Ex-Giant Derrick Ward arrested on robbery charges

Former New York Giants running back and Super Bowl XLII champion, Derrick Ward, has been arrested on multiple robbery charges.

Retired New York Giants running back and Super Bowl XLII champion, Derrick Ward, was arrested in Los Angeles this week and is accused of a string of robberies.

TMZ Sports reports that the 43-year-old Ward has been taken into custody and is being held on $250,000 bail.

Police say Ward used “force and fear” to get money from multiple stores and gas stations, but add that he did not use a firearm during the robberies.

43-year-old Ward, an L.A. native, is accused of robbing several businesses, including gas stations, over a recent period of time.

Law enforcement tells us … Ward did not use a gun during the alleged robberies — but officers say he did use force and fear to get money from the stores.

Ward was taken into custody on Monday afternoon and booked into jail around 6:30 PM. His booking information lists him at 6 feet tall, and 230 lbs.

According to jail records, Ward remained in custody as of Tuesday evening.

Originally a seventh-round pick of the New York Jets in the 2004 NFL draft, Ward joined the Giants after being waived as a part of final cuts that same year.

Ward spent five years with the Giants from 2004 through 2008, and was a member of their Super Bowl XLII championship team. After his time with the Giants, he spent one season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and two seasons with the Houston Texans before officially retiring in 2012.

Ward appeared in 93 career games and recorded 2,628 rushing yards on 551 attempts with 12 touchdowns. He also caught 96 passes for 787 yards and an additional three touchdowns.

Ward’s best season came in 2008 with the Giants when he gained 1,025 yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground.

Alongside Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, the trio was nicknamed “Earth, Wind and Fire.”

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2004 named Giants’ best draft class of past 20 years

CBS Sports recently named 2004 the New York Giants’ best draft class of the past 20 years, but we at Giants Wire disagree.

Many critics have been high on the New York Giants’ drafts since Dave Gettleman took over the team as general manager in late 2017. They have been systematically restocking their roster with young talent and have added a few stars in the process.

But how does it stack up against the team’s recent draft performances? What was the Giants best draft class of the past 20 years?

Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports believes the 2004 class, the one which the Giants selected Philip Rivers fourth overall and then shipped him and three draft picks to San Diego in exchange for Eli Manning, was that class.

The Giants spent the No. 1 overall pick on longtime star quarterback Philip Rivers, only to trade him to the Chargers in exchange for Eli Manning, who went on to set just about every Giants passing record while also leading Big Blue to two Super Bowl wins over Bill Belichick’s Patriots.

New York spent their second-round pick on guard Chris Snee, who enjoyed a 10-year career with the Giants that included four Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro nod in 2008. Defensive back Gibril Wilson played a significant role on the Giants’ 2007 championship team, recording 92 tackles and four interceptions during the regular season. Running back Derrick Ward rushed for a career-high 1,025 yards in 2008 while averaging a league-best 5.6 yards per carry, a banner season for a former seventh-round pick.

The trade for Manning alone makes this draft special. Manning went on to play 16 seasons for the Giants, leading them to two Super Bowl championships, broke and/or set just about every franchise passing record while not missing a game to injury. His 236 games player are the most by player in Big Blue’s 95-year history.

In Round 2, they grabbed Chris Snee, another Ring of Honoree and a staple on the offensive line for a decade. They also snared Reggie Torbor, Gibril Wilson and Derrick Ward in this draft.

My pick would have been the next season, 2005, when they only had four picks. They drafted Corey Webster in Round 2, Justin Tuck in Round 3 and Brandon Jacobs in Round 4. Wow.

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