Fann Wants to Go Where He’s Needed : Football: Former CSUN standout welcomes release from New York Giants, a team top-heavy with running backs.

Albert Fann is back home, waiting for opportunity to ring.

Fann, Cal State Northridge’s career rushing leader, is available again, having been waived by the New York Giants on Monday.

In the end, his release came as welcome news.

“I was hoping it would happen so I would have two weeks to see if I can get with a team that really needs backs,� Fann said Tuesday.

The Giants most certainly did not. With top draft choice Jarrod Bunch now in camp after a holdout, the defending Super Bowl champions are well-stocked in backfield talent.

In two exhibition games, Fann, as well as several other free agents, did not play.

“My only regret is they never gave me and a few of the other guys a chance to prove ourselves,� Fann said. “We don’t tackle in practice so a game is really your only chance. It seemed like they already knew what they wanted as running backs. They just more or less used the free agents as bodies for practice.�

So it goes in the NFL, and it is a lesson Fann said he learned the hard way.

“There are a lot of political things that go on, but I also learned I can play with those guys,� Fann said. “I did well in practice and there is no doubt in my mind I can play at that level.�

Fann was told of his release by Coach Ray Handley, who said he would recommend Fann’s services to other teams.

While he awaits another opportunity, Fann will attempt to lose five pounds and get back to his college playing weight of 215. The Giants used him primarily as a fullback and never utilized him on kickoff returns, a specialty in which Fann was rated highly while at Northridge.

“I was supposed to get a shot playing tailback and fullback, plus returning kicks, but they never utilized my talent the way I thought they were going to,� Fann said. “Hopefully, next time will be different.�