- Steelers forward went to prison after accidentally shooting himself in 2008
- Burress mentors youth on guns through the National Urban League
- He fears the gun debate will play out over and over again as the tragedies continue.
Four years ago, Plaxico Burress sparked the same conversations people have today about athletes and guns. And it’s not clear that anything will change just because Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, then killed himself by shooting himself in the head.
“It’ll be (a topic) for a little while. But over time, something else will come up, and then we’ll have the same discussion,” Burress told USA TODAY Sports by phone this week.
“Things like this happen to people every day. It turned out to be Jovan, someone we knew. That’s why we’re having this discussion. But it happens all the time in society. “
He added: “It’s not really the culture of the NFL, it’s what’s happening in society today.”
Burress, who accidentally shot himself in the leg four years ago, realizes that this murder-suicide is just the latest reminder that the culture of the NFL, and society in general, doesn’t change.
“It’s definitely a personal thing because you decide to own it,” Burress said. “Whether or not you want to own a gun is up to you.
“People are going to decide what they’re going to do. I’ve had conversations with guys about my incident and what happened. Unfortunate things can happen, but ultimately it depends of the person.
“You can talk to someone until you’re blue in the face, but people will do what they’re going to do,” he added. “It’s like that. You can encourage people and give them different options for what they want to do, but at the end of the day, people will make their own.”
But even Burress realizes a trend is developing in the NFL, whether or not it’s related to repeated brain injuries.
“These are the kinds of things that have been happening in the NFL for the last four or five years, with these suicides and other things,” he said. “Not even about the gun; it was just the last option he thought he had.
“It’s just sad. Very, very unfortunate.”
911:Audio reveals chilling murder scene
Like most NFL players, Burress and his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates didn’t believe the news when it was announced Saturday morning. Soon after, it became clear that this information was accurate.
NBC’s Bob Costas caused a sensation during the Sunday Night Football aired when he cited FOXSports.com’s anti-gun column Jason Whitlock and added similar thoughts of his own. Many responded by saying Belcher could have committed acts of violence with another weapon or even with his bare hands.
Burress signed a pledge with the National Urban League Celebrity Empowerment Challenge after leaving prison last year, saying he would mentor young adults on the dangers of guns and how to live an overall healthy life. Burress said he hasn’t had any discussions with his teammates about the gun issue in recent days and only brings it up if he’s asked about it.
But he understands that the conversation will take place. And he realizes that it won’t be the last time either.