Burress posts bail on weapons charges

Taken to court in handcuffs, Plaxico Burress posted $100,000 bail on weapons possession charges yesterday in New York as the frenzy grew around the Giants star receiver who accidentally shot himself in a nightclub.

Authorities said teammate Antonio Pierce was being investigated over his role in the weekend shooting, while the reigning Super Bowl champions weren't sure what action they would take, if any, against Burress. The NFL said it was monitoring developments. Mayor Michael Bloomberg also weighed in, saying it would be an outrage "if we didn't prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."

Burress shot himself in the right thigh in the VIP section of the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan about 1 a.m. Saturday, police said. He did not have a permit to carry a handgun in New York.

A witness reported hearing a popping sound before Burress's legs began to shake, according to a criminal complaint. It said the person saw a bloody pistol fall out of his pant leg and land on the floor before Burress said, "Take me to a hospital."

It's believed Pierce took Burress to a car and then left with him, according to police. Burress was treated at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and released later Saturday.

Burress was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which could result in a prison sentence of 3 1/2-15 years if he is convicted. He was not required to enter a plea yesterday and is due back in court March 31. Burress did not say anything in court.

"He is standing tall. He is a mature adult," said Benjamin Brafman, his defense lawyer. "I think any professional athlete in this situation would be concerned."

Burress's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said last night that the receiver planned to be at Giants Stadium today for treatment.

Bloomberg and the police department criticized the Giants, who they said neglected to notify the authorities of the shooting, and the hospital, for failing to call the police about Burress's gun-related injury, as state law requires.

Anderson out for year

Derek Anderson's season is officially over, yet another slap for the down-on-their-luck Browns. Anderson, who lost his starting job to Brady Quinn several weeks ago, will miss the final four games after tearing a ligament in his left knee Sunday against Indianapolis. An MRI revealed Anderson tore the medial collateral ligament when he was sacked in the final minutes of Cleveland's 10-6 loss to the Colts. Anderson, making his first start since Nov. 2 after being benched for Quinn, will not need surgery. He will be placed in a brace and will need 4-6 weeks to recover. Quinn, too, is out for the season with a finger injury. He has not yet decided whether to have surgery on his broken right index finger. Ken Dorsey will start in place of Anderson Sunday when the Browns visit the Titans. Return specialist Joshua Cribbs, who played quarterback at Kent State, will serve as Dorsey's backup unless the Browns can sign a veteran quarterback in the next few days. Browns tight end Kellen Winslow will also sit out this week after sustaining an ankle sprain Sunday . . . The status of Bills starting quarterback Trent Edwards is up in the air. Edwards was pulled after the first half of Buffalo's 10-3 loss to San Francisco Sunday with a groin injury, and was still sore yesterday. His status for Sunday's game against Miami in Toronto won't be known until later this week after more tests are performed. If he can't go, backup J.P. Losman will take control of a team that has lost five of its last six games.

Cowboys day to day

Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware and running back Marion Barber were not at practice yesterday, the first time the Cowboys were back on the field since both were hurt Thanksgiving Day. Coach Wade Phillips said both were day to day. Ware, the NFL sacks leader, has a hyperextended left knee and Barber has a dislocated right pinkie toe . . . The Packers have seen enough from inconsistent punter Derrick Frost. Coach Mike McCarthy said the team will cut Frost and replace him with another player this week. McCarthy said Frost, who was signed when the team cut Jon Ryan just before the season opener in September, performed well in practices but couldn't carry it over to games . . . Safety Marvin White played most of the Bengals' latest loss on torn knee ligaments. Tests on White's right knee found that he tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in the first half of a 34-3 loss to Baltimore Sunday. White didn't realize the severity of the injury and stayed in the game . . . Bears nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek will miss the final four games after rupturing his right biceps during a loss at Minnesota Sunday night, his third season-ending injury in as many NFL seasons.

Brackett is hurting

Colts coach Tony Dungy said it's unlikely middle linebacker Gary Brackett will play this weekend against Cincinnati because of a leg injury. Brackett, the team's defensive captain, was taken off the field on a cart with what was first thought an ankle injury during Sunday's win at Cleveland. Team president Bill Polian said on his weekly radio show that Brackett hurt his right fibula, but he doesn't know the extent of the injury. If Brackett can't play, the Colts are likely to move outside LB Freddy Keiaho to the middle and reinsert Tyjuan Hagler into the starting lineup. Hagler started seven games last season. Defensive tackle Keyunta Dawson also could miss a couple of weeks with a pulled right hamstring . . . The Lions signed wide receiver Keary Colbert, giving him a chance to play for his third NFL team this season. Detroit added him to the roster when it put receiver Mike Furrey on injured reserve because of a concussion. Colbert was released by the Seahawks Nov. 11, nearly two months after they acquired him from Denver for an undisclosed draft pick.