Giants slap franchise tag on Brandon Jacobs

[fyo]

Call me naive, but this move actually surprised me. I think Jacobs is worth every cent ("just" $6.6 million), but considering how the Giants have used him, I didn't think THEY thought he was worth it.

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2009/02/new_york_giants_designate_bran.html

Per the story, it's the non-exclusive tag meaning that his salary is the average of LAST season's top 5 running backs (as opposed to this season's top 5, determined at some point in April). It also means that he could sign with another team - at the cost of 2 first rounders.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

He's definitely worth that kind of money considering the way he has played.  Which "three headed" running back tandem do you consider to be better?

Eagles- Deuce Staley, Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter

Giants- Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, Ahmad Bradshaw

[fyo]

Eagles- Deuce Staley, Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter

Giants- Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, Ahmad Bradshaw

Staley was never more than mediocre. Buckhalter was solid, but never saw more than limited action. Limited action is also the problem with judging Bradshaw's talent - although the potential looks to be insane (although you could argue the same with Norwood in Atlanta - and that's not necessarily good). Ward and Jacobs are two of the best running backs in the league. Westbrook is great - due to his versatility - but with two mediocre has-beens on the team (and himself arguably on the down-side of his career), that's not really a fair comparison.

You're pointing to the BEST three-headed monster in the league and comparing it to a rather average one. I'd rather have Atlanta's backfield, for example (Turner + Norwood + whoknowswhocares).