28-year old running back Derrick Ward has left the Giants to sign a 4-year, $17 million dollar deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Ward was sensational last season as he played in all 16 games for the Giants and he carried the ball 182 times for 1,025 yards (5.6 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 41 passes for 384 yards (9.4 avg) last season.  The possible bright spot about Ward leaving is that 3rd year man Ahmad Bradshaw will have a increased role in the Giants’ offense in 2009.  The 22-year old has played in 27 games the past two seasons and he has carried the ball 90 times for 545 yards (6.1 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also has caught 7 passes for 54 yards (7.7 avg) with 1 TD grab in his two years with the Giants.  The Giants will probably be looking for a new kickoff returner as they won’t likely want to use Bradshaw in that role anymore.  Bradshaw returned 77 kickoffs for the Giants for 1,788 yards (23.2 avg) so far in his career.  Bradshaw is likely to put up numbers similar to Ward’s if he gets enough playing time in 2009.