Buccaneers defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was released from jail after posting a $10,000 bond on Monday night, but still faces a potentially long and difficult path to keep from returning.

The former 2011 second-round draft pick out of Clemson was attempting to board a U.S. Airways flight from New York to Raleigh, North Carolina on Monday, when he was found with a loaded .40 caliber firearm in his carry-on bag and was arrested. Bowers reportedly had forgotten the gun was in his bag and notified the authorities at the airport that he was in possession of the handgun.

Unfortunately for Bowers the state of New York – and New York City in particular – have some of the toughest gun laws in the entire nation. Authorities charged Bowers with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree — the same charge brought against former New York Giants wideout Plaxico Burress after he accidentally shot himself at a nightclub in 2008. Burress pleaded guilty to a lesser charge but still served two years for the crime.

Bowers has retained defense attorney Dennis Coppin who in a statement to the Tampa Tribune said Bowers will be "fully exonerated'' of all charges pending a fair investigation of facts.

An attorney that spoke with PewterReport.com on Tuesday said Bowers could possibly end up being charged with third-degree possession instead of second degree, which would greatly reduce his sentence. The third-degree charge has no minimum guidelines and could range from prison time, to just a fine and probation. The attorney said that the Queens County District Attorney’s office will decide the final charges after a review of the facts, one of which was if the gun was registered. Reports say that the gun is registered to Bowers in South Carolina.

Bowers was reportedly in New York for a surprise birthday gift from his girlfriend and the two were on their way back to South Carolina when the arrest took place at LaGuardia Airport in New York.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik issued this statement late Monday evening.

“We are aware of the situation, and are gathering information. We will withhold comment until we know all the facts.”

PewterReport.com has attempted to contact Bowers agent and also his attorney and will update the story as more information is gathered.