Receiver Burress indicted on three weapons charges

Former New York Giants star Plaxico Burress was indicted by a grand jury on weapons charges for shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub and faces a minimum prison sentence of 3 1/2 years if convicted, prosecutors announced Monday.

The indictment charged the 31-year-old Burress with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment, Manhattan Dist. Atty. Robert Morgenthau said.

“The grand jury applied the law to the facts of this case,” Morgenthau said. He said the accidental shooting at the Latin Quarter nightclub on Nov. 29 was treated “like any similar case against any other defendant.”

Burress’ lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the indictment.

“When you have the mayor and the district attorney both publicly demanding a maximum prison sentence, it was perhaps too much to hope for the grand jury to conduct a sympathetic review of the unique facts of this sad case,” Brafman said in a statement.

Burress’ former teammate Antonio Pierce, who was with Burress in the club and drove him to a hospital, was not indicted.

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PRO FOOTBALL

Suspension for Lynch is upheld

The NFL announced that Marshawn Lynch’s appeal was denied and that the Buffalo Bills running back’s three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy will stand.

Lynch, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons with the Bills, will be allowed to participate in all preseason practices and games before Sept. 5. He pleaded guilty in March to a misdemeanor gun charge in Los Angeles. He was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and three years of probation.

Carolina Panthers starting defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu is probably lost for the season because of a torn right Achilles’ tendon. . . . Cincinnati Bengals tight end Reggie Kelly ruptured his Achilles’ tendon and could be out for the season. . . . The New York Jets waived tight end Richard Owens and claimed tight end Kevin Brock off waivers from Carolina.

The Denver Broncos signed first-round pick Robert Ayers to a five-year deal. The Philadelphia Eagles and receiver Jeremy Maclin agreed to terms on a five-year contract.

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BOXING

Charges for Mayweather

Roger Mayweather, the 48-year-old uncle and head trainer of champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., faces coercion and battery charges after he was arrested Sunday in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. He is accused of attacking a female boxer he once trained, Melissa St. Vil, 25.

Mayweather Jr. is scheduled to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas.

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MOTOR RACING

Massa returns to Brazil

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, recovering from a life-threatening crash nine days earlier in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, arrived home in Brazil. Massa is expected to stay in a Sao Paulo hospital for at least two days to undergo further exams.

Nelson Piquet Jr. says he has been fired from Renault and blamed team principal Flavio Briatore for his failure to achieve significant results in Formula One.

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COLLEGES

Williams, Abele eligible for UCLA

Eddie Williams, a transfer from Mt. San Antonio College, and Nik Abele, an incoming freshman from Irvine High, have completed the necessary academic work and will be eligible to play for UCLA this season. Williams, 6 feet 1 and 331 pounds, is expected to make an immediate impact on the offensive line. Abele, 6-7 and 275, may also challenge for a starting spot on the line.

-- Chris Foster

Florida Coach Urban Meyer signed a six-year contract worth $4 million annually, up from $3.25 million.

Joan Bonvicini, one of only 18 coaches in Division I history with more than 600 victories, will be hired as the new women’s coach at Seattle University, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press.