Here’s one break Plaxico didn’t catch.
In a stunning move, former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress pleaded guilty today to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and agreed to spend two years behind bars.
The ex-Super Bowl hero shot himself in the thigh with an unregistered .40-caliber Glock last November at a Midtown nightclub.
Burress, 31, who caught the winning pass for the Giants against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, will turn himself in Sept. 22.
“This was not an intentional criminal act,” Burress’ lawyer, Benjamin Brafman said. “In my judgment, a two-year prison sentence is a very severe punishment.”
Burress walked out of the courthouse without saying a word as shocked fans cheered him on.
Burress was indicted in Manhattan Supreme Court earlier this month on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment.
He originally faced up to 15 years behind bars had he been found guilty at trial.
Appearing before Supreme Court Justice Michael Melkonian, Burress took the plea deal that had been presented to him by prosecutors a few weeks ago.
The deal arranged by the Manhattan DA’s office expired today. As part of the deal, Burress agreed to serve two years in prison — a sentence that could be reduced to 20 months after good behavior.
Burress looked nervous — and resigned — throughout the 15-minute court appearance.
During the court appearance, Brafman said that “after extended discussions” with Burress and his family over the past few days, the NFL star decided to enter a guilty plea.
The Giants released Burress in April. He has not signed with any other team.
The NFL is also considering a suspension.
Burress was hanging out with former teammate Antonio Pierce at the Latin Quarter nightclub in the early hours of Nov. 29 when an unlicensed gun tucked into his waistband slipped down his leg and fired, shooting him in the right thigh.
The gun was not licensed in New York or New Jersey, where Burress lived. Buress’ license to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Florida had expired in May 2008.
“Unfortunately, there was no legal defense we could offer,” Brafman told the judge.
Pierce was not indicted in the case.
The grand jury also did not indict the nightclub security guard who carried the gun to Pierce’s car or the hospital staff members who failed to notify police that Burress had been shot.
Mayor Bloomberg had originally demanded that the DA severely punish Burress, but backed off today.
“I can’t get involved in that,” he said.
Bloomberg added, “It’s not up to me.”