We’ve been hearing for weeks now that former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress flatly has rejected opportunities to resolve criminal charges that could put him away for a minimum of 3.5 years, even though Burress would do far less time by pleading guilty to a lesser charge.
Bob Papa, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Giants and one of the hosts of Sirius NFL Radio’s The Opening Drive, elaborated on the situation today.
“This is what I’ve been told and what I’ve heard,” Papa said on the air. “They worked out something where they had it down to about a three-month jail term with actually only two months served and about 1,500 hours of community service. And I think his lawyers felt that they had a pretty good deal. He doesn’t want to go to jail at all. He shot down the deal. . . . He does not want to go to jail at all. So now coming up in another couple of weeks we’re gonna find out what’s gonna happen. But my guess is that the city of New York is not gonna back off any kind of jail time.
“Evidently, he’s gonna have to go to Riker’s Island,” Papa added. “He’s deathly afraid of going. . . . [I]f he would have just taken the deal when it originally was offered it would all be over with by now. But supposedly the community service hours and the jail time are not appealing to him. He does not understand that he is not in any kind of position of leverage. He has no leverage. He — not his representatives — he thinks he has leverage.”
Papa is right on the money. No one wants to go to jail. But when Door Number One entails two months and Door Number Two most likely will slide open to reveal a minimum of 39 42 months, the decision should be easy.
Then again, nothing is ever easy when it comes to Plaxico Burress.
Apparently, he thinks that lawyer Benjamin Brafman will be able to do for him what Brafman did for Sean P. Diddy Puff Daddy Puffy Hufflepuff Bo Diddley Combs, securing an acquittal on identical charges.
But there are two key differences between the two cases. For Combs, the unlicensed and loaded weapon that he allegedly had in his possession didn’t fire a bullet into his thigh. More importantly, Brafman destroyed on cross examination the witnesses who claimed that Combs pointed a gun at them.
For Burress, Exhibit A is the scar from where the bullet entered his leg. Exhibit B is the scar from where it exited. Add a dash of testimony from folks like former teammate Antonio Pierce who’ll confirm that the scars were obtained when a gun in Plax’s possession went off inside a Manhattan night club, and no amount of legal hocus pocus or mumbo jumbo or Chewbacca defenses will keep a reasonable jury from concluding that Burress is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
In America, our inalienable rights include the right to irrevocably screw up our lives. Unless someone can talk some sense into Burress soon, he’s about to provide a high-profile manifestation of that right.
Bob Papa: Burress Is "Deathly Afraid" Of Going To Jail
Posted by Mike Florio on May 28, 2009, 11:14 AM EDT
56 Responses to “Bob Papa: Burress Is "Deathly Afraid" Of Going To Jail”
IDIOT!!
*insert sodomy joke here*
Plax is still proving he’s a complete idiot. You would think, what with his wife being a lawyer, she would be able to get it through his thick head that he has zero leverage. I mean, he shot himself in the leg, in public. It’s pretty hard to deny something like that, but Plax is giving his best shot. (Oops)
I would be scared too. We have all seen OZ, we know what it is like.
“scrub scrub here scrub scrub there, whether your white or bronzed. Where a man can scrub another mans back in the merry old land of OZ.”
-Great family Guy clip.
oh, I got a couple:
Maybe he’s nervous because the guys at Rykers heard he was a wide receiver.
Maybe he doesn’t want to go to jail because he’ll be the receiver but he won’t be the one going deep.
Maybe he’s worried about prison time because the hole in his leg won’t be the one his cellmates are interested in seeing.
I wonder if a regular citizen would be able to successfully get a mandatory 3 1/2 years reduced to approx. 2 months to serve. Therein lies the problem with our justice system, money, athletic ability, etc, get you a playing field that regular folks do not normally get.
Don’t you mean 42 months? You wrote “3.5 years”, then you wrote “39 months”. I’m not trying to split hairs, I genuinely want to know which is correct. Three months extra in prison is no joke…
Stupid people deserve stupid sh*t!
Have ye anything to say James Harrison?
Maybe he’s seen Shawshank Redemption too many times. Lets get Morgan Freeman to do a voice-over for his perpwalk across the prison yard!
I remember the first time I saw Plaxico Burress…
“and Door Number Two most likely will slide open to reveal a minimum of 39 months”
I read in a magazine that 3 1/2 years normally equals 42 months, but thanks for clearing that up! The internet exposes the truth again!
Ridiculous!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBe-eYM0fGc
Aren’t plea deals supposed to be used for getting at the bigger target, by offering the deal to a lesser figure whose testimony can put the bigger target away? In this case, there’s only one guy who is indefensibly guilty of the charges, so why is there a plea deal offered ANYWAY? It’s because he’s another “celebrity” thug, and for that reason, he must be offered a deal to plead guilty to something he’s undoubtedly guilty for, would be FOUND guilty for, and should bear the brunt of the penalty, except for the fact that he’s a thug “celebrity”. Where is justice in this country anymore?
I remember that time Plax caught a pass and fell down and he was too stupid to realize he was in the NFL and the play wasn’t over yet and he stood up and spiked the ball. Hilarious. And then he figures that’s not dumb enough, that he should raise the stakes, and carries a loaded gun with the safety off in his sweatpants. Good times, good times.
What a f-king moron.
I’m sick of people with money and fame thinking they are above the law. I hope he goes to jail much longer now for turning down reasonable deals thinking he’s going to get off completely just because of who he is and the size of his wallet.
Can’t he avoid jail by doing what soldiers who were deathly afraid of combat would do and just shoot himself in the thigh?
“Door Number Two most likely will slide open to reveal a minimum of 39 months, the decision should be easy.”
Umm, are you sure you’re not referring to his door number two sliding open to reveal greatness to the person that is behind him?
FYI – a Glock 40 does not have a safety but rather a double trigger that you have to pull hard to fire. Plax is definitely an idiot that deserves 3.5 years….
Noreaga, the rapper, put it best:
“Yo, you might be illin’,
You might be wildin’, but, uh,
You won’t be smilin’ on Riker’s Island.”
Noreaga – 40 Island
EverybodyGotAIDS says:
May 28th, 2009 at 11:27 am
oh, I got a couple:
Maybe he’s nervous because the guys at Rykers heard he was a wide receiver.
Maybe he doesn’t want to go to jail because he’ll be the receiver but he won’t be the one going deep.
Maybe he’s worried about prison time because the hole in his leg won’t be the one his cellmates are interested in seeing.
******
Kidekk says:
May 28th, 2009 at 11:41 am
“Door Number Two most likely will slide open to reveal a minimum of 39 months, the decision should be easy.”
Umm, are you sure you’re not referring to his door number two sliding open to reveal greatness to the person that is behind him?
*****
Well played sir(s)!
Are you f_cking kidding me PLax, seriously? You walk around like Billy Bad Ass, you act like a gangsta, you have no respect for authority, and you turn into a little girl when you have to actually stand before “the man”. Atleast if he took the deal, and served his 2 months, he might actually get some street cred, instead of pretending he has some
I don’t blame him; a tall, slender fella with an extra hole would be popular in the joint…
I guess this should be what is expected of a moron. He has 2 options.
A) Take the deal, server 2 months, do your community service, sign with a new team in time to play this year, and continue making that money.
B) Go to trial, be found guilty, serve 3.5 years, never play in the NFL again, never make millions of dollars again, get divorced while you are in jail, lose custody of your children, lose half of what you have earned in your career, pay an asinine amount of money in child support, and work at the BK lounge for the rest of your life.
Is there really a decision here????? I would say it is a no brainer, but Plax has no brain, and cant figure it out, so I guess that phrase should be eliminated
FISH! FISH! FISH! FISH! FISH!FISH!
And remember, don’t give nasty Nate your fruit cup or you will have to give it to him every day and you won’t get your nourishment.
@olcap:
Not always. Plea deals are often used to essentially end a trial, saving lots of time and money for all involved. Plus, it is guaranteed punishment; it is still possible Plax will not be found guilty if this goes to trail (I cannot see how, but OJ taught me anything is possible).Granted, this plea deal was significant in that it reduced his jail time quite a bit, but the fact a plea deal was offered is not that strange.
@ olcap – plea deals are offer more frequently now to avoid tying up time and money in the judicial process. if a deal can be worked out (if it makes sense for the prosecution), they will push for it so no one has to waste any unnecessary time or money.
I’m sure he will be secluded from the general population as a
celebrity figure. Someone needs to talk to Plaxico and advise
him that he’s risking the balance of his career. I nominate Jim
Brown the HOF running back from the Cleveland Browns. Jim
served time for slapping around his wife. Jim will be able to
tell Plaxico, If you do the crime you need to do the time.
really tho, it would be totally humiliating for him to serve jail time. how much respect do you think a guy who accidently shoots himself gets in jail? he will be a joke and the ridicule would be endless. that’s got to be the main reason he won’t accept any amount of time there
“supposedly the community service hours and the jail time are not appealing to him”
Really ? Not appealing ? Honestly ? Wow with the rush of people trying to take their vacations at Rykers Island instead of Disneland who’d a thunk it ?
But hey if he wants to try the Mike Vick defense more power to him.
how can you be deathly afraid of something and do things that bring what you are supposedly deathly afraid of to your front door???
“Sean P. Diddy Puff Daddy Puffy Hufflepuff Bo Diddley Combs”
Is this your idea of comedy, Florio? Seriously?
What was, being the team equipment manager like back in high school?
TransplantedFan wins the copy of “QB Of The Future” for the next year.
Wow, already knew this guy was an idiot, but wow. Talk about living in denial. This guy is such a retard he’s about to sabotage his own NFL career, and in a span of less than 6 months. Sure, it’s sad in a way, but also strangely fascinating.
I am also mildly encouraged that these thugs (Burress, Vick) no longer seem to be getting a get out of jail free card. Welcome to society.
He “shot down the deal” ha ha!
“Door Number Two most likely will slide open to reveal a minimum of 39 months, the decision should be easy.”
Some prefer Syrup, some jelly. Hope he likes salad.
if you don’t want to go to jail, don’t break the law.
the city has a pretty well-known rule regarding gun laws. It is plaxico’s fault he didn’t take the time to follow the rules.
he needs to go to jail to learn his lesson. he may not like it, but i guarantee you he won’t break that law again… lesson learned
BUBBA WILL HAVE ALL THE LEVERAGE!!!
Speaking of Puff Daddy …
I wonder if Plax enjoys fishsticks.
You go into Rikers as a tight end, and emerge as a wide receiver.
Is there such a thing as a wider receiver?
texasPHINSfan,
Well said, although I’m not completely sure that he would learn his lesson. We’re talking about someone that’s dumb enough to pull a Cheddar Bob. You’ve got to be pretty hard headed and/or stupid to do all that he’s done.
Will he be converting to TE on the prison squad?
This just in : Sean Combs changed his name again to P. Puff Diddly Dang Doodle.
Look how gangsta he is now. “I’m afraid of jail.”
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.
Correction Flexi-ass.
All Hail! Emancipation by Chewbaccafication!!!!!
You forgot Puff Pop Poppa Diddy Pop.
“In America, our inalienable rights include the right to irrevocably screw up our lives.”
I like this. I’m going to steal it. Just giving you fair warning.
@ Bubba Maximus
I love fishsticks.I love putting fishsticks in my mouth.
See the Silly Chewbacca…he’s so silly….
Priceless!!!
NYC is very strict about illegal firearms which is why the crime rate here has been dropping steadily. There is no deal that can be worked out with them that will get him from serving some kind of time. The mayor already was furious that this happened and said that there will be jail time. The 2 months offer he got was a sweetheart deal. Once they reject that then thats it, he will wind up doing an entire year at least. He could have served his sentence and been out in time for the season to start . Goodell would probably give him 4 games but now hes looking at missing at least an entire season. Way to go Plax.
I would not want to go to Rikers Island either. Thats why I dont carry a loaded fire arm with me when i go out in the city! he acts like they would stick him in general population anyway. I highly doubt that. My guess is they would put him in the mental ward by himself and away from any kind of gang violence. Hes lucky they arent coming after him harder. This guy is one of the all time biggest idiots
An NFL player of his stardom would never make it to general population, so what is he worried about? Go spend 2 months in solitary with no worries at all, then come out and be a free man.
I hope they get mad and press for the max now.
“I hope they get mad and press for the max now.”
Or even for the minimum. What’s the point of mandatory minima if prosecutors routinely sidestep them?
If we’re going to implement mandatory minima, they should come with a ‘this is the minimum if you plead guilty, this is the (greater) minimum if a jury finds you guilty’. As a non-lawyer, I’m trying to figure out why this isn’t routinely done — there might be an equal protection issue in there, I guess, but my stronger guess is that politicians never face the fact that 90% of sentences are the result of plea deals, and so don’t take it into account when creating criminal laws.
fordman84 says:
May 28th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
An NFL player of his stardom would never make it to general population, so what is he worried about? Go spend 2 months in solitary with no worries at all, then come out and be a free man.
I hope they get mad and press for the max now.
—————————————
Amen. Since Plax seems have to rejected their BAFO (Best and Final Offer) he deserves whatever he gets.
As Beretta used to say, “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.”
“Is there such a thing as a wider receiver? ”
Ultimately, he’ll be a split end.
Always remeber Plax, Gun control is a steady hand!
thumbs up
My feeling is he will catch more balls in 2 months at Rikers than he did his NFL whole career…
And you wonder why he was cut by the Giants
2 months or 42 months and he is taking a chance of a trial
What a fool
He would be a hero in Jail big time football player he would be treated like a king