So, Maybe This Is Why Plax Was Packing

It’s hard to blame any football players -- especially those as high-profile as Plaxico Burress -- for wanting to feel protected. They’re filthy rich and everyone who encounters them knows it. Easy targets, if you will. The best way for athletes to make themselves feel safe, whether right or wrong, is to carry a firearm (with the proper gun license, of course). The smartest way, however, is to let the bodyguard hold onto the gun so the athlete doesn’t ... oh, I don’t know ... shoot himself. ↵↵And now that we know what happened to Plax’s fellow Giants wide receiver Steve Smith just last week, it’s even easier to understand Burress’ desire to feel protected in public:↵

↵↵⇥Smith went out with friends on the night of Monday, Nov. 24, the day after the Giants beat the Cardinals in Arizona. He arrived home early last Tuesday morning - the Giants had the day off - and he was held up, apparently by the driver who took him to his home in a gated community in Clifton, N.J., according to a league source. ↵⇥↵⇥Shortly after being dropped off, Smith had a gun pointed to his head and was ordered to give up his jewelry and cash, which he did. The assailant then left the scene, and Smith called police. ↵⇥

↵↵Reportedly, Plax knew of the incident with Smith. I’m not making excuses for a guy carrying an unregistered handgun and not knowing how to properly use it, but when you hear about your teammate being held up at gunpoint, it’s gonna make you a little nervous. Perhaps Burress always carried a .40 cal around illegally, but it’s not difficult to believe he brought it out with him Friday night, on the heels of the Smith robbery, for a little peace of mind. Factor in the fact that he shot himself, and all signs point to someone who wasn’t familiar with handling a firearm.↵