BRADSHAW WAS THE THIRD GIANT

Tiki Barber of NBC reports that Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw was the third member of the team who was present at the Latin Quarter night club in Manhattan when receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself. Police were (and still might be) under the impression that the third Giant was running back Derrick Ward. Barber reports that Bradshaw, while present, wasn’t involved in the incident. But to the extent that Bradshaw is on probation of any kind in relation to the incident that resulted in an unexpected one-month prison term during the offseason, the fact that he was at the club could at a minimum compel him to answer some tough questions -- especially since most probation arrangements compel the individual to steer clear of alcohol (and, possibly, establishments that serve alcoholic beverages). Barber also reports that it’s not clear whether the hospital at which Burress received treatment reported the gunshot wound. As we mentioned earlier in the day, New York law requires medical facilities to report such matters promptly. Tiki also mentions something about which we previously hadn’t heard, and to which we can find no reference via an Internet search. Per Barber, Giants receiver Steve Smith was robbed last week at gunpoint outside his home. That incident might have prompted Burress to decide that he needed to carry the gun in order to keep himself from getting shot. Little did Burress know that this decision would result in getting himself shot, by himself, and losing (per Peter King) as much as $23 million in future payments under his contract with the Giants.