Jacobs: Plax to Giants needs to get done
Former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was denied work release and cannot reapply until next year. Credit: AP, 2009
While many Giants are waiting to hear about the lockout, one spent some time yesterday talking about a former teammate who is locked up.
Brandon Jacobs, appearing on SportsCenter today, said he hopes that the Giants will sign receiver Plaxico Burress when he gets out of jail in June.
“No question about it,” Jacobs said. “For the people who don’t want him back on the Giants, we can remove those people. I think it’s something that we need to get done.”
That shouldn’t be a surprise. Jacobs has been known to wear “Free 17” and “Free Plax” T-shirts in the past, and he’s one of the few Giants who have maintained a close relationship with Burress. They speak once or twice a week, Jacobs said again today.
In fact, Jacobs said that his conversations with Burress during the 2010 season helped both of them.
“When I talk to him on the phone, you wouldn’t think he’s a guy who served two years in jail,” Jacobs said. “You wouldn’t think you’re talking to that kind of guy. You’re talking to a guy who sounds like he’s in paradise. He’s laughing and joking, and that’s been since Day One. He doesn’t sound stressed out. He was a little stressed out after his appeal didn’t go through, but other than that he’s been good. He’s been happy. Actually he’s helped me to deal with my problems that I’d been having during the season a whole bunch by being so happy every time I talk to him.”
Jacobs said he knows Burress will have options when he comes out of jail. Whether or not one of those options will be a return to the Giants remains to be seen. Team brass have been just ambiguous enough in comments about that scenario to keep speculation afloat.
“He’s in good spirits, he’s ready to play football,” Jacobs said. “He can’t talk about it enough how ready he is to get back on the field because he sees a lot of people out there playing that he’s way better than. I can’t wait to see him in uniform again myself.”
In Jacobs’ mind, of course, it’s a Giants uniform.
