Burress faces weapon charge

Giants receiver Plaxico Burress, who expects to be charged with criminal possession of a weapon, will turn himself in to police this morning and plead not guilty in connection with his accidental shooting, his lawyer said yesterday.

Benjamin Brafman spoke to reporters after meeting with Burress at his Totowa, N.J., home for an hour, two days after the shooting.

"He's not running away from this. He intends to deal with this responsibly, and we hope it works out in the end," Brafman said, according to The Star-Ledger. "I would ask that the public, the Giants, the media and everybody else withhold judgment. He's presumed innocent, hasn't been convicted of anything, and we have a long road ahead of us."

New York police and NFL security are investigating what happened Friday night. Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was interviewed by NFL security, general manager Jerry Reese said before New York's game against the Redskins.

Pierce reportedly was present Friday night when Burress shot himself in the right thigh, the latest dramatic turn in a tumultuous season featuring fines and a suspension for the team's star receiver.