Per ESPNNewYork.com, All-Pro defensive end Justin Tuck said Wednesday night that he’s looking to add more hardware to his collection, and even uttered the vaunted ‘D’ word when discussing the possibility.

“Our thing now is we want to be a dynasty,” Tuck said. “We want to make it a dynasty.”

Eli Manning, whose almost single-handily commandeered the team to its two most recent titles, said Tuck would like to accomplish a franchise-first for owner John Mara.

“Justin said to Mr. Mara that no Giants player has three championships with the Giants,” Manning said.

Ironically enough, the last true NFL dynasty came via the Patriots, who owned the early 2000s with three championships in a four-year span. The Giants, of course, ruined New England’s fourth attempt at glory in 2007, and did so again in February.

If New York plans on following in the Pats’ footsteps, well … good luck. Not only are they faced with the league’s toughest schedule in 2012, but the losses of several key players, including Super Bowl XLVI hero Mario Manningham, make this tall task that much more unattainable.

However, the Giants, maybe more so than any other team, are experts at overcoming adversity, and their most recent piece of bling gives Tuck and Co. the motivation they need to stay on top.

“I think the second ring makes you that much more hungrier,” Tuck said. “Because you get there the first time, you are in awe. You are like, ‘Oh God, this might not ever happen again.’ And then you win a second one and you are like, ‘Hey, maybe we can do something here.’”

Photo: Julio Cortez/Associated Press

On Thursday, the veteran linebacker took to Twitter and gave “sneak preview” photos of what appeared to be the team’s commemorative ring for their victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

Presumably after being talked to by Big Blue’s brass, he removed the tweets and did his best to backtrack.

RT: Saw the ring online not official yet….official release will be presented by GIants organization… Sorry

— Clint Sintim (@ClintSintim52) March 29, 2012

Fortunately, the crack folks over at NFL.com managed to grab one of the images, which shows the gaudy, diamond-studded piece of bling in all its glory.

Sintim’s defensive teammate, Justin Tuck, also chimed in, saying the finished product hasn’t yet been decided upon.

People I don’t know who started the post of the ring. But we haven’t decided on the final ring yet. Still working on it.

— Justin Tuck (@JustinTuckNYG91) March 29, 2012

When reached by the New York Post, Giants vice president of communications Pat Hanlon responded along the same lines as Tuck.

“It’s under design, I know,” Hanlon said. “I do not know if it’s been finalized.”

You may also know that NFL meetings are taking place this week, and one of the topics for discussion is, in fact, Tebow. (Shocking, right?)

Although one can only imagine whose uttered what down in Palm Beach, Florida, Giants owner John Mara decided to break the silence with a humorous barb thrown the way of his crosstown rivals.

Mara was asked by reporters if the Big Apple can house both the Super Bowl champion Giants and Tebow. His retort?

“I don’t know, but the David Carr press conference will be tomorrow, too,” he said.

That’s funny to you and me, but not to Jets owner Woody Johnson, who ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols noted “did not look pleased” when made aware of Mara’s remark.

“Well, that’s pretty interesting,” Johnson said.

As for Tebow, he’ll be awfully lonely behind the podium, and won’t be joined by the usual suspects — Johnson, GM Mike Tannenbaum, and coach Rex Ryan — who are all attending the meetings. The Jets are trying to downplay this presser as much as humanly possible after a few anonymous players reportedly grumbled that a backup quarterback shouldn’t be getting the rockstar treatment.

They’ve dubbed this a player “availability,” and won’t have Tebow hold up his No. 15 jersey for a photo op … like that’s going to halt the frenzy.

Apparently, the Jets’ brass will catch Tebow Time the same way as us normal folk — on TV during their lunch breaks. Something tells me Mara won’t be joining them, however.

According to Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Giants will release Jacobs on Friday, ending his seven-year stint with the team.

In recent weeks, the team wanted Jacobs to “greatly” reduce his $4.9 salary. After both sides couldn’t come to a financial agreement, New York decided to cut him loose.

It’s a logical move for the Giants organization, who understandably don’t want to shell out that kind of money to a backup who’s about to turn 30, a dreaded age for running backs.

Age aside, Jacobs’ production last season likely factored in to this decision, as he rushed for just 521 yards (and a meager 3.8 yards-per-carry average), serving as the clear-cut backup to Ahmad Bradshaw.

There’s still a chance the Giants could bring him back at a reduced salary, but probably would prefer to get D.J. Ware more involved in the offense.

Look for Jacobs to surface elsewhere as a third-down back — perhaps with one-time mortal enemy Rex Ryan and the Jets, who he wouldn’t be opposed to playing for.

Well, as we’re finding out a day later, that number could stand to be bumped up to the full monty.

Sources tell Clark Judge of CBSSports.com there is “virtually no chance” Manningham returns to the Giants, as the free agent is “expected” to sign with the Buccaneers.

Why Tampa, you ask?

Manningham would be reunited with former Giants assistant Mike Sullivan, now the Bucs’ offensive coordinator, and “people close” to the 25-year-old receiver say he prefers a warm-weather locale.

Also, the Buccaneers have a ton of salary cap space and can offer him much more money than the Giants would even consider — as a starter, no less.

Connecting the dots, it appears to be a perfectly sensible match for both parties.

Even though the season is over for both of the Big Apple’s NFL squads, the fun never stops in the city that never sleeps.

At New York’s bustling Penn Station, there’s an advertisement posted for what I’m sure is a luxurious getaway to Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

Displays like these are standard sights in all highly-populated hubs of public transportation, but this particular one is relevant to our interests, as it pokes fun at the shenanigans that ensue when the Jets and Giants meet on the gridiron.

This is definitely a little raunchier than the recent Daily News ad which, courtesy of their co-tenants, praised Big Blue for their Super Bowl victory.

Hey, it’s all in good fun. And we’re going to need a whole lot more of it with the offseason just beginning.

Due to collect $4.4 million in the final year of his contract, Big Blue’s bruiser is willing to restructure for the benefit of the team, “as long as it’s fair.”

However, if Jacobs, an avid wrestling fan, can’t work something out with the G-Men, then he wouldn’t rule out switching allegiances by joining their MetLife Stadium co-tenants, ESPNNewYork.com reports.

“I wouldn’t count it out,” he told the paper. “I like the way Rex handles his business. I don’t hold a grudge. It was a situation. We were rivals then. There’s no apology needed.”

For those that don’t know, the “grudge” stems from last December’s tilt between the Jets and Giants. Jacobs got into a verbal spat with Rex Ryan after emerging victorious, calling the verbose coach a “disrespectful bastard”, and adding that “it’s time to shut up, fat boy.”

He seems content with letting bygones be bygones, setting himself up for a possible future with Gang Green. The Jets’ congratulatory newspaper display must have warmed his heart a bit.

And I could just see it now. Jacobs, at practice one day, tears off his Giants shirt to reveal a Jets logo, stunning his teammates and coaches, who are watching in disbelief as the 29-year-old goes from face to heal.

Quick, someone get Vince McMahon on the horn!

… Anyway, back to reality.

More than likely, Jacobs is hedging his bets in the event that the Giants decide to move on. He likely won’t settle for the veterans minimum, and lately the Jets are apt to furnishing older vets with above-market deals. (See: Burress, Plaxico.)

Whether it happens or not, one thing is for sure: Jacobs and linebacker Bart Scott, another huge wrestling buff, would make a helluva tag-team in the Big Apple.

For his efforts, Cruz captured the Vizio Top Value Performer Award, which, unlike Big Blue’s newly-minted Lombardi Trophy, is a bittersweet honor; it’s given to the player who does the most for the least money.

Cruz made an appearance on PFT Live Thursday to air his thoughts regarding his contractual status. Although he acknowledged that his rookie pact was fairly structured, the salsa-dancing sensation also believes he’s now deserving of a raise.

“I think I was paid, you know, relative to where I came in this year and, you know, I came in as a free agent so that’s the salary I was on, so I don’t feel like I was underpaid,” Cruz said.  “I mean, I feel like after my performance this year, you know, I feel like I deserve to be paid more money at this point.  But that’s something I’ll let my agents and those people take care of and I’ll just go out there and play the game.”

In 2011, Cruz earned $450,000, a pittance considering he was, statistically, the league’s third-best wideout. As it stands now, he’s set to pull in $490,000 before hitting restricted free agency in 2013.

Obviously, it’d behoove New York to lock up their young stud with a deal that more appropriately reflects his production, especially since fellow receiver and Super Bowl XLVI hero Mario Manningham is expected to test the free agent waters this offseason.

Pagar el hombre!

Perhaps trying to buy back a bit of dignity, the Jets have praised their co-tenants for doing what they haven’t done since man walked on the moon.

On Wednesday, Gang Green took out an ad on a special edition of the New York Daily News, congratulating the Giants organization on their stunning victory in Super Bowl XLVI.

It’s a nice gesture by the normally crass franchise, but a transparent one at that. Before the two teams squared off on Christmas Eve, Jets coach Rex Ryan proclaimed his squad to be better than Big Blue.

His tune quickly changed after the Giants went on to win the game — and eventually the whole enchilada — while Ryan’s Jets missed the playoffs, finishing the season in turmoil with a mediocre 8-8 mark.

They must’ve figured some good PR might help wipe off the egg that’s splattered all over their collective faces.

Photo credit: WFAN

Credits: Savulich/News

While there’s little doubt that Peyton Manning will one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame, the same can’t be said for his little brother — at least according to a man who himself boasts a Canton-caliber resume.

Appearing on Arizona Sports 620 in Phoenix Tuesday (via NFL.com), Kurt Warner, former Super Bowl-winning quarterback-turned-NFL Network analyst, thinks Eli Manning isn’t yet deserving of a place in the Hall, despite capturing his second Lombardi Trophy in four years.

“I fully disagree with that,” Warner said. “You know, because I know we put a lot of weight on championships, and rightfully so. But championships are won as a team, and I’m fully convinced of that. You never see one guy — a great player, great quarterback — carry a team through the playoffs and into a Super Bowl and win a Super Bowl that way. I’ve never seen it. You know, even in that game (Super Bowl XLVI), it’s 21-17. That’s the game. There wasn’t a quarterback just up and down the field carrying the team. Yeah, he made the plays down the stretch — no question about it. He’s had two great playoff runs — or his team has had two great playoff runs. But I also look at the rest of his career.”

“I mean, he has an 82 quarterback rating throughout his career,” Warner continues. “You know, he’s had five of his eight seasons where he has thrown 16 interceptions or more. His completion percentage on his career is 58 percent. To me, those aren’t Hall of Fame numbers, and by that, I mean every time you step on the field you’re a game changer, you’re a difference maker. And I don’t believe Eli Manning has been that guy until this year.”

Warner, who spent one season with Manning in New York, conceded that Eli will “probably” end up a Hall of Famer if he continues at his current pace, but feels the divide separating the Brothers Manning is a large one.

“I just can’t fathom that in regards to what they’ve accomplished in their whole careers, the type of quarterbacks they’ve been their entire careers,” Warner said. “I don’t even think it’s close between Peyton and Eli.”

Obviously, Plaxico Burress would disagree.

You’ve gotta give Kurt credit for going against the grain, though, considering most media types and talking heads are already fitting Eli for his golden jacket after downing the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

On the other hand, Manning is making quite the case for himself. He’s nearing the 30K mark in career passing yards, has thrown 185 touchdowns, and is basically still in his prime after a very inauspicious start to his career.

Another four or five years of high-level performance should have Eli hovering near 50,000 yards and 300 TD’s, shattering Warner’s career totals and likely blowing by him for first-ballot considerations.