Plaxico Burress and a Second Chance

While most of America is spending Valentine's Day at home with their families, former Giants All-Pro wideout Plaxico Burress is stuck in jail. Why? As many may already know, it is because he accidentally shot himself in the leg with an unlicensed weapon of his at a nightclub. He claimed that it "slipped down" his leg, and somehow, miraculously the trigger was pulled, and the gun fired. The firearms charge has held him in prison since September 23, 2009, almost a year after the incident occurred.

Now, with his release approaching (June 6), Plax's agent Drew Rosenhaus reported Saturday that he is in "terrific shape," and has been lifting five days a week in prison. Both he and Giants DE Osi Umenyiora think the 33-year-old is still capable of a substantial impact to an NFL team.

Umenyiora related Burress' future return to that of Michael Vick, which brings up the issue of a second chance. Certainly Plax is more worthy of one than Vick, and more people will be pulling for him than they did for the Eagles quarterback. The only crime Burress is guilty of is not licensing his weapon, while Vick cruelly mistreated dogs with intent. Plax did not hurt anyone, except himself on accident. The fact the gun went off seems to be completely accidental, even if stupid. While Plax certainly was endangering citizens with his illegal gun possession, he did not intend to harm anyone, and he did not, while Vick sent dogs to their death. Vick committed a cruel act and was, for the most part, forgiven for it. Burress made a boneheaded mistake, and come his likely eventual return, he should be as well.