04/18/24
September 10, 2011
Burress Miffed at Coughlin, Manning, Giants Fans: New New York Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress is unhappy with his former coach Tom Coughlin, former teammate Eli Manning and New York Giants fans for the way they responded when he was sent to prison on a gun charge, he told Men's Journal. Manning never visited him in the joint. "I thought he would come see me, but nothing, not a letter, in two years," he said. "I don't want to say it was a slap in the face, but I thought our relationship was better than that." But he's happy now. "It's like I'm more popular now for shooting myself than winning a Super Bowl!" he said. "Maybe they see a guy who made a mistake, but didn't hurt no one but himself."
Vick did something really terrible - illegal and morally wrong. Burress committed a crime only to the extent that he was in NYC. If he was in Virginia, Florida, Texas, or other states, he wouldn't have committed a crime at all. It's hard for me at least to see what lesson Burress was supposed to learn from his incarceration, besides don't have guns in NYC. Vick had a lot of work to do to become a better person, and I'm glad he is doing that. Burress hurt only himself and his family by his poor judgment.
posted by bperk at 02:32 PM on September 10, 2011
We're talking about how they've handled themselves after they got out of prison. Vick is taking care of business and making the most of his opportunity, and Burress is running his mouth.
Wish there was an ex-Giants stooge league in the Dry Tortugas. First two picks in this year's draft would be Tiki and Plaxico.
posted by beaverboard at 02:49 PM on September 10, 2011
Burress is an idiot and his stint in jail taught him absolutely nothing.
He'll continue to shoot himself in the foot for the remainder of his life.
posted by cixelsyd at 03:03 PM on September 10, 2011
If he was in Virginia, Florida, Texas, or other states, he wouldn't have committed a crime at all.
Oh, come on. You know that's not true. You have to have a permit in all of those states to conceal and carry. Let alone the discharging of the weapon in a public place, that's not just an "oops my bad," mistake.
posted by tselson at 09:51 PM on September 10, 2011
Wish him success in the NFL. He needs it.
posted by yerfatma at 01:17 AM on September 11, 2011
You have to have a permit in all of those states to conceal and carry.
He had a permit in Florida, and those states have reciprocity. And, it is illegally to knowingly/willfully discharge firearms in a public place, but he didn't do that.
posted by bperk at 02:26 PM on September 11, 2011
As a holder of a concealed handgun permit in Texas, I can tell you that the officials can charge you for discharging your gun in public...willfully or otherwise. Probably get a reckless endangerment charge as well, which, of course is what he was charged with. Not to mention that it's illegal to carry a gun into an establishment that serves alcohol. In short, to say he was only guilty of being in New York is misguided.
That being said, I can see where he'd be upset at no visits from a guy he thought he had a solid relationship with. Probably not the best that he's publicly venting at this point, but I could see his point.
posted by dviking at 04:30 PM on September 11, 2011
And, it is illegally to knowingly/willfully discharge firearms in a public place, but he didn't do that.
Recklessness is a misdemeanor in many jurisdictions and is often a felony when it involves a weapon that can cause deadly harm.
posted by dfleming at 06:29 PM on September 11, 2011
If anything, we are talking about a misdemeanor in Texas, right? We aren't talking about 2 years in prison. I looked up discharging a weapon in public in Florida and Virginia and didn't see that he committed a crime in them at all. I don't see what he has to be sorry and grovelling about or keeping his head down and playing. He paid a hefty price for his mistake. He shouldn't have to follow the Vick route of doing and saying everything right because they were not starting from the same place. I don't know anyone who is upset or hating on Burress for his "crime."
posted by bperk at 06:45 PM on September 11, 2011
Seeing as you're focused on Florida law, and Burress' concealed carry license was expired (which means his reciprocity would not be valid either), he was in violation of Florida statute 790.01 (2), which is a third-degree felony for carrying a concealed firearm without a valid permit. The statue in Florida says that a third-degree felony in Florida can carry up to a maximum penalty of five years.
posted by dfleming at 08:33 PM on September 11, 2011
And, it is illegally to knowingly/willfully discharge firearms in a public place, but he didn't do that.
He did it by mistake. So, that's just all good then? Look, he spent twenty months in the pokey for accidentally shooting himself in the leg, in a public place with a gun he had no legal right to be hiding in his drawers. If you think that gun laws are too tough, just say so. Otherwise, I just don't get your excuse making for Burress.
posted by tselson at 09:21 PM on September 11, 2011
New York gun laws are harsh, and Burress got a harsh penalty for simple stupidity. But, in reference to this story, I don't think what Burress did has moved him into the you-can't-ever-complain-because-you-are-lucky-and-have-a-lot-of-making-up-to-do category. If he wants to point out that he was hurt by how Manning and Coughlin behaved afterward, then he should. None of what he said was a big surprise because their behavior seems right in character for them.
posted by bperk at 10:25 AM on September 12, 2011
bperk - Michael Vick did not endanger human beings and although I abhor dog fighting and question the moral character of anybody who could find pleasure in the torture of an animal, it is a far cry from what Burress did. What Burress did could have easily resulted in the death or serious injury of another human being or himself. New York gun laws may be strict and harsher than that of other states but that is where he was, and he was treated like any other citizen rather than some rich and coddled athlete. I applaud New York for thatt. Is that was is pissing you off?
As for Manning and Coughlin cutting him loose, that is their right. The right not to associate or be friends with criminal ass holes.
posted by Atheist at 03:02 PM on September 13, 2011
and he was treated like any other citizen rather than some rich and coddled athlete. I applaud New York for thatt. Is that was is pissing you off?
That's bullshit. The mayor singled him out and urged his full prosecution. That is not being treated like any other citizen.
posted by bperk at 03:12 PM on September 13, 2011
People can say what they want about Mike Vick, but compare his post-incarceration conduct to that of Burress.
Vick hasn't been perfect since he returned to the league, but he's still the gold standard compared to a wing nut like Plaxico.