Burress pleads guilty to tax evasion

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http://pit.247sports.com/Bolt/Former-Steelers-WR-pleads-guilty-to-tax-evasion--41833687

Former Steelers receiver and Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress is fighting for his freedom.

Six years after serving a 20 month jail sentence for violating a New York weapons law after he accidentally shot himself in the leg, Burress plead guilty to New Jersey tax evasion charges on Monday, after he reached a plea deal that may spare him another prison sentence.

Two years after his final season in the NFL, Burress faces up to five years of probation when he is sentenced on Feb. 5. According to his prosecutors, Burress will have to pay about $56,000 in restitution and penalties, and he could face a 364-day county jail term if he fails to make the payment by the time his probation is completed.

Burress, 38, previously admitted that he didn't pay $46,000 in state taxes on his $1 million income in 2013. In return for his plea, prosecutors have dropped a charge of "issuing a bad check or electronic funds transfer." Prosecutors have said Burress did file his 2013 state income tax, but the issue is that the electronic transfer to cover his payment didn't go through. Tax officials said they didn't get a response after repeatedly contacting Burress on the matter.

Monday marked yet another tumultuous moment for Burress following his heroics in Super Bowl XLII, when he caught the game-winning touchdown pass in one of the greatest upsets in NFL history, as the Giants upset the previously undefeated Patriots, 17-14. Burress was in jail cell less than two years later, and has apparently not been able to steer clear of the law after re-entering society.

Nearly two decades ago, Burress was a rising star on the gridiron. Playing under Nick Saban at Michigan State, Buress helped the Spartans stun No.1 Ohio State in Columbus, 28-24, on the strength of his 125 receiving yards. Burress tallied over 1,100 receiving yards the following season, leading Michigan State to victories over Michigan and Florida in the Citrus Bowl. Burress' career at East Lansing led to the Steelers drafting him with it's No.1 pick in the 2000 Draft. In Pittsburgh, Burress enjoyed back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons before heading to New York in 2004, and helped lead the Giants to a Super Bowl title three years later.

Following his prison sentence, Burress spent one season with the Jets before returning to Pittsburgh in 2012, catching just three passes for 42 yards in his final two seasons. He finished his career with 553 catches for 8,499 yards with 64 touchdowns.

At the height of his playing days, Burress' tremendous size-he stood 6-5 and weighed 226 pounds-enabled him to get out of tough situations by skying high over his defenders to pull down seemingly impossible catches. Now, Burress must find another way to get himself out of another trying situation, as he looks to find a way to find success in his post football life.

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Tiki Barber is flabbergasted