ALBANY, N.Y. — Free Plaxico Burress.
That's the message halfback Brandon Jacobs was wearing at the New York Giants' training camp.
The big running back made a rare appearance at lunch Monday dressed in a custom T-shirt with the words "Free 17 Let Him Ball Out."
Burress, who wore jersey No. 17, made the game-winning catch in the Giants' win over the New England Patriots in the 2008 Super Bowl. He is currently serving a two-year sentence in New York after pleading guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon.
Jacobs said he had his T-shirt specially made.
"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 said he had spoken to Burress about once a week until training camp opened Aug. 1.
"I'm just hoping for the best for him and his family," Jacobs added. "Hopefully, he can get out and continue his career."
Burress applied for work release last month for the second time during his prison sentence. He originally applied for work release in November, but it was denied by the New York Department of Correctional Services because of the nature of his crime.
The program would allow him to spend some portion of his sentence at home.
If Burress were let out on work release, he would be eligible to sign with any NFL team.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese has said the team will keep its options open with Burress, who will turn 33 on Thursday.
But there is some question whether the New York Department of Correctional Services would allow him to work outside of New York.
"It would be in the discretion of the board. They take each case on an individual basis," Ben Brafman, Burress' attorney, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Monday.
Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled shortly after Burress was sent to prison that his suspension would be lifted and he would be reinstated and eligible to sign with a team upon the completion of his sentence.
Burress carried a loaded handgun into a Manhattan nightclub in late November 2008. It went off and he was wounded in the leg, causing him to miss the rest of the season.
The Giants, who won the NFC East and got a first-round bye, were not the same without him and were eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC semifinals.
New York City officials later indicted Burress. He pleaded guilty in August to attempted criminal possession of a weapon.