It is an established fact that athletes who commit a crime get less punishment than normal people. I call this the “Leonard Little Somehow Still Isn’t in Jail for Killing Someone While Driving a Car Drunk” rule. It also applies to celebrity types. It’s a shame, really, but it’s something we deal with in today’s culture for whatever reason.

Well, if New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has his way, Plaxico Burress — recently busted with an illegally possessed handgun, will not be waltzing away from this brush with the law.

“It’s pretty hard to argue the guy didn’t have a gun and that it wasn’t loaded,” said Bloomberg, lashing out at the Super Bowl receiver. “You’ve got bullet holes in and out to show that it was there.” …

“And I don’t think that anybody should be exempt from [three-and-a-half years in the slammer for illegally carrying a loaded handgun],” he added. “And I think it would be an outrage if we don’t prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

Eeeaa-sy, big fella. Sure, Plax might not be the most helpful player on the team this year, and sure, they might be 10-1 without him really contributing. But this guy brought the New York Freaking Football Giants a Super Bowl title last year. You can’t just lob him under the nearest moving bus police car just because you want folks in your fair city to stop worrying about the economy and focus on a silly trial that will end up with Plax getting acquitted.

Also, Mr. Mayor, the last time I checked, you’re neither Gary Sinese nor David Caruso, so perhaps you should leave the sleuthing (and the early guilty verdicting) to the real cops.

Via FanHouse