Big-hearted Brandon Jacobs repays 6 year old fan with memorable visit

By PAUL SCHWARTZ
NY POST
June 21, 2012

Brandon Jacobs could growl and cop an attitude during some of his rare low moments with the Giants, but those who knew him best always viewed him as a big – very big – kid at heart. That is why it didn’t shock anyone when he recently paid a visit and spent some quality time with a 6-year-old New Jersey boy who was saddened to see Jacobs leave the Giants and sign with the 49ers.

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In what has evolved into a heart-tugging Twitter tale, the boy, Joe Armento, emptied his piggy bank and sent Jacobs $3.36 when he heard the Giants could no longer afford to pay Jacobs the money he wanted. Jacobs received the letter and money in San Francisco and was so moved by the gesture that he contacted the boy’s mother, Julie, and promised to get together with little Joe. Sure enough, Jacobs this week returned to New Jersey from San Francisco to pack up some of his belongings and while he was back in town he made sure to spend some quality time with one of his biggest fans.


Jacobs, accompanied by his 5-year-old son, Brayden, spent nearly two hours with Joe Armento and his 4-year-old brother at the Jump On In bounce house in Boonton, N.J.

“It was just us in the whole place and we were just going room to room -- just bouncing and flipping all over the place, hitting each other with balls, sweating, our shirts filthy,’’ Jacobs told the Sacramento Bee. “We were just dirty, stinky boys, you know?"

Twitter photo from Brandon Jacobs. Brandon Jacobs owning up to his promise and kickin' it with Joe and Nick Armento. $3.36 well spent by the 6-year old.

Jacobs presented Joe Armento with a signed Giants helmet and also gave him a $5 bill, more than repaying him for the $3.36 he stuffed into an envelope in hopes that Jacobs would re-sign with the Giants.

“He had some interest in there just for being a good kid," Jacobs said. "He's worth a lot more than that $5 bill I gave him."

Julie Armento was thrilled that her sons got to spend time with Jacobs. "He told me he really wanted to get out there with the kids," she told The Bee. "He really wanted to enjoy it, and he did. It was amazing."

Jacobs signed a one-year deal with the 49ers that can be worth $1.575 million – his base salary is $950,000 – after seven years with the Giants.

“I’m at a point in my career when people have stopped believing in me and not believing that I can still play,’’ Jacobs said. “But that’s not the case. Joe believes in me, gave me a lot of confidence and a lot of want-to. And I’m ready to go. I can’t wait until the season starts.’’