FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 9/22/2009 11:00am et

ESPN.com reports free-agent WR Plaxico Burress (Giants) was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday, Sept. 22, for violating New York�s gun laws and was immediately taken into custody following his hearing.

The Huddle Take: Maybe there will be a market for Burress heading into the 2012 season. If he keeps himself in shape, there will likely be a team that will at least take a look at him. But until then, he'll have a lot of time to ponder one of the most expensive gunshots in NFL history.

Posted: 8/20/2009 11:41am et

The Associated Press reports unrestricted free-agent WR Plaxico Burress pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon Thursday, Aug. 20, as part of a plea agreement. As part of the agreement, Burress agreed to a two-year prison sentence and two years of supervised release.

The Huddle Take: This should put an end to speculation about where Burress plays in 2009, and depending on how much of that two years he'll have to serve 2010 is in jeopardy as well.

Posted: 8/3/2009 2:25pm et

ESPN.com reports free-agent WR Plaxico Burress (Giants) was indicated by a grand jury in New York Monday, Aug. 3, on charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and a single count of reckless endangerment.

The Huddle Take: The criminal possession charge carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 3 and a half years, while the reckless endangerment charge has a minimum sentence of one year. Unless Burress attempts a plea bargain, he will go to trial. No trial date has been set, and reportedly, Burress' lawyer's schedule is full until March of next year. Suffice to say Burress has zero chance of playing in the NFL until the entire matter is settled, and it doesn't look like that will happen for quite a long time.

Posted: 7/29/2009 4:17pm et

ESPN.com reports unrestricted free-agent WR Plaxico Burress testified before a grand jury for three hours Wednesday, July 29, in his felony gun possession case. He said he was truthful in his testimony and is remorseful for what he has done. Benjamin Brafman, Burress' attorney, said that Burress stressed in his testimony that the gun was not used in the commission of a crime and that the lone victim was his client. Burress will now wait for the grand jury to vote to find out if he will be indicted.

The Huddle Take: The NFL wants this case resolved before Burress returns to the field, so the quicker it progresses the better for him.

Posted: 7/27/2009 10:19am et

Laura Italiano, of the New York Post, reports negotiations in the gun-possession case against free-agent WR Plaxico Burress fell apart earlier this year after prosecutors insisted he do two years' state time on a plea to a lesser gun charge, according to district attorney Robert Morgenthau. Burress was willing to do jail time, but he wouldn't agree to more than a year, according to Morgenthau. "We've always taken the position that he's going to have to go to jail, whether by trial or by plea," Morgenthau said.

The Huddle Take: It's likely Plax was using the Jamal Lewis case as a model, where Lewis was able to push his jail time into the offseason and serve before the next season started. Two years obviously wouldn't allow for that, but it's possible he could squeeze a year of jail time into that five-month window (with time reduced for good behavior, etc.). Since it appears the league wants this case resolved before Plax can play again, Burress may need to come up with a new approach.

Posted: 6/15/2009 3:46pm et

John Eligon, of the New York Daily News, reports the weapons-possession case against free-agent WR Plaxico Burress was adjourned Monday, June 15, to Sept. 23. Judge Felicia A. Mennin of Manhattan Criminal Court adjourned the case until September, when it will be presented to a grand jury. Burress, who made a brief appearance before the judge, has pleaded not guilty and is free on $100,000 bail. "Given the present posture of this case, I do not see any reason why he should not be able to play this entire season," Burress' defense lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said. "No one was injured in this case. The gun was lawfully registered. There's no victim in this case besides Plaxico Burress."

The Huddle Take: Burress and his legal team continue to stall the judicial system. Now that he won't even have a court date until September, Plax should be able to find a team willing to bring him to camp. And based on what we've seen, Team Burress should have no difficulty getting the case moved to after the season once Plax does have a gig that would present a timing conflict.

Posted: 6/12/2009 3:00pm et

Tom Rock, of Newsday, reports Benjamin Brafman, attorney for unrestricted free-agent WR Plaxico Burress, said he will ask for and be granted another adjournment in Burress' felony case. It is not known how long the adjournment will last.

The Huddle Take: Plax continues to push back the case, but he still hasn't found an NFL team to play for should he avoid jail time.

Posted: 6/7/2009 12:29am et

Sal Paolantonio, of ESPN.com, reports the attorney for unrestricted free-agent WR Plaxico Burress is working to find a negotiated settlement that would allow Burress to play in 2009 be either by reaching a plea deal with minimal jail time or postponing a possible trial until after the 2009 season, according to a source.

The Huddle Take: Right now teams are wary of making a move for Plax because of the pending legal issues; once that matter clears, however, there are several teams who have been sniffing around Burress that could make a play for his services.

Posted: 5/15/2009 6:19pm et

Drew Rosenhaus, agent for unrestricted free-agent WR Plaxico Burress, reports on his Twitter page that at least two teams are very serious about signing Burress.

The Huddle Take: And he did it in less than 140 characters. Not since Sid and Nancy has there been a more volatile pairing than Twitter and Drew Rosenhaus.

Posted: 5/6/2009 11:45pm et

Drew Rosenhaus, agent for unrestricted free-agent WR Plaxico Burress (Giants), reports on his Twitter page that Burress is working out for a personal trainer and is in great football shape.

The Huddle Take: Despite his off the field troubles, Burress is an exceptional talent and will likely find a new team in the next few weeks. Fantasy owners should view Burress as a quality No. 2 reciever with tremendous upside if he lands with the right team.