Derrick Ward Expects to Start, and Not for the New York Giants

If there was any doubt that the New York Giants and running back Derrick Ward will part ways this offseason, Ward erased that doubt in an appearance Wednesday on ESPN's Jim Rome Is Burning.

"I'm anxious to see what's out there," Ward said. "I feel that I'm a quality starter and I can help a team win."

When Jim Rome asked Ward whether he thinks he'll have to sign with another team in order to accomplish his goals, Ward made it clear: "Yeah, I think so," Ward said. "They [the Giants] just franchised Brandon Jacobs, and he's the starter there."

Although Rome got Ward to state it more explicitly than he had previously, the news that Ward expects to leave doesn't come as a surprise. Both Ward and Jacobs ran for more than 1,000 yards in 2008, and both of their contracts expired at the end of the season. It just isn't realistic to expect the Giants to fork over the kind of money it would take to keep both of them, especially when they also have Ahmad Bradshaw under contract.

Ward recently hired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent, and when players hire Rosenhaus, that means they think it's time to get paid. Ward made clear that he believes Rosenhaus can help him find a team that will make him its featured back and pay him accordingly.

"Drew is the right guy, right now, for me to get me what I want in the NFL," Ward told Rome.

So which teams might be interested in Ward's services? Technically, the free agency period hasn't started, and if any team has signaled to Ward that it's interested in him, that team has committed tampering. But Ward said he could see himself signing with the Cardinals, Browns or Texans.