A National Football League player is facing charges after authorities say he brought a gun to LaGuardia Airport on Monday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers was arrested as he was about to board a US Airways flight to Raleigh, N.C.

Authorities say a .40-caliber gun was found during a search of Bowers' carry-on bag.

He was arraigned on charges of criminal possession of a weapon and posted $10,000 bond.

The charge carries a minimum of three and a half years in prison.

It's the same charge former Giants player Plaxico Burress was hit with when he accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub in 2008.

Bowers has played two seasons with Tampa Bay and recorded 13 tackles last year.