Four-year deal keeps Bradshaw with Giants
Even when he was out publicly flirting with other teams, Ahmad Bradshaw always had one eye on returning home. In every interview he gave in which he talked about a desire to play for the Dolphins or a possible visit with the Bengals, he always said his real desire was to return to the Giants.
So although there were a few days when Bradshaw's future with the team was in doubt, it really was no surprise that he ultimately signed with the Giants.
The big surprise -- even to Bradshaw -- was the size of his contract. After a career-high 1,235 yards and eight rushing touchdowns in 2010, Bradshaw signed a four-year deal worth $18 million.
"We didn't get what we expected to get, but I'm happy with what I got," Bradshaw said Thursday, the day he made his first public comments and also the first time he practiced with the team this training camp. "I love the Giants and I wanted to be here. That's what I wanted."
Bradshaw said he certainly noticed when, early in free agency, DeAngelo Williams re-signed with the Panthers for five years and $43 million. Williams' guaranteed money, $21 million, is more than the total value of Bradshaw's contract.
"The Panthers have a different situation than us and they handled it that way," Bradshaw said. "We're the same talents. He's a great back and he does a lot of the same things that I do. I felt that way, too. But like I said, it's a business, and the situation I was in as a free agent [was different]."
The Giants also had to restructure the contract of Brandon Jacobs, turning some of his base salary for 2011 into incentives to make room under the salary cap for Bradshaw. Bradshaw said Jacobs called him every day for updates, urging him to return to the Giants.
Bradshaw just laughed when asked what Jacobs' reaction would have been had he taken a pay cut for the team to bring in another back and not his good friend.
"He loves me, man," Bradshaw said. "I respect him more than anything for doing that."
Tom Coughlin said during the offseason that he'd like to see a more equitable share of not only money but carries between Bradshaw and Jacobs this year. Bradshaw said that is fine with him, as it would allow both to remain healthy and probably would lengthen their careers.
Bradshaw said he feels "tremendous" after having surgery in February to clean out some "junk" in his left ankle, and the small fracture in his forearm has healed. He said he worked on his hand strength this offseason in an attempt to reduce his fumbles, about the only part of his game the Giants had issues with in 2010.
Coughlin has suggested that Bradshaw's desire to drain every centimeter out of every carry hurts him with the turnovers. "Go down and live to carry another day'' is the coach's thinking sometimes. Bradshaw nodded, but it's clear that he's not going to be giving up yards anytime soon.
"Every time I touch the field, you'll get everything I got," he said. "I love this game, and regardless of how much money I have, I'm always going to give my all."
