NFL Notebook
Burress Suspended By Giants
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
The New York Giants suspended wide receiver Plaxico Burress for 12 days -- and one game -- for an unexcused absence Monday.
Burress's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, called the punishment excessive and indicated Burress is appealing the suspension through the NFL Players Association, hoping to have it overturned by an arbitrator.
Coach Tom Coughlin and General Manager Jerry Reese informed Burress of the suspension during a meeting early yesterday. Burress will be allowed to resume participating in team-related activities on Oct. 6, according to the Giants.
"We have had success here because of the team concept," Coughlin said. "And the team concept means basically that everyone is accountable and responsible and that we don't let the other guys down."
Burress failed to show up Monday and reportedly did not respond to calls from the team Monday and Tuesday.
The suspension reportedly is without pay. It would cost Burress at least $235,294. Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, a club can suspend a player for as long as four weeks without pay for conduct detrimental to the team.
The Giants have a bye this weekend, then play the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 5 at Giants Stadium.
Rosenhaus said in a televised interview that Burress had been absent from the Giants because he was "attending to a family matter" but declined to provide further details. Rosenhaus said he and Burress consider the punishment "too strong." Rosenhaus said he had spoken to Richard Berthelsen, the union's interim executive director, and hoped to have a grievance hearing scheduled soon.
There's "no doubt there was an infraction," Rosenhaus told ESPN. "We accept that. But we don't accept the punishment for the infraction."
ยท LIONS: Matt Millen was fired as the team's president and chief executive.
Detroit owner William Clay Ford said in a written statement he had "relieved Matt Millen of his duties effective immediately."
The Lions are 0-3 and had a record of 31-84 under Millen, the league's worst mark over that span.
