By T.J. Donegan 

The coverage of the Plaxico Burress incident is now moving into its third day and it’s interesting to see the different angles that a lot of the writers have been taking to this point. The coverage began pretty dramatically with the NY Post’s GIANT IDIOT and GIANT JERK SHOOTS HIMSELF headlines.

Since then it’s developed a bit from there, with news dropping today that Burress will be out the rest of the season, and not because he recently was shot in the leg. Also, more arrests may be forthcoming, according to ABC News. Here’s a quick sample of some of the more interesting articles I’ve read on the issue so far from the NY and national press.

Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News says that somebody has to tell Burress he’s done to send a message (written before the reports that he’s done for the year.), but not without taking a shot at the Dallas Cowboys:

But somebody needs to tell Burress [that he's done] before he shows up at Giants Stadium, at least now that the guy has posted bail. Unless everybody wants the Giants to start looking a little bit like the Dallas Cowboys East.

Definitely playing to the crowd, there.

Newsday’s Erik Boland also interviewed David Bowens of the Jets who added: “If you have to carry….just don’t go”

Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez adds that the Giants are already moving on. Mark Kriegel from the same outfit has a very good take on the issue, keeping things light while condemning the widespread weapon infatuation among NFL players.

Shaun Powell over at Newsday has a wider perspective, adding that owning guns for rich athletes is something of a status symbol. Powell talks about the cultural impact of T.I. and rappers like him who lionize those who carry guns. He goes too far to say:

The choice to tote guns is mostly a cultural one, embraced by a misguided generation influenced by violence and raised poorly by parents. These athletes grew up around guns and therefore are drawn to them. In their world, guns are glamorized and seen as status symbols and proof of manhood.

I think that’s going a bit too far, I don’t know the exact area where Burress grew up, but it was in suburban Virginia Beach and then he went to a military academy/prep school, so I think he might be stretching, but it’s an interesting point.

Discussing Sean Taylor before this whole business started, ESPN The Magazine did a fantastic series of articles/interviews with players on the impact #21′s murder has had on them, whether it’s made them more fearful and if they carry guns now.

It includes an article from David Fleming and testimonials from Clinton Portis, Ben Roethlisberger, NFLPA President Kevin Mawae, armed robbery victim Dunta Robinson, gun-owner Fred Taylor,  and others. (click at the bottom of each tesimonial to move to the next one, or buy the magazine.) It’s a phenomenal look at the player side of the issue and the fear that drives them to keep a gun.

Yeah, Burress is an idiot for breaking the law and shooting himself, but I think the ESPN stuff (which was printed before Burress) shows maybe there’s another side to the story.

Especially now that Leprechauns have been implicated in the whole affair. (courtesy Deadspin).

I’m interested to see how this all plays out. I think the law makes sense, if it’s a bit harsh, but I wonder how often it’s actually applied. I can’t imagine there’s a huge shortage of people who get caught with guns not registered to them and I don’t know how many are actually getting 3.5-7 years for just that, without any violent crime attached.