LANDOVER, MD. -- The New York Giants have tried to contact embattled wide receiver Plaxico Burress, but have not heard back from the player who suffered a self-inflicted, non-life threatening gunshot wound to his right thigh Friday night.
"I reached out to him," Giants General Manager Jerry Reese said of Burress at an impromptu news conference at FedEx Field before Sunday's game with the host Washington Redskins. "I did not get a return phone call, so no, we haven't spoken to him yet."
New York linebacker Antonio Pierce, believed to have been with Burress at a Manhattan night club when the shooting occurred, also spent part of Saturday night being interviewed by NFL security.
"Antonio has just been cooperative with NFL security and with the police and Antonio is trying to beat the Redskins right now," Reese said. "It's where his focus is and where it should be right now."
The Giants ruled Burress out of Sunday's game on Friday due to a lingering hamstring injury. Without any contact with Burress, the Giants don't know the severity of his injury. Since he was released from the hospital so quickly, the team is assuming it is not overly debilitating, Reese said.
Team President and CEO John Mara and Reese said there wasn't much thought into keeping Pierce out of today's game with Washington.
A police investigation of Burress could lead to criminal charges because it is unknown if the gun used in the shooting was licensed. If it was not, Burress could be facing jail time based on New York's strict gun laws. Mara said the team is withholding judgment right now, but that he is not pleased to be dealing with this set of circumstances.
"I am disappointed that this happened and that any of our guys would put themselves in this situation, but my first concern was for Plaxico's health and well-being," Mara said. "We're relieved that he is going to be OK."
The latest incident involving Burress, who has been fined and disciplined several times by the Giants this season, could add to his increasingly tenuous status with the team.
In terms of Burress' status, Mara added: "I want to wait until we find out all the facts and circumstances before we make any determination about it. I don't know what happened; until we find out what happened, we're not going to make any comment or make any decision."
