Brandon Jacobs: What He Meant to the New York Giants

Well, unless Brandon Jacobs decides to re-sign with the New York Giants for less money than he can get elsewhere, his days as a member of Big Blue are over, as the Giants released him today. What a run it was for the 6'4", 265-pound halfback out of Southern Illinois.

The Giants selected Jacobs in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft, and immediately there was a buzz surrounding him. New York now possessed a running back that was even bigger than NFL legend Christian Okoye, and he would be paired with one of the most dynamic runners in the league in Tiki Barber.

Jacobs only carried the ball 38 times for 99 yards during his rookie season, but seven of those 38 carries resulted in touchdowns. It was at that point that you sensed the Giants may have had their halfback of the future, as it seemed like it took all 11 defenders to bring the enormous Jacobs down.

The following year was when No. 27 really broke out, as he accumulated 423 yards on 96 carries, good for 4.4 yards a touch. He also got into the end zone nine times.

Of course, Barber unceremoniously retired after Jacobs' sophomore season, setting the stage for Jacobs to become New York's feature back.

He rose to the occasion, tallying 1,009 yards and averaging five yards per carry in 11 games (he missed five games due to injury). He only recorded four touchdowns, but he was instrumental (along with then-rookie Ahmad Bradshaw) in helping the Giants to a Super Bowl title.

In 2008, Jacobs really set the world on fire. It was at this point that I truly believe he was among the top five halfbacks in the league, as he finished the season with 1,089 yards (five per carry) and 15 touchdowns in 13 games.

Unfortunately for Jacobs, his prime was a very short one, and his size had a lot to do with that. Why?

Well, because defenders had no choice but to tackle Jacobs by his legs, and because he would keep churning for more and more yardage when one defender tried to bring him down, the amount of hits he took simply took their toll on his large frame.

Jacobs did have a great season in 2010, averaging a career-best 5.6 yards per carry and recording 823 yards and nine scores, but because the G-Men missed the playoffs, it went virtually unnoticed. Due to the fact that he averaged only 3.7 yards a touch in '09, most had already written the bruising back off as being on the slide.

This past season, Jacobs was instrumental in leading Big Blue to its second championship in five years. He only averaged 3.8 yards per carry on the year, but he significantly raised his level of play toward the end of the campaign, most notably when he rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns in New York's must-win game over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.

The point of this article, though, is that Jacobs' value to the Giants goes far beyond his statistics.

He was a tremendous pass-blocker, possibly the best pass-blocking back in the entire NFL. I can't tell you how many times I saw him pick up blitzes with outstanding precision, providing an extra line of defense for Eli Manning to throw the football down the field. His physical style of play would also set the tone for the G-Men and fire up his teammates, and don't think that didn't play a major role.

Finally, where Jacobs was probably most important to New York was his leadership ability.

Yes, he did grumble a bit, but when the chips were down, Jacobs was one of the most vocal players on the Giants, displaying the utmost confidence in his team and a competitive fire that is not seen so often nowadays.

Is Jacobs' production replaceable?

Absolutely. He is no longer a No. 1 halfback, and it seems as if running backs grow on trees this day and age, anyway.

They are not nearly as valuable as they once were, as it now appears that systems matter much more than the ability of the back. Just look at some of the halfbacks that have had 1,000-yard seasons over the past 10 years or so (like former Giant Reuben Droughns, for example), and you'll understand my point.

Certainly, New York can go out and find a very capable replacement for Jacobs and not miss a beat in terms of on-field production. However, the real question is whether or not the Giants can find someone that has the kind of impact on the locker room that the soon-to-be 30-year-old did.

Don't underestimate the importance of leadership in sports, especially in the NFL.

Jacobs will definitely go down in Giants' lore as one of the most fiery and well-liked players to ever don blue. He was an integral part of both of New York's Super Bowl runs during his tenure, and that will never, ever be forgotten.

Goodbye, Brandon, and good luck.