Rome, NY (WIBX) - Donning a Philadelphia Philles baseball cap, Plaxico Burress was released from the Oneida Correctional Facility in Rome Monday morning.

The former Pittsuburg Steelers and New York Giants wide receiver face charges of illegal weapons possession charge and reckless endangerment, after shooting himself in the leg in a New York City nightclub. He accepted a plea deal and served 20 months behind bars.

Burress hugged his agent, Drew Rosenhaus in the prison's parking lot before making a brief statement to the media.

"I just wanna thank God for bringing me through one of the most trying times of my life. It's a beautiful day to be reunited with my family, and go home and spend some quality time with them.

"I'd like to thank everybody for their prayers and words of encouragement, thanks all my fans all around the world for the thousands of letters, for the unwaivering support.

"As far as football is concerned, if and when everything gets settled and they get back on the field, I'll be ready."

Rosenhaus told reporters earlier in the morning that Burress has stayed in shape over the past two years by running sprints, jogging, running routes, weight lifting, and doing pushups and situps. Rosehaus joked that, unfortuntely, Plaxico 'didn't have a quarterback here'.

Rosenhaus expects multiple teams will be interested in Burress, and said the Giants shouldn't be counted out as one of the teams who would be interested in signing 34-year-old wide out.

He said the lockout has 'neutralized' the signing process and said Burress will hit the market at the same time as all other free agents.

Plaxico Burress statement after release:

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