Jessie Gets an Offer From Giants

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Brandon Jessie, a former all-conference basketball player at Utah and two-sport Orange County prep standout, said Tuesday the New York Giants have offered him a free-agent football contract.

“I feel real good about this,” Jessie said. “I’m trying to get my foot back in the door [in athletics] and I think this is the chance I need. I need to talk to my dad before doing anything, but I think I will [sign].”

Jessie underwent a physical and worked out for the Giants in New York on Monday after working out for the Phoenix Cardinals last week. He said he was offered a two-year contract. A spokesman for the Giants declined comment.

After finishing his eligibility at Utah in the 1995-96 season, Jessie played briefly in the Continental Basketball Assn. On the advice of former Huntington Beach and California tight end Tony Gonzalez, one of his closest friends, Jessie recently decided to pursue a pro football career.

Jessie, whose father, Ron, was a receiver for the Rams, hasn’t played football since his junior year at Edison. He was a receiver then, but Jessie said the Giants want him to play tight end because of his size (6 feet 6, 251 pounds).

As a senior at Utah, Jessie averaged 13.9 points and 5.2 rebounds. He twice was selected All-Western Athletic Conference.

“I haven’t played football for a long time and [the Giants] know that,” Jessie said. “They’re looking at me for my potential. I just have to give myself time. I’m going to give it a couple of years to see what happens.”