When the Giants released Brandon Jacobs in early March just before he was due a $500,000 roster bonus, they didn't necessarily want to cut ties for good. Up until the end, the Giants thought bringing Brandon Jacobs back was a "possibility" -- at the right price. But ultimately, Jacobs joined Mario Manningham and signed a one-year deal with San Francisco a month later.

Last night, Jacobs told Jim Rome on CBS Network's show "ROME" that the reason he didn't remain a Giant was simple.

"It was just money, that’s all it was, a couple hundred thousand [dollars]," Jacobs told Rome.

Asked if it was "just a couple hundred thousand bucks" then why didn't they want him back, Jacobs replied, "You would think so."

Jacobs, who was in Los Angeles with some of his former teammates last night for the ESPYs, is set to make at least $1.575 million this season plus incentives, which could bring the total to $2 million.

Jacobs played seven seasons with the Giants and rushed for 571 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He averaged just 3.8 yards per carry and the yard total was his fewest since 2006.

Without him in the fold, the Giants used their first-round pick on David Wilson.

Jorge Castillo: jcastillo@starledger.com; twitter.com/jorgeccastillo