Plaxico Burress' hearing has been adjourned until Sept. 23. (Mark Duncan / Associated Press)

After careful reflection on the Plaxico Burress situation and in light of the Donte’ Stallworth saga, I have to admit the scales of justice are a little askew. As you know, Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter. His negotiated penance is 30 days in jail, two years of house arrest and eight years of probation. Whether you agree or disagree, a moral precedence of sorts has been established.

In looking at the Plaxico situation, it does seem skewed that he would be looking at 3½ years for shooting himself in the leg, albeit in a public place. Some would say this is apples and oranges, and I can’t offer much to refute that claim.

Plax’s stupidity has landed him in the middle of a larger issue for the “New Jack City” of New York: crime. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has done a tremendous job governing, and I support his initiative to clean up violence in the Big Apple. Unfortunately for Plax, he is caught in a Nino Brown situation because the firearm problem is bigger than Plax.

Being a New York Giant served as a detriment instead of the customary get-out-of-jail-free card some say has been issued to Stallworth, because in my view the Giants handled the situation wrong. One of the billionaire owners should have called the billionaire mayor to give him the heads up when the event happened. If you go back to Bloomberg’s comments, he was particularly agitated that no one from the Giants called him. Consequently, Bloomberg gave his fire-and-brimstone response.

I have been quite critical of all the dumb things that continue to plague Plax. However, in fairness, I think there is a distinction that needs to be made, especially given the unfortunate loss of life in the Stallworth situation. Plax will likely spend more time behind bars, and the self-inflicted wound may have killed his career if he has to serve extended time.

What Say You?

– Jamie Dukes

Catch me on Twitter: @jamiedukes

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