Prodigal Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said that his year with the 49ers was a “curse,” and that they effectively admitted they didn’t want to have to face him again.
The 49ers suspended him after his social media attack, which complained about playing time, the kind of thing you do when you’re trying to get cut.
“I didn’t think I was done because they didn’t want to release me,” Jacobs said, via Dave Hutchinson of the Newark Star-Ledger. “I was told point-blank, ‘Do I look like a fool? I release you and you’ll be with somebody else and come back and play against us? I felt good about it.
“I’m like, ‘I see, y’all are scared of me. It’s cool. I’m all right.’”
Of course, it might have also just been pragmatism, as offering help to someone you might have to face at some point doesn’t seem wise either.
Either way, the veteran back was in a more welcoming mood with reporters upon his return to a familiar setting. Giants coach Tom Coughlin said that Jacobs had become “humble” during his year away.
“That is accurate,” Jacobs said. “It takes people to go through things and learn and be better. I’m happy I went through that.”
There’s also still the small matter of whether he can play or not. The 31-year-old back was in the 295-pound neighborhood this offseason, though he’s dropped around 30 pounds in preparation for his return to New York. Then again, if he can simply hang onto the ball, he’ll be a welcome addition.