Posted by Will Brinson

Brandon Jacobs lost the Giants' starting running back roll to Ahmad Bradshaw on Thursday night, and after the game, he wasn't exactly thrilled about the news, even if he does understand the concept that the NFL is a harsh business environment.

"No question," Jacobs told ESPN . "To be in this business, you have to know that. No one's your friend in this business. This is a cutthroat, backstabbing business. That's just the way it goes. It's been like that before me. If you expect anything else out of a business like this, you're crazy."

"It's almost hard to stay positive in a situation like this, but that's what I've got to do," Jacobs said.

He's right -- there's no other option other than to take whatever carries the Giants will give him and make the most out of them. It's still likely he'll get plenty; this is a team that used to sport three "feature backs" in their rotation when Jacobs, Bradshaw and Derrick Ward (pre-Bucs cutting him form) demolished opposing defenses.

The bottom line, though, is this is a smart move by the Giants because Bradshaw deserves the start and if this works out as a motivational tactic for Jacobs, the offense will only be that much more effective.

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Posted by Andy Benoit

The Giants official first team offense took the field for the first series in the preseason finale Thursday night. Lining up at running back was NOT Brandon Jacobs, but rather, Ahmad Bradshaw.

All arrows have been pointing to this scenario throughout the preseason, but with the moment of truth seemingly here, it’s still a little bizarre: Brandon Jacobs, the most punishing downhill runner in the NFL, the stallion of the dominant rushing attack that brought the organization a Lombardi Trophy in 2007, is no longer a starter.

Jacobs struggled mightily in 2009 (his average yards per carry dipped from 5.0 in’07 and ’08 to 3.7). He was indecisive and consistently gained only the yards that were blocked. It was assumed that a bum knee was largely the problem, but during the offseason, coaches expressed only lukewarm confidence in the sixth-year pro.

Bradshaw battled his own health problems in ’09 and underwent surgery on both ankles during the offseason. Still, he was effective down the stretch last year.

Many believe the 5’9”, 198-pounder is a scat back. However, on film it’s apparent that Bradshaw, with his compact strength and low center of gravity, is more than capable of breaking tackles and dragging defenders inside. He’s also a reliable receiver in the flats, which gives offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride more flexibility in play-calling on first and second down.

Jacobs is prideful almost to the point of mercurial at times. He won’t like coming off the bench, but he’ll still play an integral role in New York’s offense. Now, he’ll just be fresher and angrier.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

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-In Baltimore’s win against the Redskins, Terrell Suggs – coming off, by his standards, an unimpressive year – had a good showing . He credits an offseason diet in which he came to training camp considerably lighter.

-Of course, Suggs’ explosion could also be credited to the fact that Redskins rookie LT Trent Williams, who was burned much of the night by Suggs, sustained an elbow contusion . He said the injury would not keep him out long.

-Seahawks RB Leon Washington, who suffered a season-ending injury last year while playing for the Jets, made his Seattle debut an impressive one, rushed for an 11-yard TD (overall, he carried the ball four times for 19 yards). Afterward, Washington declared that he felt healthy.

-Last night, we told you Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman was done for the preseason after fracturing the tip of his thumb. Freeman is just relieved it’s not a more serious injury . His backup, Josh Johnson, went 6 for 10 for 133 yards and a TD. Third-stringer Rudy Carpenter also performed well, completing 8 of 11 attempts for 79 yards and the game-winning score.

-According to Florida Times-Union columnist Gene Frenette, the Dolphins exposed the Jaguars defense during Miami’s one-point win Saturday night. Miami and QB Chad Henne scored on four-straight possessions against Jacksonville’s No. 1 defense.

-In case you figured the injuries to A.J. Feeley’s thumb and elbow would catapult rookie Sam Bradford into the starting QB slot, you might have to rethink that theory . After the game, Feeley said he expects to be back for the team’s next preseason game. The X-rays on his thumb and elbow were negative.

-Neither Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw nor S Antrel Rolle started New York’s game Saturday night, because both were late to team meetings. “I've been around long enough to understand there are consequences, so I took it like a man,” Rolle said.

-And while we’re on the Giants, let’s talk for a second about RB Brandon Jacobs and his stiff neck that kept him from playing. According to Tom Coughlin, the injury came out of nowhere. Apparently, Jacobs hurt himself by doing shrugs while working out.

-If Ben Roethlisberger had his choice, he would have played the entire Steelers-Jets game. Alas, he was just happy to be back on the field.

-Speaking of Pittsburgh, Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette thinks the battle for the center spot is finished. Give the job to dominant rookie Maurkice Pouncey now, Bouchette writes.

-Brian Urlacher said the calf injury he sustained on the first series of the Bears game was not a big deal .

-The art of the rookie hazing is not dead in Tennessee. On Saturday, the Titans splashed all of safety Robert Johnson’s non-uniform clothes into the cold tub . Johnson’s cell phone was spared, but not his $160 pair of Jordan’s. The hazing was totally unexpected for Johnson, he said.

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