Giants receiver Burress faces criminal gun charges

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress faced charges of criminal possession of a handgun on Monday following an apparent accidental shooting in a Manhattan nightclub, prosecutors said.

Burress was not asked to enter a plea at Manhattan Criminal Court and was expected to post bail of $100,000 before the end of the day, said a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Robert Morgenthau.

Burress suffered a wound to his right thigh during "an apparent accidental shooting" on Friday, the NFL team said in a statement over the weekend.

The 31-year-old faces two counts of criminal possession of a weapon including possession of a loaded weapon with the intent to use it unlawfully, the DA's office said.

Burress, who caught the winning touchdown pass in New York's 17-14 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots in February, signed a $35 million five-year contract in September.

If convicted he could face three and a half to 15 years in jail. He is due back in court on March 31.

(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Ed Osmond))