Buccaneers' Da'Quan Bowers arrested when trying to check gun at LaGuardia Airport

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers was arrested after a loaded .40-caliber gun was discovered in his bag at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Monday morning, Meris Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Queens District Attorney's office, confirmed.

Campbell said Bowers will be charged on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon on the second degree — the same charges levied against former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress in 2008. The charges carry a minimum sentence of 3½ years in prison.

Burress, whose gun accidentally discharged in a Manhattan night club, later accepted a plea deal to a lesser charge (attempted criminal possession of a weapon) and served 20 months in prison.

Bowers, a hot prospect coming out of Clemson who fell to the second round of the 2011 NFL draft because of concerns about his knee, was waiting to be arraigned and will have a hearing this evening, Campbell said.