The Giants will release running back Brandon Jacobs today after he and the team could not come to an agreement on a reduction in his 2012 salary, according to someone informed of the impending transaction. The person requested anonymity because the team has not yet announced the move.

Jacobs, 29, was scheduled to earn a total of $4.9 million in base salary and a roster bonus that was due later this month. The Giants met with his representatives during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis late last month and requested he hack that number down to a much more manageable figure. Jacobs resisted and, after one more failed attempt to bridge the gap today, he was informed of his impending release.

Jacobs' salary-cap number for this upcoming season was $7 million (the $4.9 million plus a $100,000 workout bonus and a $2-million prorated portion of the signing bonus). The prorated bonus stays on the cap as "dead money" but the other $5 million comes off. Combined with the $6.75 million the Giants saved in renegotiating Eli Manning's contract, they should now be under the cap in advance of the start of the league year on Tuesday.

The release of Jacobs leaves the Giants with Ahmad Bradshaw, D.J. Ware, last year's seventh-round pick Da'Rel Scott and Andre Brown as running backs on the roster. Bradshaw is currently working his way back from yet another a stress fracture in his foot and recently needed an injection to help with the healing. Ware has contributed in spurts over the past three seasons and Scott saw limited action in his rookie season. Brown, the team's fourth-round pick three years ago, spent all of last season on the practice squad.

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In short, it's likely the Giants will add a back through free agency or draft one early next month.

Jacobs, a fourth-round pick in 2005, leaves the Giants as the fourth-leading rusher in team history with 4,849 yards. His 56 rushing touchdowns are the most for any Giant.

The bullish, brash Jacobs (currently listed as 6-4 and 264 pounds) was an anomaly when the Giants drafted him, so much so that general manager Ernie Accorsi immediately sent word down to the media room minutes after the selection Jacobs was a running back, not a fullback.

If there was any doubt left four months later, Jacobs immediately got rid of it with 73 yards on 12 carries (plus another 56 yards negated by penalties) in the preseason opener of his rookie year against the Browns. Jacobs ran for only 99 yards that season behind Tiki Barber but upped that to 423 yards in 2006 and back to back 1,000-yard seasons in 2007 and '08 after Barber retired.

With his big frame, Jacobs brought a big personality — too big at times. From an on-field scuffle with then-Redskin Albert Haynesworth in 2009 to his accidentally throwing his helmet into the stands in Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 2 the following season, Jacobs often showed his fire on the field. He also got into it with Eagles fans before a game in Philly 16 months ago and even had some words for Giants' fans booing him this past season.

But Jacobs also provided an emotional lift for the team and the image of him firing the ball into the play clock after scoring a touchdown in the Divisional Playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys four years ago is one that defined the passion with which he played.

The images that will define the physicality Jacobs brought to the field will be the sight of his running over the Green Bay Packers' Charles Woodson to set a tone on the first drive of the 2008 NFC Championship game and his bulldozing Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry in the regular-season opener later that year.

Jacobs also converted a fourth-and-1 on the game-winning drive in Super Bowl XLII.

Mike Garafolo: mgarafolo@starledger.com; twitter.com/MikeGarafolo