One week after a hearing in his pending criminal case was continued (again) by three months, receiver Plaxico Burress is no closer to joining a new team.
Part of the problem is that Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau suggested last week that Burress could be indicted in July and tried before the end of the 2009 season on felony weapons charges, notwithstanding lawyer Benjamin Brafman’s contention that his calendar won’t permit him to schedule a trial before March.
But there’s a separate hurdle. Even though Commissioner Roger Goodell previously has suggested that action won’t be taken against Burress until the criminal case is resolved, there’s now a sense that Goodell might suspend Burress before the case is resolved.
Regardless of whether the personal conduct policy permits a suspension without a conviction or a guilty plea, we think that the league office should make a quick decision to suspend or not suspend Burress.
Until then, Burress is twisting in the wind, with no team pursuing him seriously because no one knows what Commissioner Roger Goodell will do.
Setting aside whether Burress is guilty (he surely seems to be) or whether he will be suspended (he likely deserves to be), we think it is fair to let Burress know where he stands.
We also think that the NFL Players Association should be doing everything in its power to obtain a final decision. The league office has all of the information that it needs — Burress shot himself with an unlicensed and loaded weapon, in violation of New York law. If he’s going to be suspended before his trial, then he needs to be suspended now. Otherwise, he needs to be told that he won’t be suspended until his case is resolved.
Under the present circumstances, the lack of a decision operates as a de facto suspension, since no one is going to touch Burress until an announcement is made regarding whether and to what extent he’ll be prevented from playing at the outset of the 2009 season.
Union Should Demand A Decision On Plaxico Suspension
Posted by Mike Florio on June 22, 2009, 11:17 PM EST
17 Responses to “Union Should Demand A Decision On Plaxico Suspension”
true that.True all that.
“Regardless of whether the personal conduct policy permits a suspension without a conviction or a guilty plea”
Ask Pacman Jones about that.
“Under the present circumstances, the lack of a decision operates as a de facto suspension, since no one is going to touch Burress until an announcement is made”
Nobody should touch him anyway. Get a real job, punk.
I ask again…what happened to the big shot NY Gov. who popped off and said he would see that this case was pushed along…guess he doesn’t have as much juice as he thought…
Part of the price he pays for being stupid
Beltran being on the DL is hilarious. That guy gets paid ARod money to play like Andy Van Slyke.
“Until then, Burress is twisting in the wind, with no team pursuing him seriously because no one knows what Commissioner Roger Goodell will do.”
Given Burress’ behavior since he has entered the league, the phrase, “couldn’t happen to a nicer guy” comes to mind. Having said that, you’re right Florio. The union should be all over this. No point in having a union if there isn’t going to be any representation. NFLPA is not doing it’s job here.
Nice article.
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Karen Walter
workouts
If he wants a decision he should tell his lawyer to get his finger out and get on with the trial ….
Why would the union have anything to say about a stupid player like
Plaxico Burress who reportedly has turned down several plea deals
that would require him to do jail time? Police have the gun registered
to Burress, the whole in his leg and the fact that Burress didn’t have
a licence in New York but had an expired licence in Florida. Burress
is the one that has to start making decisions that make sense. The
Attorney for Burress, Benjamin Brafman is creative enough to take
himself off the case which would allow his client more time before
a trial date can be set. The Mayor Michael Bloomberg has enough
power and Brafman has a crazy enough client (Burress) that the
the defense attorney may want to pull himself off this one….and so
it may go if the D.A.’s office attempts to take this case to trial prior
to the end of the 2009 season. However the stupid decision was
made by Burress that causes his de facto suspension.
1. Plaxico if he really wants a determination, should stop doing everything in his power to delay a trial (or he should accept a plea). This “accident” happened almost a year ago. As long as he strings this out, the league should do everything to not help him find his next job.
Besides, if he wasn’t such a turd, the Giants would have stuck by him. Remember, it took them 6 months after the shooting before they finally cut him. (and that was because he wasn’t coming in for treatment; kept getting arrested and sued for other events, etc.)
2. Unions exist to protect the weakest members – which many times is an insult and disservice to the solid employees. The union would stand up for Plax, not because he is a fine upstanding citizen, but because he is a member. (Personally this is one of my pet peaves about why unions are outdated).
3. Mayor Bloomberg, who has continued Rudy’s tough on crime policies did make a strong statement about no celebrity justice. But at the end of the day, the New York County (Manhattan) DA’s office does not come under his oversight, and the DA is an elected official – who recently announced his retirement (although I am not sure he didn’t die a few years ago. He does look like the cryptkeeper). At the end of the day it is the DA’s office, not the Mayor who will make the final decision on what (if anything) to offer Plax.
The league should be all over this, but Goodell doesn’t have to do anything till he wants to make a decision.
I really dont think the union wants to start demanding Goodell hurry up and decide on a punishment. It just might piss him off and drop the hammer down even harder. Besides that, the union has absolutely no say on when the Commish can levey punishment, they only have a right to bitch about the outcome.
I want to see players play football, Goodell needs to realize that softening up the game and suspending players for their actions outside their “office” is pretty ridiculous, it wouild be a massive labor case if my employer suspended me or fired me for something that had absolutely nothing to do with my job. Goodell needs to stop acting like he is God and get to the real business of creating long term labor peace, i am getting really annoyed at his constant muscle flexing and the lack of response from his lap dogs in the union
Good, he should twist in the wind.
The league does not HAVE to make a decision at this time because he is not employed by the league at this time. When and if someone decides to sign him, then the league will have to make a decision. Until then, Goodell should tell the union to go spit.
Soflaeagle1 says, “I want to see players play football. Goodell needs to
realize the softening up the game and suspending players for their actions
outside their “office” is pretty rediculous”
Well Soflaeagle1, I think to a degree Goodell should learn to stay out of
issues like when someone shoots themself by accident even though a
law has been broken. However when a player goes out and kills some
one while driving drunk, gets involved in illegal drugs or beats up their
wife or girlfriend the NFL brand can be affected and harm future and
present NFL contracts….so there are times when the Commissioner
does need to take decisive action. In the Burress case he really does
not need to get involved. Certainly the team suspension and the lack
of a market at present for his services due to legal troubles should
suffice.
Disagree there Mikey!
If Burress didn’t want to be left twisting in the wind, then his lawyer shouldn’t have kept asking for all these continuances. Three times already and he says his schedule won’t be clear until next March. If Burress wants a decision, then the judge should say, Hey trial is set for Nov 09. Mr Brafman, we’d like you to attend, but if not, we’ll carry on without you.
It’s Burress/Brafman’s fault that there is no decision, therefore they reap the benefits ( or non-benefits) of their actions.
promichael says:
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Soflaeagle1 says, “I want to see players play football. Goodell needs to
realize the softening up the game and suspending players for their actions
outside their “office” is pretty rediculous”
Well Soflaeagle1, I think to a degree Goodell should learn to stay out of
issues like when someone shoots themself by accident even though a
law has been broken. However when a player goes out and kills some
one while driving drunk, gets involved in illegal drugs or beats up their
wife or girlfriend the NFL brand can be affected and harm future and
present NFL contracts….so there are times when the Commissioner
does need to take decisive action. In the Burress case he really does
not need to get involved. Certainly the team suspension and the lack
of a market at present for his services due to legal troubles should
suffice.
promichael says:
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Soflaeagle1 says, “I want to see players play football. Goodell needs to
realize the softening up the game and suspending players for their actions
outside their “office” is pretty rediculous”
Well Soflaeagle1, I think to a degree Goodell should learn to stay out of
issues like when someone shoots themself by accident even though a
law has been broken. However when a player goes out and kills some
one while driving drunk, gets involved in illegal drugs or beats up their
wife or girlfriend the NFL brand can be affected and harm future and
present NFL contracts….so there are times when the Commissioner
does need to take decisive action. In the Burress case he really does
not need to get involved. Certainly the team suspension and the lack
of a market at present for his services due to legal troubles should
suffice.
promichael says:
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Soflaeagle1 says, “I want to see players play football. Goodell needs to
realize the softening up the game and suspending players for their actions
outside their “office” is pretty rediculous”
Well Soflaeagle1, I think to a degree Goodell should learn to stay out of
issues like when someone shoots themself by accident even though a
law has been broken. However when a player goes out and kills some
one while driving drunk, gets involved in illegal drugs or beats up their
wife or girlfriend the NFL brand can be affected and harm future and
present NFL contracts….so there are times when the Commissioner
does need to take decisive action. In the Burress case he really does
not need to get involved. Certainly the team suspension and the lack
of a market at present for his services due to legal troubles should
suffice.
promichael says:
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Soflaeagle1 says, “I want to see players play football. Goodell needs to
realize the softening up the game and suspending players for their actions
outside their “office” is pretty rediculous”
Well Soflaeagle1, I think to a degree Goodell should learn to stay out of
issues like when someone shoots themself by accident even though a
law has been broken. However when a player goes out and kills some
one while driving drunk, gets involved in illegal drugs or beats up their
wife or girlfriend the NFL brand can be affected and harm future and
present NFL contracts….so there are times when the Commissioner
does need to take decisive action. In the Burress case he really does
not need to get involved. Certainly the team suspension and the lack
of a market at present for his services due to legal troubles should
suffice.
****
Promichael, to date – Goodell has never taken decisive action. He has always said that he will defer after this happens. Or Vick needs to “show remorse” or that they are suspended indefinitely. MAKE A DAMN DECISION ROGER.
I am starting to think that Goodell is as much a narcissist as Favre.