Giants Suspend Burress Over Shooting

Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress is done for the year.

The Giants fined and suspended Burress on Tuesday after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh over the weekend at a Manhattan nightclub.

The wide receiver was charged with illegal weapons possession Monday, and on Tuesday the Giants placed him on the reserve non-football injury list.

Burress spent much of Tuesday at Giants Stadium facing the possibility his career with the Super Bowl champions could be over, while police were still trying to sort out the events surrounding the Manhattan nightclub shooting.

The star receiver drove up to the stadium tunnel, one day after he was charged with illegal gun possession. Burress was required to be there because he is on the active roster and injured. He left after about six hours.

Police said the Giants sent an official who deals with player issues and two trainers who provided information about the shooting, but they are still waiting to speak to more informed witnesses.

Burress spent six hours at Giants stadium for medical treatment today but left with several giant-sized questions still up in the air, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor.

First is whether the Super Bowl star will wind up doing time over the gun.

Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg with an unlicensed semi-automatic pistol. Not the first athlete to carry a concealed weapon, but Burress is the first to incur the wrath of a big city anti-gun mayor who just last year posted thousands of signs warning against illegal guns, Glor reports.

"I think it would be an outrage if we don't prosecute to the fullest extent of the law," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Under New York state law, if convicted, Burress would face a mandatory three-and-a-half years in prison.

"He chose to do this in the wrong city at the wrong time," says CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen. "In a place where they take handgun possession very seriously and where they've made it more difficult (to get a legal gun) and more serious a crime (to have an illegal one).

The second unanswered question comes from the hospital that treated Burress, Glor reports. A highly recognizable, 6-foot, 6-inch local superstar was somehow able to check himself into a big name hospital, New York's Presbyterian, under the assumed name Harris Smith. Why didn't the hospital report the gunshot - as required by law?

"It's a misdemeanor, it's a chargeable offense and I think the district attorney should certainly go after the management of this hospital," Mayor Bloomberg said.

The hospital says it has already suspended one employee and said today that there may be "further disciplinary action."

The third unanswered question involves one of Burress' teammates. Police are looking into whether fellow Giant Antonio Pierce, who left the club with Burress' gun, should be charged with obstructing justice.

Whatever happens, Burress' cocoon of privilege has imploded, Glor reports.

Appearing in his regular Tuesday afternoon spot on Sirius NFL Radio, Pierce declined to answer questions about the shooting.

"It's not appropriate with the police being involved. ... I've got to be strong," he said. "I've got to stay my course and deal with my attorney and deal with the officials who tell me what to do. I've got to go about my business and when I get to work, I've got to go about my work."

Burress was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which could result in a prison sentence of 3½ years to 15 years if convicted.

But it's possible he could avoid prison entirely if he pleads guilty to a lesser charge, getting probation and community service. Such plea deals and sentences are frequent in New York for first-time offenders.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke out again Tuesday, saying he talked to Giants owner John Mara and Goodell. He told them then law says "you see something, you got to call the cops. That's the thing you should do."

Bloomberg also said the state should consider revoking the liquor license of the nightclub, the Latin Quarter, for allowing Burress to enter with a gun.

The New York Police Department has expressed frustration with the NFL and the Giants. Police said they were promised Pierce would appear Monday at the same police precinct where Burress surrendered, but Pierce has not shown.

"After the events in question, Mr. Pierce did what any other reasonable person would do under the circumstances, he hired counsel," Pierce's lawyer said. "After we were hired, I was in immediate and direct contact with the DA's office."

Bachner said he hasn't been notified that Pierce will be charged.

"Mr. Pierce, given the extraordinary circumstances of that evening, acted responsibly in trying to save what could have been the life of a friend," Bachner said.