NFL notebook

Pierce to talk with authorities

Associated Press / December 5, 2008

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Antonio Pierce and the doctor who treated his New York Giants teammate, Plaxico Burress, after he accidentally shot himself at a Manhattan nightclub will talk to investigators today.

Pierce and Dr. Josyann Abisaab will be accompanied by their lawyers when they meet with authorities, who are especially interested in why neither Pierce, who drove Burress to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, nor Abisaab called police to report the shooting early Saturday. Abisaab has since been suspended for not reporting the gunshot injury, as required by law.

Police are trying to determine whether Pierce tried to cover up the shooting. They say Pierce returned to New Jersey with Burress's gun in the glove compartment of his black Cadillac Escalade, and investigators have impounded the SUV to search it for any blood or gun residue.

Pierce's attorney, Michael Bachner, stressed the linebacker would cooperate with authorities and testify before a Manhattan grand jury if asked to.

Union seeks injunction

A federal judge in St. Paul will be asked to decide today whether five suspended players deserve a chance to play this weekend.

At issue is whether the league had a duty to notify its players and their union that a dietary supplement the five took contained a banned ingredient.

The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit to block the suspensions of five of the six players who were benched this week for violating the league's anti-doping policy. The union wants Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Vikings, and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister, and Will Smith of the Saints to be eligible to play Sunday.

Union attorneys will go before US District Judge Paul Magnuson at 10:30 a.m. to ask for a preliminary injunction.

Rivers leads charge

Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes, including a 59-yarder to Vincent Jackson, as the Chargers (5-8) pounded the Oakland Raiders, 34-7, in San Diego for their 11th straight win in the series . . . Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, speeding, and driving without insurance after being pulled over by police last Saturday in Hanover, N.J. A team spokesman confirmed that he will play Sunday.