Burress posts bail as Giants weigh options

Taken to court in handcuffs, Plaxico Burress posted $100,000 bail on weapons possession charges Monday as the frenzy grew around the New York 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, and the Super Bowl champion Giants weren’t sure what action they would take, if any, against Burress. The NFL said it was monitoring developments. New York Mayor Michael R. 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.

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 years to 15 years if he is convicted. He was not required to enter a plea Monday and is due back in court on March 31. Burress did not say anything in court.

The Giants could suspend Burress or deactivate him for Sunday’s game at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Anderson is out

Quarterback Derek Anderson’s season is over, yet another slap for the down-on-their-luck Cleveland Browns.

Anderson, who lost his starting job to Brady Quinn several weeks ago, will sit out the final four games after tearing a ligament in his left knee on Sunday against Indianapolis.

An MRI exam Monday 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 put in a brace and will need four to six weeks to recover.

Quinn, too, is done for the season, because of a finger injury. The injuries to their top two quarterbacks mean the Browns (4-8) will start third-stringer Ken Dorsey on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans (11-1).

Etc.

Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards, who was pulled after the first half of the Bills’ 10-3 loss to San Francisco on Sunday because of a groin injury, was still sore Monday. His status for Sunday’s game against Miami in Toronto won’t be known until later this week after more tests are performed. . . . Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Bruce Allen said he knows whether defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will leave to join his son Lane, the new coach at the University of Tennessee, but he would not disclose the answer. Coach Jon Gruden said either way, Kiffin will be with Tampa Bay at least through the end of the season. . . . . The Buccaneers will play the New England Patriots next season at Wembley Stadium in London, the third consecutive year the NFL will stage a regular-season game in England’s capital. The game will be played Oct. 25. The Buccaneers will be listed as the home team, giving up a game in Tampa.