Brandon Jacobs has cutoff contract negotiations with the Giants. Apparently, the Giants made him an offer that in Jacobs words was "ok", but not what he felt he is worth. So Jacobs has decided he will prove it on the field this season, and get the "big money" deal he feels he is worthy of.
"I just wanted to be able to prove myself," Jacobs said after arriving at the University at Albany yesterday. "I see what guys are getting when they hit the market. And that's not what I was asking for. I was asking for half of what they got and half of the years. I thought that was fair. But I can't be the one to say what I think was fair and what's not. Now I've got a whole season to prove myself."
The way I see it, there are two ways to look at this:
On one hand, its refreshing to see an athlete say, "Ok, you and I disagree on my value, so let me go show you what I'm worth."
On the other hand, is it wise for a guy who has yet to play a whole season as a starter to take this kind of risk? Brandon Jacobs is a big, punishing back, and let's face it, those backs tend to wear out the fastest in the NFL. I hope he proves me wrong, and I hope next off-season he gets to put his name on a contract that pays him more money than Trump, but I think if I were his agent I would have shown him a video of former Oiler RB Earl Campbell trying to walk, and advised him to take what the Giants offered.