Giants receiver Burress suffers gunshot wound
New York Giants Team says shooting was accidental

BY TOM CANAVAN

Published: November 30, 2008

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was accidentally shot in the right thigh and spent the night in the hospital.

An accidental shooting is another incident involving the New York Giants’ star receiver, Plaxico Burress. AP Photo

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The Giants said the shooting happened Friday night and that Burress was released from the hospital early Saturday.

The team did not say where the shooting took place or in what hospital Burress was treated. The Giants termed what happened an "apparent accidental shooting.”

A team official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said Burress was wounded in a nightclub. The team said it has been in contact with the 31-year-old receiver since the shooting.

"Our primary concern is for Plaxico’s health and well-being, and given the circumstances, we are relieved to say he was released from a New York City hospital,” the team said in a statement.

The Giants have discussed the matter with NFL security and are attempting to gather more details.

"This incident could become a matter for law enforcement officials, and because of that we have no comment on any of the details,” the team said.

Repeated phones calls to Burress’ home and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, were not immediately returned.

Added NFL spokesman Joe Browne: "We are gathering information, just like everyone else.”

Burress injured a hamstring two weeks ago against the Baltimore Ravens. The Giants said Friday he would not play Sunday.

He was suspended for a game against Seattle on Oct. 5 and fined $117,500 for missing a team meeting and failing to notify the team of his absence. He said he had a family emergency.

He also was fined $45,000 by the NFL for his conduct during an Oct. 19 game against the 49ers in which he abused an official and tossed a ball into the stands .

Burress caught the winning pass in the Giants’ Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. He signed a five-year, $35 million contract hours before the season opened in September.

The signing came after an unsettling offseason during which Burress was fined $25,000 for refusing to practice during a mandatory minicamp in June. He also missed most of training camp at the University at Albany with a sprained ankle. He insisted the injury — not his contract — kept him off the field.

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