Steve Weatherford Released by Giants: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

After four seasons and a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants, veteran punter Steve Weatherford was cut Friday.  

NFL Network's Rand Getlin first reported Weatherford's release. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle noted later on Friday morning the Giants acquired Brad Wing from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a late-round draft pick. 

New York cut punter Robert Malone on Tuesday, but head coach Tom Coughlin didn't seem to be fully in Weatherford's corner after making that move, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post:

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You know what we're always after is directional, hang time, distance, location, hang, and the opportunity to put us in the best position from a coverage standpoint. Basically for me, it's always been put it outside the numbers. ... Well, he's been off and on. He's had some good ones and he's had some that aren't so good.

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Per ESPN.com's Dan Graziano, a back injury contributed to the 32-year-old specialist's struggles throughout training camp and the preseason:

The former University of Illinois standout has punted for the Giants, the New Orleans Saints, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets over the course of his nine-year career.

He has a career average of 44.5 yards per punt and a respectable net average of 39.5. Last season was arguably Weatherford's worst with the Giants, though, at 45.5 yards per punt overall and a net of 38.6.

Weatherford is extremely experienced and still fairly young in terms of punters at 32, which means the odds are in his favor of signing with another team, provided his back ailment clears up.

Even if a team doesn't sign him prior to the 2015 campaign, Weatherford will undoubtedly be one of the top candidates to be brought in if and when a punter gets injured.

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