Derrick Ward ends up in Tampa

John Clayton just reported that now-former New York Giants RB Derrick Ward signed with Tampa for 4 years and $17 million. The deal, of course, is frontloaded with $6 million guaranteed.

This was inevitable, Giants fans. With both Ward and Brandon Jacobs as free agents this offseason, and the Giants spending so much on their defense, they had to let one RB go. And since Jacobs has such size and power, you couldn't let the proud resident of Wayne, New Jersey, walk away. It was just a matter of which team wanted Ward the most. Clearly, the Bucs paid up.

Ward's numbers are impressive. He rushed for over 1,000 yards last year (5.6 yards per carry) despite starting only three games. And anyone who watched the Giants every week knows that this guy accumulates yards in bunches. Remember the win-sealing 51-yarder against Carolina in Week 16? He had 215 yards that game.

That being said, I'm not sure he is a premier running back in the NFL. Since he didn't start most games, he let Badass Brandon Jacobs wear down opposing defenses before coming in late in the game and breaking off big runs. I'm not sure he can break as many tackles (and enter the secondary so often) if he is forced to carry the ball 20+ times per game.

Then again, check out Shan Alexander's statistics. In his first season, he started one game, played in all sixteen, and ran for 4.9 yards per carry (including a 50-yard burst). Then he became a full-time starter and ripped off 5 straight seasons of 1,000 or more yards. Including that memorable 27-TD year in 2005. So who knows what the Giants just allowed to walk out the door...