Burress speaks out on gun safety

Plaxico Burress said he learned his lesson. Now he's trying to share it.

The former Giants receiver who accidentally shot himself in the leg in 2008 and spent nearly two years in prison on felony weapons charges was at the National Urban League headquarters in Manhattan Monday to speak out on gun safety.

"Look at my situation," he said. "Ever since I was 7 years old, I thought of playing football, and my goal was to be an NFL player, accomplish great things, win a Super Bowl, things like that. I made a bad decision. It can all be taken away from you so quick, literally in the blink of an eye. You have to be cognizant of every decision that you make."

Burress said he no longer owns or carries a gun, saying, "I know I'll put myself in a better position."

He also spoke about being mentored by Tony Dungy, the former NFL coach who also helped Michael Vick when he came out of prison.

"You can make a mistake," Dungy said, "but you can turn that around."

Burress was released from Oneida Correctional Facility in upstate Rome last Monday. He has spent most of his time since at home in South Florida but returned to New York last weekend. In his first public appearance since his release, Burress talked about what it was like being incarcerated for 20-plus months.

"I was filled with so many emotions over that time that I can't really put a finger on one particular one," he said. "I was saying to myself over and over and over again, all those many days and nights, 'How could something like this happen to me? Why did it happen to me?' I got to the point of saying 'You know what, I'm going to be fine with it, I'm going to learn from it, I'm going to try to make every day my masterpiece and just put it behind me.' I can't go back in time, I can't get those two years back, and the only thing I can do now is learn from what happened to me and take it one day at a time."

Burress has said that he would not rule out a return to the Giants, although many have speculated he will not want to come back to the team and instead find a fresh start elsewhere. Dungy seemed to suggest that, too, saying he believes that wherever Burress eventually signs as a free agent, it will not be a football-only decision.

Many will suspect Burress of performing damage control: He spent time in prison for a gun crime and a week later signed a pledge to team up with the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Burress insisted that is not the case.

"When I came in this morning and took this podium, I didn't have a script, I didn't have anything written down, I came to speak from the heart," Burress said. "I think that says enough in itself. My next step is to serve a purpose. I've done it to a certain extent, but there's more that can be done."

Burress was joined at the event by his wife, Tiffany. He also gave advice to other pro athletes who consider carrying guns, telling them to abide by local laws. But he said his message mostly will be directed at children and gun violence in urban neighborhoods.

"I'm a champion on the field," Burress said. "My goal is to be a champion in life and off the field."