NFL Free Agency: Why New York Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw Is Going Nowhere

With the draft over and free agency next on the NFL itinerary, the attention will turn on the big name free agents who have to wait until the lockout is resolved. The New York Giants have several names that fall under that description, perhaps none more than Ahmad Bradshaw.

Bradshaw had a breakout 2010 campaign, racking up 1,235 yards and eight touchdowns. Although losing the starting job to Brandon Jacobs halfway through the season, he was the Giants premier runner, leading Jacobs in carries by a 276-to-147 margin.

It seemed even when Jacobs was the starter that the title meant nothing, as Bradshaw led the team in carries in most of those weeks as well.

Upon the closing of the 2010 season, when teams were still able to communicate with players, the Giants front office told Bradshaw soon after the season that he is a priority for them to re-sign, according to a February article in The Star-Ledger.

However, one hiccup could come with the expensive contract the Giants signed Jacobs to after the 2008 season.

“I mean, I think we could (remain on the team),” Bradshaw said in the Star-Ledger report. “Brandon and I, we’re brothers. We love to play together. We feel we’re a great duo together. It’s just the nature of the business. You just never know what’s going to happen with things.

“I don’t think they’ll be able to finance both of us financially. But you just never know. It may be possible. There’s even talk they might keep both of us. You just never know.”

You'd think the Giants wouldn't tell Bradshaw he's a priority and then turn around and let him walk away, but he is a restricted free agent and the Giants can match any offer from another team.

With the running back by committee system that most teams are running nowadays, I doubt many teams will offer a contract that's too much for the Giants to match.

Another big reason is the Giants clearly are fine with their current running back situation, evidenced by the fact that they did not take a running back in the 2011 NFL draft until the seventh round.

So even though Bradshaw is a free agent and there is a possibility he could be signed by someone else, all evidence points to the contrary.