Plaxico Burress' season is over as Giants suspend him
NEWSWIRE
Receiver was charged with illegal weapons possession.
The New York Giants fined and suspended Plaxico Burress on Tuesday for four games -- the rest of the regular season -- after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh over the weekend at a Manhattan nightclub. The team also placed him on the reserve non-football injury list, which means the wide receiver couldn't come back for the playoffs.
The team punished Burress a day after he was charged with illegal weapons possession, which carries a penalty of 3 1/2 to 15 years in prison.
Dr. Scott Rodeo, a team physician, examined Burress and told the Giants that the gunshot wound would have sidelined him for four to six weeks.
Six players, including the heart of the Minnesota Vikings' defensive line, were suspended for four games without pay by the NFL for violating the league's anti-doping policy.
All six were punished for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.
The players were running back Deuce McAllister and defensive linemen Charles Grant and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints; defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Vikings; and long snapper Bryan Pittman of the Houston Texans.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Mumme fired by New Mexico St.
New Mexico State fired Coach Hal Mumme after four years. The Aggies lost seven consecutive games to end the season at 3-9, 1-7 in the Western Athletic Conference.
Oregon has picked offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to be Coach Mike Bellotti's eventual successor. Bellotti will become the school's athletic director when Pat Kilkenny steps down. Asked if that would happen after this season, Bellotti told reporters he didn't believe so. . . . Coach Charlie Weis will return for a fifth season at Notre Dame despite another disappointing year, several media outlets reported. . . . Cincinnati Coach Brian Kelly said he plans to stay at the school after acknowledging that other schools had expressed an interest in him.
BASEBALLVazquez appears headed to Braves
Javier Vazquez is likely headed from the Chicago White Sox to the Atlanta Braves in a multiplayer trade.
The teams reached a tentative agreement that would send the 32-year-old pitcher to Atlanta, two people familiar with the deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized.
