filed legal briefs in order to help Burress with a grievance he filed against the team. The briefs showed the team sent Burress a letter in December saying they were trying to recoup and withhold previous bonus money and future monies that could reach several million dollars. The Giants are looking to go after a portion of Burress' potential earnings up to the next four years, which includes 14 future escalators that the team now think Burress should not be able to cash in on. The team feels Burress defaulted on his contract as a result of his actions in 2009.

This will get ugly.

 

[Routilla]

Hopefully he ran out of bullets.

 

[Fear & Loathing]

Just listened to Archie Manning here on the fan in NY - and as I have noted before, Plaxico is NOT a bad teammate, and in fact, according to Archie, is very well LIKED in the Giants locker room. So yes, you have a bunch of childish acts and some selfishness along with a lot of pure stupidity, but this is not a bad person, and certainly not a bad teammate we are talking about. If he can get past the legal issues, I think the Giants will give him one more chance. But that is a big if, and I can see them parting ways regardless depending on how things unfold over the offseaason.

Well. . . . as long as Archie says so.

 

[RC94]

Other info about the kind of person Burress is.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3895217

Updated: February 9, 2009, 5:00 PM ET

Burress has string of debtor lawsuits

Comment Email Print

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- To Richard Malin, Plaxico Burress wasn't a customer, he was an ordeal.

It was 2002 when Burress, then playing for the Steelers, hired Malin, a home inspector, to look over a house he was buying in suburban Pittsburgh.

Malin quoted Burress a price of just under $500 and got the job.

He should've turned it down, Malin now says.

When it came time to pay the bill, Burress disappeared. He didn't respond to phone calls or letters. Malin appealed to one of the star's handlers for help, but still no payment. Malin filed a lawsuit, Burress ignored it.

After a judge ruled against the no-show NFL player, he sent Malin a check for $700.

"I got a note from Plaxico saying, 'Sorry for the inconvenience. Please inform the court that the judgment has been paid,' " Malin said.

"Then the check bounced."

It is a familiar story for the 31-year-old New York Giants wide receiver.

Now facing felony gun charges after he accidentally shot himself in the leg with an .40-caliber Glock at a Manhattan nightclub, Burress has a history of being sued over debts a millionaire professional athlete seemingly could have paid.

The Associated Press found that, since Burress joined the NFL in 2000, he has been sued at least nine times by people who said he failed to pay a debt, damaged their car or didn't pay his taxes.

The people seeking payment from the football star run the gamut, from a Pennsylvania homeowners association trying to collect delinquent dues to a Florida woman whose car Burress rear-ended while driving without insurance. Why? He hadn't paid the premium.

The pattern of irresponsible behavior extends beyond unpaid debts, records show.

In his hometown of Virginia Beach, Va., Burress has been fined for reckless driving, noise and public intoxication, and threatened with arrest after he didn't show up in court. Last year in Florida, where he has a home, police twice cited Burress for speeding in the weeks before the car crash, which also earned him a ticket for careless driving.

"Those things happen to people. Until this New York thing, I always thought of him as a very law-abiding person." -- Adam Swickle, Plaxico Burress' lawyer in Florida

Police visited his house in Totowa, N.J., twice last year on domestic dispute calls. His wife was granted temporary restraining orders both times, only to later request they be lifted, according to court records.

Burress faces a March 31 court date stemming from the November shooting, an incident that has jeopardized his future with the Giants, who in September gave Burress a $35 million contract extension. The Giants suspended Burress for the final four games of the season and the incident has cost him $2 million in income, though the NFL players' union has filed two grievances.

His defenders say the trail of legal woes does not define Burress.

"He happens to be a great kid. He really is a good kid," said Adam Swickle, Burress' lawyer in Florida. Swickle said any suggestion that Burress is chronically irresponsible because of his wealth and status "is 100 percent incorrect."

Swickle said there was nothing remarkable about the Florida car accident.

"It's a fender-bender," he said. "Those things happen to people. Until this New York thing, I always thought of him as a very law-abiding person."

Efforts to reach Burress were unsuccessful. He did not respond to an e-mail sent to him Monday. His New York attorney, Benjamin Brafman, declined to comment for this story, citing the pending weapons charges. His agent did not return several phone calls.

Although Burress' creditors say they don't enjoy going to court to collect, he usually pays up, even if it takes a lawsuit or judge to persuade him.

But the list of people left fuming after doing business with Burress is a long one.

"This is a history of him just doing anything he wants to do," said Brian Van Dusen, a Pittsburgh nightlife promoter who sued Burress in 2005 over a debt.

Van Dusen said he had a falling out with Burress midway through the 2004 season, his last in Pittsburgh before he signed with the Giants as a free agent.

The two men had been partners in staging a series of Monday night parties at a Pittsburgh bar featuring Steelers stars, but at some point, according to the promoter, Burress stopped paying his share of the bills. Finally, Van Dusen presented him with an invoice.

"He was drinking. He was talking to the girls. And he ripped it, balled it up, and threw it across the bar!" Van Dusen said. The two men nearly got in a fight, but Van Dusen said he took Burress to court instead and won a judgment when Burress didn't show up for trial. Van Dusen said he ultimately collected only a portion of his expenses.

In the beginning, Van Dusen said, "We were cool. We would hang out. But he just got too big, in his head. Just because you're from the NFL, it doesn't mean you can do anything every which way."

The amounts of the unpaid bills typically have not been large, but that has made no difference when it came time for Burress to pay. In 2002, a Virginia Beach homeowners association sued for $440 in dues. In March 2003, another homeowners association in Moon Township, Pa., sought $890. The school district there sued Burress a few months later for $2,745 in unpaid taxes.

In September of that year, a Tampa auto body shop, German Autohaus, filed suit over an unpaid account. A judge ruled against Burress when he again failed to appear in court.

Once the suits were filed, the cases were settled and paid.

But the pattern didn't end. In March 2005, Burress left the Steelers as a free agent and signed a $25 million contract to play for the Giants.

A few months later, a Pennsylvania car dealer loaned him a sport utility vehicle and said in exchange Burress promised to make publicity appearances at the dealership and sign autographs. But the dealer never got it in writing.

Less than a month later, the truck wound up impounded by New York police.

If he had called and was stand-up about it, man-to-man, it never would have happened. But he wouldn't take my calls.” -- Frederick Laurenzo, on a verbal deal with Burress the car dealer said wasn't honored

Two men were arrested, including Burress' cousin, after officers saw someone in the truck firing guns into the air. The case against the cousin was dropped. The other man pleaded guilty to a weapons charge and was sentenced to time served. Burress signed a statement saying he was at football practice at the time.

Car dealer Frederick Laurenzo spent months trying to get the vehicle back. He spent years trying to get Burress to pay for damage to the truck.

Not surprisingly, the matter landed in court.

"It was the only way I could get him to come here," Laurenzo said. "If he had called and was stand-up about it, man-to-man, it never would have happened. But he wouldn't take my calls."

Laurenzo said he's done similar deals with other professional athletes and never had a problem.

"He's a very likable man, and I wish this had never happened," he said. "But when someone hangs up on you, doesn't return your calls, you get angry. If we could've just talked for two minutes on the phone ... but it was like he was pretending he didn't know me."

In January, a jury ordered Burress to pay $1,700.

In the Giants' Super Bowl victory in 2008, Burress made the game-winning catch, making him an even bigger football hero.

At the same time his team was on its playoff run in late 2007, Burress was $14,471 behind on the local taxes on his house in Virginia Beach, according to city records. That bill has since been paid, city officials said.

After his accident in Florida in May 2008, Burress was sued by the woman he hit after she learned he didn't have car insurance. Allstate said it let his policy lapse because he had neglected to pay his premiums. The case is pending.

Swickle acknowledged Burress has picked up some tickets over the years, but noted that the citations have been relatively minor.

"No drunk driving offenses. No drugs in the car," he said. "Even collectively, I don't see it as a problem."

Even some of his civil court adversaries don't view Burress as a bad person, just an irresponsible one.

"I think he was just an immature screwup," Malin said. The home inspector eventually collected $700 from Burress -- after three years, a bounced check and a lawsuit. The courts couldn't even close the case. Malin said he got paid after a friendly sheriff's deputy with a connection to the Steelers intervened.

Laurenzo is still waiting for his money, but he says he's not too worried.

"I hope he gets his life straightened out and he comes back and plays for the Giants. I love watching him play, he's one of the most gifted wide receivers in the league. If he gets his life straightened out, he could have it all."

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Other info about the kind of person Burress is.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3895217

Updated: February 9, 2009, 5:00 PM ET

Burress has string of debtor lawsuits

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Associated Press

NEW YORK -- To Richard Malin, Plaxico Burress wasn't a customer, he was an ordeal.

It was 2002 when Burress, then playing for the Steelers, hired Malin, a home inspector, to look over a house he was buying in suburban Pittsburgh.

Malin quoted Burress a price of just under $500 and got the job.

He should've turned it down, Malin now says.

When it came time to pay the bill, Burress disappeared. He didn't respond to phone calls or letters. Malin appealed to one of the star's handlers for help, but still no payment. Malin filed a lawsuit, Burress ignored it.

After a judge ruled against the no-show NFL player, he sent Malin a check for $700.

"I got a note from Plaxico saying, 'Sorry for the inconvenience. Please inform the court that the judgment has been paid,' " Malin said.

"Then the check bounced."

It is a familiar story for the 31-year-old New York Giants wide receiver.

Now facing felony gun charges after he accidentally shot himself in the leg with an .40-caliber Glock at a Manhattan nightclub, Burress has a history of being sued over debts a millionaire professional athlete seemingly could have paid.

The Associated Press found that, since Burress joined the NFL in 2000, he has been sued at least nine times by people who said he failed to pay a debt, damaged their car or didn't pay his taxes.

The people seeking payment from the football star run the gamut, from a Pennsylvania homeowners association trying to collect delinquent dues to a Florida woman whose car Burress rear-ended while driving without insurance. Why? He hadn't paid the premium.

The pattern of irresponsible behavior extends beyond unpaid debts, records show.

In his hometown of Virginia Beach, Va., Burress has been fined for reckless driving, noise and public intoxication, and threatened with arrest after he didn't show up in court. Last year in Florida, where he has a home, police twice cited Burress for speeding in the weeks before the car crash, which also earned him a ticket for careless driving.

"Those things happen to people. Until this New York thing, I always thought of him as a very law-abiding person." -- Adam Swickle, Plaxico Burress' lawyer in Florida

Police visited his house in Totowa, N.J., twice last year on domestic dispute calls. His wife was granted temporary restraining orders both times, only to later request they be lifted, according to court records.

Burress faces a March 31 court date stemming from the November shooting, an incident that has jeopardized his future with the Giants, who in September gave Burress a $35 million contract extension. The Giants suspended Burress for the final four games of the season and the incident has cost him $2 million in income, though the NFL players' union has filed two grievances.

His defenders say the trail of legal woes does not define Burress.

"He happens to be a great kid. He really is a good kid," said Adam Swickle, Burress' lawyer in Florida. Swickle said any suggestion that Burress is chronically irresponsible because of his wealth and status "is 100 percent incorrect."

Swickle said there was nothing remarkable about the Florida car accident.

"It's a fender-bender," he said. "Those things happen to people. Until this New York thing, I always thought of him as a very law-abiding person."

Efforts to reach Burress were unsuccessful. He did not respond to an e-mail sent to him Monday. His New York attorney, Benjamin Brafman, declined to comment for this story, citing the pending weapons charges. His agent did not return several phone calls.

Although Burress' creditors say they don't enjoy going to court to collect, he usually pays up, even if it takes a lawsuit or judge to persuade him.

But the list of people left fuming after doing business with Burress is a long one.

"This is a history of him just doing anything he wants to do," said Brian Van Dusen, a Pittsburgh nightlife promoter who sued Burress in 2005 over a debt.

Van Dusen said he had a falling out with Burress midway through the 2004 season, his last in Pittsburgh before he signed with the Giants as a free agent.

The two men had been partners in staging a series of Monday night parties at a Pittsburgh bar featuring Steelers stars, but at some point, according to the promoter, Burress stopped paying his share of the bills. Finally, Van Dusen presented him with an invoice.

"He was drinking. He was talking to the girls. And he ripped it, balled it up, and threw it across the bar!" Van Dusen said. The two men nearly got in a fight, but Van Dusen said he took Burress to court instead and won a judgment when Burress didn't show up for trial. Van Dusen said he ultimately collected only a portion of his expenses.

In the beginning, Van Dusen said, "We were cool. We would hang out. But he just got too big, in his head. Just because you're from the NFL, it doesn't mean you can do anything every which way."

The amounts of the unpaid bills typically have not been large, but that has made no difference when it came time for Burress to pay. In 2002, a Virginia Beach homeowners association sued for $440 in dues. In March 2003, another homeowners association in Moon Township, Pa., sought $890. The school district there sued Burress a few months later for $2,745 in unpaid taxes.

In September of that year, a Tampa auto body shop, German Autohaus, filed suit over an unpaid account. A judge ruled against Burress when he again failed to appear in court.

Once the suits were filed, the cases were settled and paid.

But the pattern didn't end. In March 2005, Burress left the Steelers as a free agent and signed a $25 million contract to play for the Giants.

A few months later, a Pennsylvania car dealer loaned him a sport utility vehicle and said in exchange Burress promised to make publicity appearances at the dealership and sign autographs. But the dealer never got it in writing.

Less than a month later, the truck wound up impounded by New York police.

If he had called and was stand-up about it, man-to-man, it never would have happened. But he wouldn't take my calls.” -- Frederick Laurenzo, on a verbal deal with Burress the car dealer said wasn't honored

Two men were arrested, including Burress' cousin, after officers saw someone in the truck firing guns into the air. The case against the cousin was dropped. The other man pleaded guilty to a weapons charge and was sentenced to time served. Burress signed a statement saying he was at football practice at the time.

Car dealer Frederick Laurenzo spent months trying to get the vehicle back. He spent years trying to get Burress to pay for damage to the truck.

Not surprisingly, the matter landed in court.

"It was the only way I could get him to come here," Laurenzo said. "If he had called and was stand-up about it, man-to-man, it never would have happened. But he wouldn't take my calls."

Laurenzo said he's done similar deals with other professional athletes and never had a problem.

"He's a very likable man, and I wish this had never happened," he said. "But when someone hangs up on you, doesn't return your calls, you get angry. If we could've just talked for two minutes on the phone ... but it was like he was pretending he didn't know me."

In January, a jury ordered Burress to pay $1,700.

In the Giants' Super Bowl victory in 2008, Burress made the game-winning catch, making him an even bigger football hero.

At the same time his team was on its playoff run in late 2007, Burress was $14,471 behind on the local taxes on his house in Virginia Beach, according to city records. That bill has since been paid, city officials said.

After his accident in Florida in May 2008, Burress was sued by the woman he hit after she learned he didn't have car insurance. Allstate said it let his policy lapse because he had neglected to pay his premiums. The case is pending.

Swickle acknowledged Burress has picked up some tickets over the years, but noted that the citations have been relatively minor.

"No drunk driving offenses. No drugs in the car," he said. "Even collectively, I don't see it as a problem."

Even some of his civil court adversaries don't view Burress as a bad person, just an irresponsible one.

"I think he was just an immature screwup," Malin said. The home inspector eventually collected $700 from Burress -- after three years, a bounced check and a lawsuit. The courts couldn't even close the case. Malin said he got paid after a friendly sheriff's deputy with a connection to the Steelers intervened.

Laurenzo is still waiting for his money, but he says he's not too worried.

"I hope he gets his life straightened out and he comes back and plays for the Giants. I love watching him play, he's one of the most gifted wide receivers in the league. If he gets his life straightened out, he could have it all."

This dude will end up broke shortly after his football career ends.These stories represent the epitome of irresponsibility.

What a freaking loser.

 

[Mikey16x]

I've posted it time and time again on the forum, Burress is doing the time. Our mayor is taking this personal, he's been waiting for another thing like this to happen since the P.Diddy incident happened in the NY Nightclub. After that incident he went on a gun control frenzy, not that it's a terrible frenzy to go on. This mayor is out for blood and he was interviewed shortly after the story broke and he said "I don't care who you are, or who you play for, if you have a unregistered gun in my city, your doing time"

NYC gun control is insane. My uncle is has a registered hand-gun in Long Island which is part of Nassau County, he legally couldn't take his gun into NYC, they have their own gun laws. You need a VERY STRICT New York City permit, and I stress the city part to even enter with a hand-gun. Burress is going to do serve the mandatory sentence, I'd bet my net worth on it.

On the flip side as a NYG Homer/Fan, I hope the Giants wash their hands clean and continue to play football. The guy has a questionable work ethic, which the Giants thrive on. I'm wishing everyday the Giants enter the Boldin sweepstakes, he would be an awesome fit, has the talent, drive and work ethic.

 

[Koya]

Just listened to Archie Manning here on the fan in NY - and as I have noted before, Plaxico is NOT a bad teammate, and in fact, according to Archie, is very well LIKED in the Giants locker room. So yes, you have a bunch of childish acts and some selfishness along with a lot of pure stupidity, but this is not a bad person, and certainly not a bad teammate we are talking about. If he can get past the legal issues, I think the Giants will give him one more chance. But that is a big if, and I can see them parting ways regardless depending on how things unfold over the offseaason.

Well. . . . as long as Archie says so.

Archie ain't going to campaign for the guy if he believes him to be a locker room cancer. To be honest, I was surprised at Archie's tone and the apparant goodwill toward Burress by many/most Giants players.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Just listened to Archie Manning here on the fan in NY - and as I have noted before, Plaxico is NOT a bad teammate, and in fact, according to Archie, is very well LIKED in the Giants locker room. So yes, you have a bunch of childish acts and some selfishness along with a lot of pure stupidity, but this is not a bad person, and certainly not a bad teammate we are talking about. If he can get past the legal issues, I think the Giants will give him one more chance. But that is a big if, and I can see them parting ways regardless depending on how things unfold over the offseaason.

Well. . . . as long as Archie says so.

Archie ain't going to campaign for the guy if he believes him to be a locker room cancer. To be honest, I was surprised at Archie's tone and the apparant goodwill toward Burress by many/most Giants players.

Archie's the cancer.