NEW YORK— Facing the prospect of spending at least 3 1/2 years behind bars, one-time Super Bowl star Plaxico Burress yesterday accepted a plea bargain with a two-year prison sentence for accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub.

The former New York Giants wide receiver pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a lesser charge than he had faced. He will be sentenced Sept. 22, and lawyer Benjamin Brafman said he expects Burress to begin serving his sentence immediately after.

Burress got into a black SUV without speaking to reporters outside Manhattan state Supreme Court, but Brafman said, "After an agonizing period of discussion, Plaxico decided that he wanted to do this, to put this behind him as quickly as possible."

The ex-football star was indicted earlier this month on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment. He faced a minimum sentence of 3 1/2 years if convicted at trial.

Hours after his court appearance, the NFL announced commissioner Roger Goodell had suspended Burress and said he is ineligible to sign with any team until he completes his jail term. Goodell, who met with Burress and his representatives last week, said Burress will be reinstated upon completion of his sentence.

With time off for good behavior, Burress, 32, will likely serve 20 months. He will be monitored during an additional two years after his release, which could come as early as the spring of 2011.

Burress, who caught the winning touchdown for the Giants over the New England Patriots in the final minute of the 2008 Super Bowl, and former teammate Antonio Pierce were at the Latin Quarter nightclub in late November when a gun tucked into Burress' waistband slipped down his leg and fired, shooting him in the right thigh. The bullet narrowly missed a nightclub security guard who was standing inches away, prosecutors said. It lodged in the floor and was recovered by a bartender.

The gun was not licensed in New York or in New Jersey, where Burress lived. His license to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Florida had expired in May 2008.

NOTES

Steelers: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger injured his right ankle or foot during the last half-hour of the team's final training camp practice. It was not immediately certain how badly he was hurt or how long he would be out. Roethlisberger had an ice pack on the back of the ankle when he was carted off at the end of yesterday's workout. Team spokesman Dave Lockett said only, "Someone stepped on his foot, and we don't have any updates other than that."

Raiders: Four days of practice haven't been enough to convince quarterback Jeff Garcia that he's fully recovered from the calf injury that sidelined him for two weeks. But Garcia, 39, is expected to play in tomorrow's preseason game against San Francisco but for how long and what he'll be able to do is uncertain.

Seahawks: The second knee surgery in eight months for Seattle's nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones removed loose fragments, including scar tissue from the original surgery. The Seahawks will re-evaluate the 35-year-old Jones in a couple of weeks to see if he can play in 2009. His rehabilitation will begin immediately.

Lawsuit: NFL Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea and five other players sued the league for using their names and images for profit without their permission. The players filed a class-action lawsuit yesterday in federal court in Minneapolis. The lawsuit accuses the NFL of exploiting retired players' identities in films, highlight reels and memorabilia to market the league's "glory days" without compensating the players.

Buccaneers: Cornerback Aqib Talib was held out of practice yesterday after Tampa police say he punched a taxi driver and was jailed on charges of simple battery and resisting arrest without violence. The Bucs said the second-year pro would not be suspended by the team.

YESTERDAY'S GAMES

COLTS 23, EAGLES 15

Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes, leading host Indianapolis to a preseason victory over Philadelphia. Manning played like he was in midseason form. He finished 10 of 14 for 167 yards with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Gonzalez and a 76-yarder to Reggie Wayne. The Eagles scored on a 39-yard strike from Donovan McNabb to DeSean Jackson late in the first quarter and again when Adam DiMichele threw a 21-yard TD pass to Brandon Gibson with 26 seconds to go.

BENGALS 7, PATRIOTS 6

Chad Ochocinco showed he can kick as well as catch. And Tom Brady showed he can take a hit — a very hard one. With Shayne Graham nursing a tender groin, Ochocinco, Cincinnati's top receiver, booted an extra point late in the first half — a point that gave the visiting Bengals the preseason victory. By that time, Brady was done for the night after being knocked down twice on his 13 snaps. He got up quickly both times, his left knee passing the test after surgery that followed a season-ending knee injury in last year's opener.