Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Brandon Jacobs wants to retire a New York Giant and is open to the idea of restructuring his contract for a second straight year as long as it is “fair.”
The Giants have to make a decision next month on Jacobs, who is due a $500,000 roster bonus and is scheduled to make $4.4 million in the final year of his contract. Last summer, Jacobs restructured his contract to help the Giants re-sign Ahmad Bradshaw to a four-year deal worth $18 million.
“As long as it is fair,” Jacobs said of altering his deal again before taping a cameo on “TNA Impact Wrestling” that will appear on Spike TV on Thursday night. “I just want everything to be fair. I feel like I put a lot of hard work and dedication into what I do as well and whatever their plans are to try to keep me around here, hopefully we can get it discussed and get things figured out because this is where I want to be.”
Jacobs, who turns 30 in July, said the Giants did not give him any indication as to what their plan is for him after winning the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots.
“I wish things can go great to where I can continue to be a Giant,” he said. “I started with the Giants, I would like to finish with them.”
“As an organization, they have been doing this stuff for years and they know what they have to do if they want to keep me around and indeed I want to be around,” he continued. “I want to retire as a Giant. Those guys have been working in the business long enough to know what they have to do to make it happen.”
Jacobs told the New York Times that if things do not work out with the Giants, he wouldn’t mind staying in the area and possibly join the Jets. The running back also said he doesn’t mind tag-teaming with Rex Ryan even though the two engaged in a verbal altercation on the field following the Giants’ 29-14 win over the Jets.
“I wouldn’t count it out,” he told the paper. “I like the way Rex handles his business. I don’t hold a grudge. It was a situation. We were rivals then. There’s no apology needed.”
Jacobs, though, makes it clear that he wants to remain with the Giants.
“Whatever their idea is, I just want to hear it and get this show on the road,” Jacobs said. “It is kind of nerve-wracking, sitting here and waiting and getting to know what is going to happen. I have kids, it may be tough to pick them up and move them to another site.”
“I want to finish a Giant and my kids can finish going to school where they are going to school,” he added. “My wife loves it here. I want to finish up here. I don’t know what their plans are, I do know it is a business first. I am just waiting to hear what is going to happen.”
Jacobs rushed for 571 yards — his lowest rushing total since his second season (2006) in the league — and seven touchdowns this past season. He missed two games due to a knee injury and only received five more carries than he did the season before.
Jacobs, though, feels fresh and said he goes into the offseason not needing any type of surgery.
“I don’t need any offseason work,” he said. “I feel like a newborn baby. (The Giants trainers) do a great job of taking care of their players. I feel great right now.”
Jacobs also said he was encouraged by what he saw from the Giants running game as the season progressed. While the Giants finished last in rushing in the NFL during the regular season, the team gained a total of 100 yards or more in four of the last five regular season games and rushed for a total of 172 yards against Atlanta in the wild card win.
“As a team, (we) had a couple of different players on the line that we didn’t really know, as backs, what their strong points and what’s their weak points and where you are going and how they get there and a lot of other things,” Jacobs said. “Things started coming together for us at the end of the season. Whatever happens next year, I think we will be much better in that category.”
Perhaps Jacobs will truck a wrestler in the ring this week like he has done to many safeties and cornerbacks on the football field.
Jacobs is an avid boxing enthusiast, but he grew up a wrestling fan and watching the likes of Shawn Michaels and Owen and Bret Hart.
Jacobs, who replaced defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul on the TNA show, will be in a wrestling ring with Kurt Angle and potentially other wrestlers on Thursday night.
“I will get a little mixed up with Bully Ray, that is pretty much all I will let out right now,” said Jacobs, who taped the show on Monday in Orlando. “Then things will go from there. Just tune in.”
“No question, I grew up a wrestling fan,” Jacobs added. “I’m that guy on the team that everybody is like, watch what you say type thing,” he said with a chuckle. “I enjoy playing the way I play, having that type of attitude that I have and if it weren’t for that attitude, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.”
WRITTEN BY Ohm Youngmisuk covers the Giants for ESPNNewYork.com & FULL STORY HERE
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