Would the 2nd round and 5th round pick be worth...

[Plax 4 Prez]

Inside Slant

 

The Giants, almost totally out of character, tagged running back Brandon Jacobs with the franchise label, thereby virtually guaranteeing that the 6-4, 265-pound star will remain with the team and earn an anticipated $6.621 million base salary in 2009.

 

 

There might have been a deeper intent as well. With Jacobs, who gained 1,089 yards last season for his second plus-1,000-yard season, safely in the fold, the team can now make a concerted effort to re-sign another free agent, fellow running back Derrick Ward (1,025 yards in 2008).

 

 

The Giants and Jacobs along with his agent will not have time to negotiate a longer, more lucrative contract, but with the $6.621 million set aside, it might not be impossible for Ward to be retained as well. The pair became only the third set of running backs in NFL history (not counting quarterbacks) to go past the 1,000-yard mark in the same season.

There is still some juggling needed to align the salary cap figures, but with Jacobs “reserved” at $6.2 million, at least the number, however high, won’t change.

 

 

As always, there are some players who will become free-agent eligible on Feb. 27 whom the Giants will allow to walk. Perhaps the most well-known of this group is the team’s all-time leading receiver, Amani Toomer, who at the age of 34 and after a dozen years with the team seems to have moved past his prime.

 

 

Jacobs teamed with Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to create the “Earth, Wind and Fire” unit, and all three have expressed hope that they be allowed to remain with the Giants to keep the team-within-a-team intact. Ward plans to test the market while Bradshaw, who had a year to go under his rookie contract, is currently serving the second half of a 60-day prison sentence for parole violation when he was a juvenile in Virginia.

 

 

“We always thought that Brandon would remain a Giant,” said head coach Tom Coughlin. “He embodies what we want our team to be like. He’s tough, he is competitive and he never stops trying.”

 

 

General manager Jerry Reese expressed pleasure that the franchise-tag decision was made and that Jacobs handled it so well. “We’ll work on a long-term extension,” he said. “Brandon will hopefully always be on this team.”

 

 

Notes, Quotes

 

• Five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Brad Van Pelt, once the Giants’ second round draft pick in 1973, died suddenly at his home in Michigan of an apparent heart attack. Van Pelt, 6-5 and 235 when he played, became part of the famous “Crunch Bunch” group of linebackers when the Giants employed a 3-4 defense. The others were Harry Carson, Brian Kelley and Lawrence Taylor. Both Van Pelt and Taylor are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

 

• The Giants will receive the second- and fifth-round draft picks from the New Orleans Saints during the April 25-26 college player selection as payment for the trade of TE Jeremy Shockey last summer. There are teams petitioning them to trade one or both of those selections for a first round pick, which might provide the Giants with a blue-chipper at a position they want to fill. Nothing has been acknowledged, however, although they have their eyes on a quality WR such as Michael Crabtree or a top OT such as Andre Smith.

 

• If Derrick Ward signs elsewhere during the UFA period, the Giants might not bother to draft another RB. They’ll be left with Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and last summer’s preseason sensation Danny Ware.

 

 

Quote To Note: “I am pleased that we were able to pull this off. I didn’t want to lose Brandon (Jacobs) and at the same time I have an obligation to do what is best for the Giants. This works out well all around.”—Giants’ GM Jerry Reese on the franchise tag application to the star RB.

 

 

Strategy And Personnel

 

Franchise Player: RB Brandon Jacobs: Tendered at $6.621M.

 

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

 

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

 

 

• SS James Butler was a first-time starter last season and played well, but his place will be taken by last year’s No. 1 draft pick Kenny Phillips.

 

 

• K John Carney did well for the Giants on an interim basis but will not be offered a new contract at the age of 44.

 

 

• DE Jerome McDougle is unlikely to return.

 

 

• CB/KR R.W. McQuarters is on the bubble and if he’ll take a reduced salary he might be re-signed.

 

 

• G/C Grey Ruegamer is a 10-year veteran and is useful; he is also not overly expensive.

 

 

• LB Rich Scanlon probably won’t be back.

 

 

• WR Amani Toomer, the Giants’ all-time leading receiver, will probably not be offered a new contract after 12 years with the team.

 

 

• RB Derrick Ward gained 1,025 yards and is the perfect backup for Brandon Jacobs but it is unlikely that the team can keep two such highly-paid running backs.

 

 

• QB Anthony Wright spent the year on injured reserve and probably won’t get even that chance again.

 

 

• DE Renaldo Wynn was a stop-gap signee and should be dispatched.

 

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

 

 

• CB Kevin Dockery will be tendered.

 

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: Unknown.

 

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

 

 

• QB David Carr: Potential UFA; $2.1M/1 yr, $1M SB.

 

PLAYERS ACQUIRED: None.

 

PLAYERS LOST

 

 

• RB Reuben Droughns (released).

 

 

• SS Sammy Knight (released).

 

 

• CB Sam Madison (released).

The link

[Mr. P]

i dont think itd be enough to move up to get him

[Plax 4 Prez]

i dont think itd be enough to move up to get him

If he falls to Seattle there's no way they'll pass him up. If the Lions get him I'll be so pissed. lol

[RandolphScott]

You'd have to offer a 1st, 2nd, and the other 2nd probably.

 

Is that really worth it?

 

 

[Plax 4 Prez]

You'd have to offer a 1st, 2nd, and the other 2nd probably.

 

Is that really worth it?

He defiantly ain't worth all that. But I would use a one of my 2nd picks, a 3rd, and a 5th round pick if they would take it. 3 picks for a 1st rounder is worth it for both sides I would think. Especially if any of those top teams have cap issues and can't afford all the money these top picks ask for.

[Bigblue25]

No way! hes definently not worth it, hes not working out at the combine because he has a naggin ankle injury. He may run a 40 in the 4.7 range (which ain't good) and he comes from a pass happy college offense, he almost stayed in school in one year but that would of cost him money cause next years recieving class is top notch. Even Hakeem Nicks may be gaining ground on him this year, Oakland takes him cause they have too, but even they may pass him up, i'm not saying hes not a good reciever but a tad bit overatted theres definently some risk in taking Crabtree

[Plax 4 Prez]

No way! hes definently not worth it, hes not working out at the combine because he has a naggin ankle injury. He may run a 40 in the 4.7 range (which ain't good) and he comes from a pass happy college offense, he almost stayed in school in one year but that would of cost him money cause next years recieving class is top notch. Even Hakeem Nicks may be gaining ground on him this year, Oakland takes him cause they have too, but even they may pass him up, i'm not saying hes not a good reciever but a tad bit overatted theres definently some risk in taking Crabtree

I guarentee he doesn't go further down past the Raiders though. I'd like to get him or Britt though. I'm sure we wouldn't lose any picks to get Britt though, so I'd rather get him or Nicks.

[ppodlesny]

If they are going to trade away picks it will be for the OT not the WR

[Plax 4 Prez]

If they are going to trade away picks it will be for the OT not the WR

Why do you say that? I thought we were pretty good at OL except maybe Kareem. Yeah, and the depth isn't to great, but we need a headline reciever.