Plaxico Burress… NFL Players Say What?

Over the years sports has given us a great deal to talk (argue) about, to yell and cheer about, and occasionally laugh about.  But few athletes have given us all three.  Enter Plaxico Burress.

Within a little over a year Plax has gone from a super bowl hero, to the butt end of joke, to reaching his pinnacle today as a convicted felon.  Last February when Plaxico shot himself in the leg in a NY nightclub's VIP section was the start of this latest (final?) chapter of the Plaxico Burress story.  (Do I even need to mention that he was wearing sweatpants?  The Latin Quarter must have the weakest dress code in all of Manhattan)

Similar to the Brett Favre avoiding training camp signing this week NFL players decided to speak their mind, and chime in with their opinions of the sentencing and our judicial system.  (what did we do before twitter?) Unlike the last time, we're going to start with the always outspoken Chad Ochocinco who seems to think that laws are only there to punish AFTER something goes wrong.  Not to protect, and serve as guidelines for how to avoid problems

They gave my dude 2 yrs. For accidentally shooting himself, there are laws that we must abide by, in this case nobody was hurt but him!

There were the obvious set of tweets about attire worn into clubs, like this one from Shawne Merriman:

Forget the gun...forget shooting yourself...you had on sweat pants in the CLUB man thats tough

It scares me to think that David Clowney thinks that the NFL system of justice is the only system that people players should have to answer to.  Image if there was a rule: "Personal foul.  15 yards for illegal handgun, 10 yards uniform infraction.  The yards will be assessed from the opening kickoff"

Wooow Plax got 2 years for shooting himself,.. I personally think that's a bit much,.. NFL could have just suspended him for a couple games

I think Donte' Stallworth was referring to me in this tweet.  (Don't worry Donte' , I'm just using your name.  I'm not pointing out the discrepancies between a 30 day vehicular manslaughter sentence and an 2 year illegal weapons conviction)

I'm sure sum * will write an article about this as if i'm not supposed 2 wish my NFL fam luck or Plax blessings either but I DON'T CARE!!!!

I'm guessing Donte' was actually talking Sports Illustrated's Ross Tucker who had this to say

I think Plaxico is an idiot for what he did but he gets 2 years in jail for shooting himself in leg and Stallworth got just 30 days? Really?

If only Ross would have listened to Jamal Anderson, who knows a thing or two about convictions (and snorting coke off a toilet bowl), when  he tells us that we can't compare the two cases

PLEASE STOP comparing Plaxico Burris to Donte Stallworth. Different Offenses, different STATES, different Laws per state.

Jamal was making sense for quite a while.  Then he threw out these tweets which got some responses from followers:

About Burress. I certainly DO NOT condone what he did, but WE are targets, & having a teammate Robbed that week certainly did not help..cont

Yes, he should have NOT gone out, I know. But sometimes the drama finds you any, see: VERNON FORREST. Just a terrible situation all around

A follower of Jamal's took exception to this logic and called him out

Why dont ya hear about Trump/Gates carrying a gun? What makes athletes targets? Its obviously not just money? Lifestyle!!

His response:

@IFollowAthletes So correct sir. But most young people I know go to clubs/etc. But I get it. and your right

Good for following that logic and admitting that things didn't quite jive.

Kerry Rhodes, who, based on previous comments I can hear saying "WTF judicial system", backs his boy with this tweet

Plaxico im with u my man u made a mistake with the firearm and thats unfortunate but 2 years is tough 4 that! U and ur fam arein my prayers!

So there we have our roundup.  Feelings of shock, sentiments of support, explanation of actions, to laughable comments about dress codes.  That about sums up the... wait!!

THIS JUST IN!

The ladies of the Lingerie Football League have opinions too.  (see we truly follow everyone) Bolanile (you'll have to find the pronunciation on your own) backs her friend and teammate (?), with this clever play on words.

Another tragic result in our UNjustice system...RT @jockintanyka: I feel bad for Plaxico..... :-(

So now I think we're done.  But for a truly unique and inspiring look at one athletes look at the situation check out what Willie Anderson said earlier today.