Less than a month from now, Plaxico Burress will be a free man. On June 6, the former New York Giants wide receiver will have completed a 20-month sentence for violating New York City’s gun laws. In an exclusive interview with the New York Post, Burress’ wife, Tiffany says she doesn’t harbor any ill will toward NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg – who made every effort to see Burress convicted – but she does believe that Bloomberg used her husband to make a point.
“I’m not angry with Mayor Bloomberg because I feel like you should divert your energy in a positive way, but I do definitely feel that Mayor Bloomberg did make an example of him,” Tiffany says. “Because there were cases that were similar to Plaxico’s where [the defendants] only got a year or time even less than that.”
There is certainly some merit to that belief. Not long after Burress shot himself in a nightclub, Bloomberg told reporters “it would be an outrage if we didn’t prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, particularly people who live in the public domain, make their living because of their visibility; they are the role models for our kids.” That indeed sounds like someone intending to make an example of a high-profile individual.
But in some instances, Burress got away light. The minimum mandatory sentence for gun crimes in New York City stands at 3 1/2 years. Burress will have served less than two by the time he’s released.
As for the football side of things, Plaxico has repeatedly expressed his desire to play again and could wind up catching passes from Eli Manning in New York yet again. But by the time the NFL season starts (whenever that may be), he will be 34 years old and have spent two years away from the game. A comeback is not impossible, as Michael Vick proved last season, playing a much more demanding position. But with teams unable to talk to players and sign free agents, it will be that much harder for Burress to market his services.
In the short term, at least, I’m sure Plaxico is much more concerned with just getting home and spending time with his wife and kids.