Four months after he accidentally shot himself inside a New York City nightclub, talented wide receiver Plaxico Burress has been released by the New York Giants.

Since the November 2008 incident in which he shot himself with an unlicensed gun, the NFL player's status has been unknown. Now, he has legal problems, and could spend at least 3 1/2 years in prison if convicted of the felony weapons charge he has looming over him.

According to the Associated Press, Burress' case was adjourned on Tuesday (March 31), while his attorneys and prosecutors worked on a possible plea agreement.

He is due back in court on June 15.

The 31-year-old NFL star faces possible NFL sanctions for violating its personal conduct policy. He was suspended by the Giants for the final four weeks of the season for conduct and fined after the shooting.

According to the Giants' GM, the team held back a decision for some time, while Burress worked out his legal troubles. But, it seems as though the delays played a role in the Giants' decision.

"I am an optimist, and I believe most situations can be worked out," general manager Jerry Reese told the AP in announcing the decision. "We hung in there as long as we could in hopes that there could be a resolution to this situation other than the decision we made today to release Plaxico."

Burress spent four years with the Giants, and his time there was highlighted by a game-winning touchdown catch in the Super Bowl against the previously undefeated New England Patriots in February 2008. However, his time was also dogged by fines and suspensions.

He caught 344 passes with the Giants, placing him 12th on the franchise's career list, one catch ahead of Earnest Gray and three behind Aaron Thomas. He also had 3,681 receiving yards and caught 33 touchdown passes for the Giants.

Last season, the Giants finished 12-5, losing at home in the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles. They lost four of their final five games without Burress, who provided the Giants with their lone deep threat.

"Plaxico's contribution to our championship season in 2007 can never be underestimated or undervalued," coach Tom Coughlin said. "He displayed tremendous determination throughout that season. Having said that, I have always been as concerned about Plaxico as a man as I have been about him as a player, and my hope is that everything that has happened over the past several months represents a turning point.

"He is a young man with a family who has a whole lifetime ahead of him, and I personally wish him and his family well," he continued.

His future as an NFL is currently unknown. It's likely another team will sign the skilled wide receiver.

According to the AP, the Giants signed Burress to a five-year, $35 million contract extension in September. They failed to play a $1 million signing after the shooting and the NFL Players Association filed a grievance on the player's behalf.