Plaxico's Stupidity Not A Shocker
The Giants have all been pretty much on the same page in trying to defend their Super Bowl title this year.
Except for Plaxico Burress. He's not even on the same page, in the same book or within five blocks of the same library.
Nope, Plax -- who apparently went Barney Fife on himself Friday night -- is following his own program in 2008.
Shot himself. In the leg. On accident, as the kids would say.
I ask who among us, if given three guesses to name the recipient of a bullet in the leg Friday night, wouldn't have made Plaxico choice one or two?
I'm aware this is the portion of the program when we're supposed to cover our mouths, gasp and thank goodness Plaxico's OK. We're supposed hold off on the head-shaking and snickering for a day or two while the situation marinates.
Sorry. When you engage in consistent stupidity you forfeit the empathy that's afforded to those who don't do dumb stuff on the regular. If, say, Matthias Kiwanuka, Eli Manning or Amani Toomer shot themselves in the quad, real shock and concern would follow. How? Why? Will he be OK?
With Burress it goes right from, "Will he be OK?" to "Moron."
How will this affect the 10-1 Giants who have been the league's best team this season? Not much. They're by now accustomed to the minor dust storms that Burress kicks up. As one Giant told me on the day New York beat Seattle 44-6 (Burress was suspended that day), "Do you think anyone gives a (poop) if he's here or not?"
Burress has done a nice job bungling the goodwill he engendered in 2007. That was when he played well and in pain, seemingly growing up and leaving behind the brooding, mumbling, image-conscious persona he cultivated at Michigan State, Pittsburgh and in his early days with the Giants. He caught the game-winning touchdown in a Super Bowl that will be discussed for decades.
But now, when people see that replay of him cradling the winning catch against the Patriots, they'll remember that within a year, Burress had become a pain in the posterior to the Giants and a pain in the thigh to himself.
It's also worth noting that Burress' behavior since getting the new contract he agitated for (a two-year extension to the six-year, $25 million deal he signed in 2005) does nothing to help the rest of his colleagues in the NFL. The trump card management holds over labor in the NFL is that contracts are not guaranteed. When a player like Burress gets a new deal then proceeds to pee all over the organization that gave it to him, it hurts all players. It's bad for business.
Burress, it's already being speculated, will only be laid low for a short period with his gunshot wound.
And now, as details emerge that Burress was in a Manhattan night club when his gun went off, he may also be laid low by the authorities. Toting heat in a place serving alcohol without a license and discharging a firearm in public are - generally - frowned upon activities in New York around the holidays.
Illegal possession of a weapon carries a mandatory 3.5 year jail sentence in New York, though there's little doubt a star football player will be able to wiggle off that hook whether because of his celebrity or the weight his employers can swing around.
On the bright side for Plaxico, he won't have to travel far with his bandaged leg to visit NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in his Park Avenue office to discuss the incident which could very well end up in a suspension.
That could take a while to play out. But whether Burress contributes much or not to New York remains to be seen. Given the way New York's played with his intermittent 2008 participation it probably doesn't matter much. This season, the Giants seem pretty bulletproof. Even if Plax's thigh isn't.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Plaxico's Stupidity Not A Shocker.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blogs.nbcsports.com/system/mt-tb.cgi/10614
25 Comments
Leave a comment
About this blog
Drilling deeply into the mantle layer of America's Passion, NBCSports.com's Tom Curran offers up quick hits and insights on all things NFL.
what an as shole!
Ya' know somethin'? Since this idiot isn't on my Fantasy Football team - I really don't care what he does to himself - honestly, I don't care. The only reason I even read about him and his ignorance is to see who I can pickup as a fantasy player. If this idiot shot his leg completely off - I don't care. These idiots (him and the other idiot - Michael Vick) could drop off the face of this earth and it would only change the world for the better. And, I would not care.
The "inmates" clearly run the " asylum" known as the NFL; he'll be back with or without a suspension! What a shame, the commish either doesn't have the authority, or refuses to exercise it, to root out these ANIMALS from the league once and for all!!!!
trust me, the commish will be all over this...Plax will get a suspension for sure! The commish hates the gun drama of the NFL and he will do something about it....Plax's previous behaviour proves it.
just another spartan exercising his criminal tendancies!
I assume there is a clause in his contrat stipulating financial penalties for dangerous and/or illegal behavior, and I hope the Giants exercise it and take back some of his signing bonus. Its like Plax is single-handedly trying to ensure the Giant's don't make another Superbowl run!
If these animals want to act thug like, carry guns, kill each other,I have a great idea.
Let's ship them off to Iraq.
Give them all the guns and ammo they need.
One exception, please let's give them a one way trip ticket.
Then we won't have hear of their animalistic behavior ever again
Oh, and the Commissioner doing absolutely anything about it, don't hold your breath.
He has not located his manhood in many years.
What happened to the players of the 60's.
They valued morals, and that it was a gift to perform in the NFL, not an entitilement
Until the fans demand that the punks, gang-bangers, narcos and egomaniacs of pro football lose their right to play this game then it is going to continue. The commish has owners and sponsors carrying his nads around in their man-purses and he isn't going to boot a multi-million dollar property out of the league. Trash sales in America today. Honor, decency and intelligence is looked at as a weakness. The owners seem to prefer thugs and bangers and that is because they are honorless and classless as the players they put on the field. Besides, if the Giants did grow a set and cut this mental midget then Jerry Jones and the Cowboys would scoop him up to add to the traveling prison-block they have built. Pac-Man and Plax-Man on the same team.
...i'm just glad he's not a "steeler"-dumba$$ loser.
he should be in the nba
the commissoner is not going to do anything, the current nfl gun policy is that the player cannot bring their weapon to any NFL organized events(games, practices, etc...).
This situation happened at a nightclub not at an NFL event, therefore the commissoner has no affect on giving Plax a suspension.
Marcus, your comments are fantastic!!! AND yhey are so entertaining! NBC should pay you to play davil's advocate on these boards, because you're a hoot!!!!!
I feel sorry for so many men who feel inferior to other men because if they had high self-esteem, they would not reduce themselves to calling another human being an animal. This only displays lack of intelligence and a ‘Hater’ phenomenon that plagues society at all levels (Bob Costas is the leader of the pact!).
Have any of the men who have posted to this blog played professional sports?
Understand that these are men who are very talented. They make mistakes just like you and I. The reason we never can keep good people in key positions is that we always want them to be faultless. The only person that met this criterion was Jesus!
Felicia, "good men in key positions"? I would guess that your reference is to Plaxico Burress? What exactly qualifies or quantifies Plaxico Burress to be labeled good? A touchdown catch? He broke the law Felicia. Laws that are intended to protect you, me and Plaxico. Do you really think that because someone has talent that they are above the law? That's what it sounds like from here. What in the world are you talking about? What, oh those hijackers should be understood, they're just good people that made a mistake? Let everyone out of prison because they're just good people that made mistakes? Or maybe the misunderstood man in Arkansas that beat that female news anchor to death should be forgiven? He just made a mistake? Sounds like you are a few cards short of playing with a full deck. But, for what it's worth, I forgive you.
Mr. Kelly, can you comment on the blogs before mine that call Mr. Burress an "animal?" What would provoke this type of statement?
Lastly, an 8 year old boy killed his father and another man and may have all charges dropped. I find that ironic. This little boy has displayed serial-killer tendencies. Is this little boy an "animal?"
A man who did not have hunting license shot and killed his own son recently in MN. He had been smoking marijuana also. The father is not serving anytime but probation.
Is this man an "animal?"
Plaxico Burress shot himself.
The law picks and chooses whom to convict.
You should read more - remember, ignorance is a choice.
Buress should have bought a gun with a safety. Glocks don't have one. Just more empasis that he really is stupid
The GIANTS don't need him.
Let "Bang" go bye bye!
Felicia is right. Comparing Plaxico to an animal is just wrong. No animal should be so insulted. Animals have more intelligence & higher ethics & morals. Even comparing him to pond scum would be an insult to pond scum, which serves a purpose in the circle of life, unlike Plaxico. Sadly, sports doesn't have a lock on such types. Many are in banking, finance, government, & among the electorate.
you are an idiot
To to comment about sending them to me in Iraq..if they can't handle a pistol by themselves, I don't want them standing next to me with a machine gun haha
And Felicia: Why are you defending him? Did he make you money off that catch last year? He broke the law. Sure, some people weasel out if jail with a slap on the wrist. Do you really see Burress spending 3 years in jail? He'll get out of it too. Either way, he's in the wrong
eventually darwin will win..the stupid will eradicate themselves :D
None of you have answered my questions?
Some of you have called Mr. Burress an animal - in what context should this be comprehended?
Dear Felicia:
Plaxico Burress is a jackass. There.
Best believe that the commish will be all over this. Have you forgotten Pacman jones suspension. That happened at a night club in Las Vegas during the NBA allstar weekend. He will be suspended for sure.
As you can see Felicia I don't refer to human beings as animals. I am also not responsible for other peoples posts. I can tell you that whatever behavior a person exhibits is their responsibility. What some 'Pot smoking' guy in Minnesota does should be judged upon its own merits. It's a normal defense to begin to deflect criticism to another's poor behavior to avoid responsibility for our own. I stand by what I said, if what has been reported is true, then Plaxico Burriss broke the law. I don't care how you wish to represent it. His behavior is his and his alone. Let me ask you Felicia. If you needed to take a gun to go out to a club would you go? I certainly would not. If I need to have a gun to enjoy myself I'd much rather stay home. And something else, you called out people for being judgmental and then you judged Bob Costas; is he somehow immune from forgiveness in your world? I appreciate having a difference of opinion. I realize that just because I think or feel that something is one way, that I'm not infallible. But I'm not two faced either. If you say it's good for Plaxico, but not For Costas, then you may have an agenda? Anyway, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.
The primary point here is not an analogy to animals. The entire point is that Mr. Burriss was carrying a firearm without a corresponding license into a public gathering which was clearly against the law. Then to top it off, he was doing something, what is yet to be clear, with the gun so that it discharged in this public arena. The only good I can see is that the single shot hit Mr. Burriss and not another person in the club. The arogance to believe that laws do not apply to him does not trump the laws that protect everyone, including the ones arogant enough to thumb their noses at that law. He should serve the maximum time for this willful disregard for law, public safety, and the rules of common sense. Unfortunatly, most of you are right, his celebrity status and a well paid lawyer will most likely get him off with only a fine. How do we explain these outcomes to the youth of today who will become the celebrities and leaders of tomorrow?