New York Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) ― After talking for about 15 minutes, New York Giants halfback Brandon Jacobs ended his interview for a more pressing matter.

It was Wednesday and fellow halfbacks Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw were waiting to make the run to the fast-food chicken outlet. And this was Jacobs' week to pay.

"Nice talking to y'all," Jacobs said.

There was a strong bond among the halfbacks who helped the Giants win the Super Bowl last season with a backfield by committee approach, and it seems even stronger this season.

 Week 3: Giants-Bengals Preview

Two games into the season, the Giants (2-0) are averaging 177 yards with a 5.6-yard average. Jacobs has been the workhorse with 36 carries for 209 yards, while Ward and Bradshaw are not giving opposing defenses any time to rest when they get the call.

Ward has gained 97 yards on 17 carries in the first two weeks and Bradshaw, who didn't get any work in the season opener against Washington, was dazzling in limited action last week against St. Louis, rushing five times for 52 yards and a touchdown and catching a pass for 18 yards and another score

Sitting on the bench talking to Ward, defensive end Justin Tuck watched the performance and dubbed the trio "Earth, Wind and Fire."

The 270-pound Jacobs is Earth. Ward is Wind. Bradshaw is Fire.

"We are blessed as an organization to have three backs who can come in and play and do whatever you ask them to do," said Jacobs, who is in the final year of a contract. "You don't have defensive linemen that can come in like that in the fourth quarter. Nine times out of 10, the guy who is in there in the fourth quarter is the guy who started, and he's getting very tired.

Giants receiver Plaxico Burress not only could sense the backs wearing down the Rams' defenders in the 41-13 win, he could hear it with every grunt, scream and curse that followed a run.

"Those guys don't want to tackle these guys once they get past the line of scrimmage with a full head of steam," Burress said. "You've got three different styles of running coming at you, and it definitely can work to our advantage."

Jacobs is the bruiser of the bunch. He runs over defenders. Bradshaw is the fastest of the three, although he hits the hole hard. Ward combines power and speed. All three can catch the ball.

"They all have a different style, but they all have playmaking ability in them," quarterback Eli Manning said.

The three are also selfless.

When Bradshaw scored twice in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Ward and Jacobs were among the first players to congratulate him. When Bradshaw got a second TD, Jacobs joked about complaining.

"No question I was mad," Jacobs said. "I played the whole game and didn't get a touchdown and he gets in and gets two in the first three or four minutes."

Ward said what makes the situation so good is that each of the backs roots for the others. They did that last year, too, when each got a chance to play a lot because of injuries.

"We all know Brandon is the starter and me and Ahmad are the cleanup hitters," Ward said. "He is going to continue to get his share and we're going to get our share. There is no reason to change it. We all have one role. That's to help the team win. It doesn't matter who gets the ball."

Center Shaun O'Hara said sometimes even he doesn't know who is lining up behind Manning.

"You just block the play, it doesn't matter who is in there," O'Hara said.

That's the way the trio wants it.

"We all have a good relationship and respect each other on and off the field," Jacobs said.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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