NBA

Plaxico Burress: New York City ‘will support’ Felton

Perhaps no one understands Raymond Felton’s current predicament better than Plaxico Burress, the former Giants wide receiver who became the poster child for gun penalties in New York City after he accidentally shot himself in the leg in a nightclub in 2008 and spent nearly two years in jail.

Felton is facing a legal battle after his firearm was turned in to the police by his estranged wife. Felton is awaiting arraignment Tuesday on both felony and misdemeanor gun charges.

“It’s an unfortunate situation for Raymond Felton,” Burress said Tuesday on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines.” “I’ve been through something of that nature. I believe city of New York will support him.”

Felton doesn’t figure to be in as dire straits as was Burress, who was singled out by Mayor Mike Bloomberg at the time. Bloomberg publicly stated Burress should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

In 2009, Burress accepted a plea deal and spent 20 months in prison.

“I didn’t understand the nature of my crime until maybe three or four days after [the incident],” Burress said. “Not knowing the repercussions. I didn’t even know I couldn’t carry a gun in New York… I could have made a better decision then.”

Burress doesn’t think Felton will have the same issues since he is not being accused of shooting his gun.

“I don’t know if there’s anything wrong with that,” Burress said. “Nobody was hurt from it. Maybe he just needs to be smarter and be knowledgeable of the law.”