April 6 (Bloomberg) -- The New York Giants must pay Plaxico Burress a $1 million bonus they withheld after the wide receiver shot himself in the leg at a Manhattan night club in November, the team said.

Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon declined additional comment after the ruling by arbitrator Stephen Burbank.

The National Football League players’ union filed a grievance on Burress’s behalf in December.

The 31-year-old receiver was charged with two counts of second-degree gun possession after shooting himself in the thigh by accident at the Latin Quarter nightclub. Each count carries a minimum prison term of 3 1/2 years.

Burress, who signed a five-year, $35 million contract extension in September, led the Giants with 70 catches for 1,025 yards during the 2007-08 season, when he played most games with an ankle injury. He caught the winning touchdown pass in the final minute of the Giants’ 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots in that season’s Super Bowl championship game.

Last season, he had 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns. He was released from the Giants three days ago.

“It wasn’t to be, so now we have to move on,” Giants General Manager Jerry Reese said of cutting the receiver. “Like everybody else here, we want nothing but the best for Plaxico, and we are appreciative of the contributions he made to this franchise.”

The money Burbank ordered the Giants to pay was part of a signing bonus after Burress agreed to the contract extension. He was suspended without pay for four games on Dec. 2, and placed on the non-football injury list. He was also fined by the team.

The union also filed a separate grievance that the suspension was excessive.

To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Kuriloff in New York at akuriloff@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: April 6, 2009 13:47 EDT