Burress court hearing delayed to June 15

A court Tuesday adjourned the gun possession case against New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress while the Super Bowl hero's attorney tries to negotiate a plea deal.

Manhattan criminal court judge Michael Yavinsky postponed the hearing until June 15 at the request of Burress attorney Benjamin Brafman.

The adjournment buys time for Burress, who could face jail if found guilty on criminal weapons possession charges stemming from last November when the star accidentally shot himself with a handgun in New York's Latin Quarter nightclub.

Brafman termed media reports of a plea agreement with prosecutors "not accurate."

"There is no agreement of any kind," Brafman said. "We're trying our best to see if there is any way to resolve the case."

Burress, who caught the winning touchdown in the Giants' 2008 Super Bowl triumph, appeared in court for less than a minute before striding out past a crowd of journalists and well wishers to a waiting SUV.

Dressed elegantly in a grey suit and sporting his trademark goatee beard and shaved head, the towering footballer, aged 31, said nothing to his fans.

If convicted on the second degree felony weapons charge, he faces up to 15 years in jail and a minimum sentence of 3 1/2 years.

He could plead guilty to lesser charges, but even that may not be enough to keep him out of jail and ready to return to training.

ESPN reported that Manhattan's district attorney's office has told Brafman that any plea deal must include Burress going behind bars.

Brafman would not comment when asked by journalists if the prosecution was demanding mandatory jail time.

Whether or not the 2009 National Football League season will include Burress, who signed a five-year deal worth 35 million dollars last September, depends upon a number of factors, Brafman said.

"That's a decision for him, his management team and the New York Giants," the attorney said. "I suppose a lot will depend on how and when this case is resolved."

If he is sent behind bars, then that might spell the end of hopes that Burress might rejoin the Giants in 2009.

Voluntary workouts began for Burress' teammates two weeks ago in preparation for coming gridiron season.

As a result of the adjournment, his case will now open barely a month ahead of the start of Giants pre-season training camp.

After winning the Super Bowl in 2008, the Giants finished 12-5 last season and were ousted from the playoffs by Philadelphia. Burress' situation was a late-season distraction for the club.

The nightclub incident also sparked a political storm in New York, with Mayor Michael Bloomberg insisting that Burress not get any special deal.

"It would be an outrage if we didn't prosecute to the fullest extent," he said at the time.

The hospital that treated Burress' gunshot wound came under scrutiny for failing to report the incident immediately to police, as required by law.