Posted on:January 7, 2010
Manhattan prosecutors have successfully blocked Plaxico Buress' bid for a work release. The state's Department of Corrections have denied the former Giants star's work-release application, and his sentenced will be continued, prolonging his release from prison on gun charges. Burress is serving two years for accidentally shooting himself in the thigh with his unlicensed hand gun at the Latin Quarter nightclub last year. The DA's office had opposed the application, although the state had received many letters from Buress' friends and family in support of him attaining the work-release program. Burress can re-apply for the program in July. The gun wasn’t licensed in New York or New Jersey, where Burress lived, and his Florida concealed-weapons permit had expired. He also failed to report the incident to authorities. Manhattan Chief Assistant DA Mark Dwyer had said that a quick furlough would send a bad message. The Giants released Burress in April, but the 32-year-old said he hopes to resume his NFL career after he gets out of prison.
Plaxico Burress was drafted in the first round, 8th overall, by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000, after a successful college career at Michigan State. He had 22 receptions his rookie year and tripled that number the following year with 66 and 6 touchdowns. In 2004, he recorded his fewest amount of receptions since his rookie season with 35, and left the team for the New York Giants. In his first season with the Giants, he would catch 76 receptions and 7 touchdown passes and quickly become Eli Manning's top target. The next two years Burress caught 22 touchdown passes, and was one of the key players in the Giants winning the Super Bowl. When released, his return to the NFL, coupled with his past troubles, will be a daunting task.
