Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himslef in the right thigh and spent a night in the hospital, another dramatic turn in a tumultuous season for the New York Giants star receiver.
The Giants said the shooting happened Friday night and he was released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. The team did not say where the shooting took place, what hospital Burress went to or how badly he was injured.
However, a team official told The Associated Press that Burress shot himself in a nightclub. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the team was still trying to sort out all the facts.
The Giants called the incident an "apparent accidental shooting."
"Our primary concern is for Plaxico's health and well-being, and given the circumstances, we are relieved to say he was released from a New York City hospital," the team said in a statement.
New York City police said they were investigating whether the incident took place at Latin Quarter, a sprawling 15,000-square-foot, two-story restaurant and club located in the Radisson Lexington Hotel in midtown Manhattan.
Phone messages and an e-mail left at the nightclub were not immediately returned.
Police added that they have not spoken to Burress or recovered the gun used in the shooting.
The NFL also is likely to investigate whether Burress violated its Personal Conduct Policy, which might lead to a suspension.
The Giants first confirmed the incident on Saturday morning, saying they had been in contact with the 31-year-old receiver since the shooting and have discussed the matter with NFL security.
"This incident could become a matter for law enforcement officials, and because of that we have no comment on any of the details," the team said.
Repeated phones calls to Burress' home and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, were not immediately returned.
"We are gathering information, just like everyone else," NFL spokesman Joe Browne said.
Burress injured a hamstring two weeks ago against the Baltimore Ravens. The Giants said Friday he would not play Sunday against the Redskins in Washington.
Earlier this season, the 31-year-old receiver was suspended for a game and fined $117,500 for missing a team meeting and failing to notify the team of his absence. He said he had a family emergency.
He also was fined $45,000 by the NFL for his conduct during a game against the 49ers in October when he abused an official and tossed a ball into the stands.
Burress caught the winning pass in the Giants' Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. He signed a five-year, $35 million contract hours before the season opened in September.
The signing came after an unsettling offseason during which Burress was fined $25,000 for refusing to practice during a mandatory minicamp in June. He also missed most of training camp at the University at Albany with a sprained ankle. He insisted the injury -- not his contract -- kept him off the field.
Despite a lack of practice, Burress started in the opener against Washington and caught 10 passes for 133 yards. The following week, he had five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in a win over St. Louis.
The rest of the season has not been as productive. The most passes he has caught in any game since is four in a loss to Cleveland on Oct. 13, the game following his suspension.
Burress has 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns in a season in which he has constantly drawn double coverage. His streak of receptions in 115 consecutive games ended last week in Arizona. He aggravated his hamstring injury during the first series and did not return.
It was the sixth-longest active streak in the league, dating to Nov. 26, 2000 against Cincinnati, Burress' rookie season in Pittsburgh.
Signed as a free agent in 2005, Burress had caught a pass in all 56 previous games in which he had played for the Giants.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
