In light of the Plaxico Burress situation, Lynch must have been living on another planet to not understand the possible consequences of illegally carrying a firearm.

Lynch is now learning that lesson the hard way after crashing back to earth. He was arrested last Wednesday on a felony gun charge in Southern California. Police found a loaded weapon inside a parked car where the Bills running back and two other men were sitting.

In his defense, Lynch could ultimately be exonerated. The particulars of this case are still unknown. Maybe the gun wasn't his. Maybe he has proper registration. Maybe this is a "wrong place, wrong time" scenario for a young African-American whose dreadlocked hair, tattoos and gold teeth make him a potential victim of racial profiling.

Regardless, Lynch must now explain himself to two judges. One sits inside a California court room. The other works at NFL headquarters in New York City.

Commissioner Roger Goodell won't be happy to see Lynch again under these circumstances. Almost nine months ago, Lynch was involved in a hit-and-run accident that left a woman injured. After pleading guilty to a misdemeanor traffic charge, Goodell decided not to impose further punishment with an NFL suspension.

Lynch won't be so lucky this time unless legally cleared of concealed firearm possession.

Lynch can only blame himself for this mess. His own off-field troubles should have served as a wake-up call. Burress' arrest was the equivalent of an ear-splitting alarm clock — and Lynch appears to have hit the snooze button.

What happened to Burress should have reminded every NFL player who felt the need to carry a gun for protection to check their Ps and Qs — as well as their .38s.

A star New York Giants wide receiver, Burress suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a Manhattan club in December. Under state laws in New York — you know, the same state where Lynch plays — Burress faces a minimum prison sentence of 3½ years for illegally carrying a loaded firearm.

The arrest probably spelled the end of Burress' days with the New York Giants. A lengthy prison stay would effectively end the 31-year-old's NFL career.

Lynch likely won't face that same harsh sentencing if found guilty. He's only 22 years old and gun crimes don't carry as heavy a mandatory-minimum punishment under California's legal system.