E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer
for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of
only four sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

DID GIANTS PUT FRANCHISE TAG ON JACOBS AS A PLOY TO KEEP HIM AND DERRICK WARD?

By DAVE KLEIN
Some random thoughts involving the Giants:

Is it possible that the decision to apply the franchise label to running back Brandon Jacobs, which will guarantee him of a salary of "only" $6.2 million in 2009, was a clever tactic that will enable the Giants to keep running back Derrick Ward as well?

With Jacobs safely in the fold at $6.2 million (and no team in the league is going to come up with two first-round draft picks plus a staggering multi-year salary\ to sign him now), it was clearly the frugal way to go. Jacobs is locked in, and his new, long-term contract might not develop until late in the season. On the other hand, Ward (who had 1,025 yards to Jacobs' 1,089) will probably be able to earn "starter's salary" without being a starter.

Furthermore, considering the three or four games B.J. is sure to miss because he runs so hard (and so high) it might be nice to have Ward stick around, since he has proven beyond any doubt that he can do it.

This leads neatly into the third part of Earth, Wind and Fire, Ahmad Bradshaw. He's back in the slammer, you know, as of last Sunday, but this is all right since it is the second half of a parole violation sentence for an unnamed indiscretion he committed as a juvenile. He served the first half of the 60-day stint last winter and spring, so as to be ready for training camp, and he's doing the same thing now -- but without another Super Bowl ring to show to his buddies in orange jumpers.

Charles Stacy, Bradshaw's attorney, says his client reported to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority on Feb. 15, as previously arranged, to complete the remainder of his 60-day jail sentence imposed by the Juvenile Court in Tazewell County, Virginia. ... "The Juvenile Court had allowed Mr. Bradshaw to serve this sentence in two separate intervals to allow him to maintain his current employment capacity with the New York Giants," said Stacy. "Upon completion of this sentence Mr. Bradshaw will have satisfied all of his obligations to the Juvenile Court of Tazewell County as it relates to his prior misdemeanor conviction as a juvenile. Mr. Bradshaw is grateful for the cooperation of the Tazewell County Juvenile Court System and the New York Giants organization in the disposition of this matter and is looking forward to resuming his training for the 2009 season."

Wouldn't it be nice if Plaxico Burress and his problems could be handled just as easily?

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Various self-created experts have come out with various first and second round mock drafts, and the only thing we can count on is that they'll have eight or nine more next week and another 25 or so until the draft actually takes place the weekend of April 25-26.

There is a method to that madness, in that every time they change up the order there is a chance they'll hit the right kid to the right team button, sort of a shotgun theory.

But there are a few players who can be considered not "outstanding" enough to go too high so that they won't force the Giants to spend additional picks to move up and yet good enough so that they can help immediately. After all, the Giants' last few picks were defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka (32nd, or last in the first round), cornerback Aaron Ross (20th) and strong safety Kenny Phillips (31st, and last in the first round because New England had forfeited its top pick).

In fact, there have been several instances of players taken in the second, third and fourth rounds by far surpassing the "name brands" taken in the first.

So here are a couple of thoughts, barring the possibility (not a strong one) that the Giants might trade their first round pick along with "something else" to Arizona to land wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

For instance, there is a strongside linebacker from USC named Brian Cushing, who is 6-4 and 240 and part of the NCAA's top defensive unit last season. ... He should be available around the 29th pick, which is where the Giants will draft. ... Another is defensive end Tyson Jackson of LSU, 6-5 and 295, since, as everyone has heard by now, "you can never have enough pass-rushing defensive ends."

With two picks in the second round, the Giants could find their way clear to picking a wide receiver (assuming, again, that they haven't mortgaged the farm to get Boldin) and then wait until the latter reaches of the second round to take their shot on a sleeper. A sleeper? Surely you knew there was one in the offing, and he is an offensive tackle from Ohio State named Alex Boone, who is a delightful 6-8 and 330-pound man-child with 5.25 speed in the 40-yard dash. He was, of course, an underachiever, like most of the disappointing Buckeyes last season.

Did you hear the latest attempt to abandon all that is right and decent? The San Francisco 49ers have indicated that they "might be interested" in signing the disgraced quarterback, Michael Vick. ... Horrors! ... What price winning, guys? ... Rob K., someone close to E-GIANTS, offers the thought that with his speed and running ability, he might be perfect for the "wildcat" offensive formation, taking direct snaps and running the ball, or passing it on the run.

Who cares? What he did and condoned was unforgivable. ... Are the 49ers ready for that kind of daily protest?

Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS where you can subscribe to his newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here.
- Team Giants

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