Giants running back Brandon Jacobs is speaking out on behalf of his imprisoned former teammate, Plaxico Burress.
Jacobs wore a T-shirt today reading, “Free 17 Let Him Ball Out,” and explained that he’d like to see Burress back in the NFL.
“I’m just hoping for the best for him and his family,” Jacobs said, per the Associated Press. “Hopefully, he can get out and continue his career.”
Jacobs said he made the shirt himself to show his support for Burress, who pleaded guilty to weapons charges stemming from an incident in which he accidentally shot himself in a New York City nightclub.
“You won’t see that anywhere unless you go and get it made just like I did,” Jacobs said. “I just had it made. It only took a couple minutes, so you can get one, too.”
Jacobs’ shirt, and his comments, are reminiscent of the feelings expressed by Falcons receiver Roddy White after teammate Michael Vick was sentenced to prison in 2007. White displayed a shirt reading “Free Mike Vick” after scoring a touchdown in a loss to the Saints.
“That was homemade. I did that myself,” White said. “It ain’t too much to say, you know. The team misses him and we really need him this season. There ain’t too much more to say about it.”
Vick wasn’t freed for 21 months. Burress is hoping to be freed on work release soon, but most indications are that he won’t be released this year.