5 big questions for Giants next season
Brandon Jacobs of the New York Giants carries the ball for a touchdown in the third quarter against the New England Patriots. (Nov. 6, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
1WHAT'S BRANDON
JACOBS WORTH?
He played well in the last month of the season and still can pack a wallop. But Jacobs will be 30 by the time the 2012 season starts and the Giants owe him a $500,000 roster bonus in March plus $4.4 million in base salary for next season. They won't pay him that to be their backup behind Ahmad Bradshaw . . . if Bradshaw even comes back as the starter. Perhaps they can rework the deal -- they did some creative accounting this past offseason to squeeze both Jacobs and Bradshaw into their backfield -- but unless Jacobs comes very cheap, it's unlikely he'll be back. He has hinted at knowing that.
2WILL THEY RE-SIGN THE INJURED GUYS?
Before the first snap of the season, the Giants lost two of their key defensive players in Terrell Thomas and Jonathan Goff. How the front office handles these free agents will be interesting. Last year, they had somewhat similar situations with Steve Smith and Mathias Kiwanuka coming off serious season-ending injuries. They did not offer long-term deals to either in an attempt to reset their value. Smith wound up flying to the Eagles for a one-year deal. Kiwanuka signed with the Giants for two. They also have to decide what to do with two guys who suffered knee injuries for the second straight season: wide receiver Domenik Hixon, who is a free agent, and linebacker Clint Sintim, whose knee was mangled in the preseason. He has one year left on his rookie contract.
3WHO WILL THE
RECEIVERS BE?
Mario Manningham is a free agent, but he's often hurt and might need knee surgery in the offseason. The Giants have a cheaper alternative for now in Victor Cruz, but they might want to start thinking about locking him up with a long-term deal. Neither Ramses Barden nor rookie Jerrel Jernigan showed enough this season to prove either can be a No. 3 receiver if needed. There is one player who might be able to come in and provide a spark from the slot with Hakeem Nicks and Cruz lined up on the outside: Former Giant Smith is a free agent. For that matter, so is Plaxico Burress. Could the team swallow its pride and bring either back?
4WHAT HAPPENS WITH OSI?
His days as a starting defensive end for the Giants are over, and he knows it. There is no way Umenyiora can take his job back from Jason Pierre-Paul, who stepped into his spot, had more sacks than Umenyiora ever did in a single season and was picked for the Pro Bowl. And he's not moving to the other side to replace Justin Tuck, the defensive captain. When he came back from his knee surgery, Umenyiora showed that he still can play at a high level, but he then missed a month with an ankle sprain. He has one year left on his contract and is scheduled to receive $3.975 million in 2012. Umenyiora has had run-ins with the front office and even gave an affidavit last offseason that general manager Jerry Reese had promised him he would be traded or given a new deal. He's been trying to wiggle out of his contract since shortly after he signed it. He might get out of it soon.
5WILL CHAD JONES BE AN NFL PLAYER?
He was drafted to play safety for the Giants, but Jones never even made it to training camp. He was involved in a serious accident in New Orleans in the summer of 2010 that nearly cost him a leg. He's made a remarkable recovery and has been training for a comeback. The Giants have been keeping tabs on his progress and even had him on the sideline for the game against the Saints. He's planning on being ready to return to action this summer. With a full slate of minicamps and OTAs, the Giants should have a good idea what he's capable of doing by the time they head into training camp in late July.
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