NFL

Giants’ Bradshaw has message for rookie RB Wilson: The job’s mine

Ahmad Bradshaw

Ahmad Bradshaw (N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg )

MY BALL: Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw (inset) knows David Wilson (above) was drafted to eventually replace him, but the veteran won’t concede the job to the untested rookie. (
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ALBANY — Not yet, kid.

That’s the mindset Ahmad Bradshaw adopted after the Giants brought in his eventual replacement. The veteran running back will be helpful, offer advice, give suggestions and counsel David Wilson in any way he can. But he will not give him his job.

“Never,’’ Bradshaw yesterday told The Post standing outside his car on a hot morning at the University at Albany. “My job right now is to protect myself and to be a leader for this team. Whatever I can do to win. I’m not giving up my job easy for no one. I’ll always fight for my job.’’

As the sun bore down on Bradshaw, he tugged at his black T-shirt, first pulling it off one of his shoulders, finally yanking it off completely, revealing a more chiseled upper body. Bradshaw has been around long enough to take him for granted but, entering his sixth season, it must be noted the Giants’ top running back is only 26 years old and it remains his ball in the backfield.

“I can feel it in my body I’m getting a little older as a running back,’’ Bradshaw said. “But I feel great. I feel young as I was.’’

More precisely, Bradshaw feels younger than he has felt in quite a while. His surgically repaired feet are healthy and not hurting. He hasn’t missed a thing entering the second week of training camp, a rarity for a player who practiced so infrequently the past few years that it was inevitable some rust stayed with him on game days.

Coach Tom Coughlin was asked if he noticed a drop in effectiveness when Bradshaw didn’t practice.

“Not a lot but occasionally, a little bit here, a little bit there, didn’t quite see it the way you saw it kind of stuff,’’ Coughlin said. “The opportunity for him to practice … I think it’s gonna make a big difference to him.’’

The question was posed to Bradshaw: Should he continue to be viewed as a running back with bad feet?

“I was, I really was,’’ he said. “I feel terrific right now. Feet-wise I don’t have a problem with anything. I am not a bad-foot running back.’’

Wilson has opened plenty of eyes in camp, mainly with the speed he displays as he dodges and darts, making cuts so sharp and low to the ground it hurts your knees just to watch. The first-round pick out of Virginia Tech is going to erupt for some big gains in his first season, but he also may learn some harsh lessons with negative-yardage plays as he scoots rather than hits the hole.

Bradshaw chuckles when he sees Wilson start and stop and zig and zag, knowing he once made similar moves that looked great, but didn’t always produce the desired result.

“He’s doing great,’’ Bradshaw said. “He’s still young. He kind of does his own thing, juking and doing a lot of different things, putting a lot of torque on his ankles and knees. So we’re trying to teach him how to be a professional and hold back on some of those things.

“When I was young, I came in and I was spinning a lot, doing a lot of different things that he does. Just with the fresh legs, you feel good and you want to show your talents out there. But everybody knows he’s fast and he can make moves. It’s just the way he does it, and there are times when it’s not even needed.’’

Coughlin said, “If David’s smart he’ll take a little bit of that’’ regarding Bradshaw’s advice. As for Bradshaw, he doesn’t mind the mentor role, but he’s not moving aside one step for the rookie.

“I want to put all the pressure on him, make him get better,’’ Bradshaw said. “I’ve got everything I had.’’