The Giants chose Aaron Ross in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft and took Ahmad Bradshaw with their last pick, in the seventh round. Both were part of a vaunted rookie class that contributed to a Super Bowl championship that season and both are still with the Giants four years later.
“There’s four of us left,” Ross said of that draft class. “Actually, me and Ahmad talked about it, to tell you the truth. The last four standing from a class that they considered was one of the better classes that came in.
“It’s a business. The guys made a decision to go elsewhere and I’m glad we’re here.”
The guys who left are Steve Smith (second round), Jay Alford (third), Kevin Boss (fifth) and Michael Johnson (seventh). The others who are still Giants are Zak DeOssie (fourth) and Adam Koets (sixth). Four years later, Bradshaw is the only starter. DeOssie is the Giants’ long snapper on special teams and Koets is a backup offensive lineman currently on the physically unable to perform list with patellar tendinitis.
Then there is Ross, who is entering his fifth and possibly final season with the Giants — considering he will be a free agent after this year.
Ross is the Giants’ third cornerback right now, playing behind starters Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas. Plucked out of the University of Texas, Ross started nine of the 15 games in which he played as a rookie in 2007-08, started all 15 of the games he played in 2008-09, then got hurt. He played in only four games (starting one) in 2009-10 and 15 games (starting one) last season.
Ross hasn’t intercepted a pass the last two years, a span of 19 games. Ross has had a so-so training camp this summer (he had three tackles and one pass defended in the game against the Panthers last weekend and also struggled with his tackling), and if he doesn’t play well in the first part of the season, he may find himself demoted from the third corner spot when this year’s first-round pick, Prince Amukamara, returns from a broken foot.
Ross, who will turn 29 next month, is hoping to stay.
“Yeah, this is exactly where I want to be,” Ross said. “New York has been good to me. Well, Jersey has been good to me. I love it here. Don’t know what’s going to happen next year. But I would love to be here.”
Ross, who said he paid special attention to his tackling this past week, feels good right now because he’s not dealing with any injuries or ailments. And that has built up his confidence.
“I’m healthy. That’s the main thing. That’s the main thing for me right now,” Ross said. “I know I can play. I know I can get out on the field and perform. It’s just me being healthy to be able to do that.”
