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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 11:05 a.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2008

NFL: Union appeals suspension, fine of Burress

By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The NFL Players Association filed a grievance on Tuesday challenging the suspension and fine handed Plaxico Burress by the New York Giants after the receiver accidentally shot himself in a nightclub more than a week ago.

The union said that the Giants violated the collective bargaining agreement last week when it placed Burress on the reserve-non football injury list, suspended him for the final four games of the regular season and fined him an additional week's salary.

Placing Burress on the non-football injury list also will keep him out of the playoffs. The Giants won the NFC East title on Sunday.

Carl Francis, the union's director of communication, said the grievance will be heard by an arbitrator after the season ends.

Under the contract that Burress signed in September, the Giants owe the Super Bowl hero a $1 million portion of his signing bonus on Wednesday. Team spokesman Pat Hanlon had no comment when asked if the money would be paid.

Francis said the union would consider another grievance if the Giants withheld the payment.