The Giants' dream season was thrown into turmoil Saturday when Super Bowl star Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub and linebacker Antonio Pierce tried to hide the gun, police sources said.
Burress is expected to be arrested on felony weapons charges in the coming days, while Pierce's attorney was in frantic discussions with cops last night to stave off criminal charges, police sources said.
Burress' latest self-inflicted wound came after he was initially turned away from the LQ nightclub in midtown because he was packing heat, police sources said. Burress, 31, who was sporting flashy jewelry and carrying loads of cash, told club management he needed the gun to protect himself, sources said.
The mercurial Giant was waved inside the crowded Latin-themed club on Lexington Ave. about midnight. He downed several drinks, making already jittery security guards more nervous about his weapon.
As Burress was being led into a VIP area, with a drink in his hand, the gun slipped down his pants leg. He reached for the weapon, but fumbled it and it went off, sources said. The bullet tore through Burress' already injured right thigh, police said.
"[The bullet] went in and out. No bones," Chief Michael Collins, a police spokesman, said.
Pierce, 30, rushed to his bleeding teammate and applied pressure to the wound as Burress screamed in pain amid the hip-hop beats piping through the club, sources said. As he worked to slow the bleeding, Pierce berated Burress for bringing a loaded handgun into a club.
Panicking, Burress told his teammate not to call 911 for an ambulance, sources said.
Pierce helped the bloodied receiver out of the club before taking off with the gun and stashing it somewhere in New Jersey, sources said.
Burress was afraid to go to the hospital, but two hours after the shooting, at 2 a.m., his wife, Tiffany, and a friend escorted him to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell. He was treated and released at about 12:45 p.m., sources said.
But a hospital spokeswoman denied that Burress was ever there.
Cops only learned about the incident after Giants employees quietly reached out to the NYPD to report it, sources said.
When plainclothes officers from the NYPD and local cops arrived at Burress' mansion in Totowa, N.J., about 5 p.m., they were turned away by his wife - even after ringing the bell five times. "We've been through a lot today," a woman said from inside the home.
"Ma'am, we're talking to a box," one of the cops said, referring to the intercom system outside the house. After the chaotic night, Pierce headed to Washington Saturday to prepare for the Giants game against the Redskins today. His attorney told cops Pierce would cooperate if he wouldn't be charged, sources said.
A Giants rep left Washington Saturday to retrieve the gun in New Jersey and turn it over to investigators, police said.
Still, cops plan to get a warrant to search Pierce's car because they believe Burress had the gun in his vehicle.
Burress is expected to be charged with criminal possession of a weapon, a felony that carries a prison sentence of up to five years, sources said. "He went for his gun and fumbled it. And now it will cost him," a police source said.
Cops cannot arrest Burress until they obtain a warrant from the Manhattan district attorney's office, sources said.
The Giants confirmed the shooting. "This incident could become a matter for law enforcement officials," the Giants said. "Our primary concern is for Plaxico's health and well-being."
The state of Florida issued Burress a concealed weapon permit that expired in May. Even if it had been renewed, it wouldn't be recognized by authorities in New York or New Jersey.
Star running back Brandon Jacobs said Burress wasn't answering his phone. "I'm very concerned about him," Jacobs said. "I've been trying to call him, to see how he's doing."
Burress, who caught the Super Bowl-winning pass from Eli Manning in February, was already going to miss the Redskins game with a hamstring injury in the same leg where he was shot.
The team was in contact with NFL security as the investigation continued. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the Daily News it was too soon to determine if the shooting was a violation of the league's personal conduct policy.
"That is premature," Aiello said. "We are working with the Giants to determine the facts."
Police began combing the club for evidence just before 5 p.m. Saturday. An employee turned over a spent .40 caliber shell casing, sources said.
Burress' high-profile agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not return calls for comment.
Burress has become a season-long distraction, creating constant controversy with his disdain for punctuality, an on-field tirade at an official and problems at home.
Through the first 12 weeks of the season, the recidivist receiver has been fined, suspended and benched. Between lost salary and fines, Burress was out more than $200,000 since September.
The season's litany of troubles came after Burress earned a Super Bowl ring and financial security. His winning TD against the Patriots was followed seven months later by a new five-year, $35 million contract.
