Plaxico Decides to Face Grand Jury

NFL News - July 28th, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

After lengthy discussions between NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress and his attorney Benjamin Brafman, Burress has decided to go to trial and face the Grand Jury in New York City. The court appearance will be Wednesday at 10:00 am and New York City police officials have taken extra security precautions at the court house, as most believe the media will turn the event into a mad house.

Plaxico Burress was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and can be penalized up to 3 and a half years in a New York state prison. His bail was set at $100,000 and Plaxico has already posted bail the reason he is a free man at the moment. Brafman Plaxico's attorney has decided to got to trial, do to the public comments made by Manhattan district attorney Robert Morgenthau. ESPN reports Brafman said "My concern is that the comments by the district attorney's office may have irreparably prejudiced those proceedings," "I am now considering the legal options available to respond."

Bradford has decide to take this position of entering a grand jury for the purpose of allowing Plaxico Burress the opportunity to tell the grand jury his side of the story. "There are many mitigating circumstances in this case," Bradford said earlier today, and later said "First, the gun was not used in the commission of a crime. The only victim here was Plaxico Burress. And the gun was registered in the state of Florida, which has reciprocating registration agreements in 32 states. My client was under the impression that the same was the case in the city of New York."

The District Attorneys office and Burress's legal team have deliberated for weeks now, trying to figure out away to skip the trial process. Burress agreed to serve a year in state jail but the prosecutors would not except less than a 2 year sentence, for the ex New York Giants wide receiver.

Plaxico Burress not only faces punishment by the state of New York but the NFL and commissioner Rodger Goodell will likely restrict Burress from playing in the NFL in the same way that Michael Vick is reportedly suspended up to 6 games this season. The New York Giants released Burress in April of this year and the wide receiver has yet to sign a contract with another NFL team. after serving what critics believe will be a three year sentence Burress will be 34 years of age and looking to play football. Burress might not have a chance to play football again if he has to serve a full three years. It is hard for any player to find a spot on a 53 man NFL roster at the age of 34.