Steve Weatherford won the Jets' punting job in a 2010 training camp battle with T.J. Conley, but Conley took over the position in 2011.
Weatherford then became a Giant, going from a team that promised to go to the Super Bowl to a team that actually went to the Super Bowl.
"We knew him as an excellent athlete and have done our homework on Steve," Giants coach Tom Coughlin told the Super Bowl media Monday. "Obviously, he’s a guy who comes very well prepared, energetic, an exceptional weight room worker, and a good example for a conditioning guy to be honest with you."
"All you need to do is look outside my office window and there he is; Mondays, Tuesdays he’s out there running and doing extra conditioning."
Weatherford averaged 45.7 yards a punt in 2011, booting a long of 62 yards and pinning offenses inside their own 20-yard line 25 times.
"We knew him as a very versatile punter," Coughlin said. "He’s come on and he’s worked very hard to be the style of punter that we would employ as a Giant punter, and he’s done a good job of that. He’s become proficient as a directional punter, and I think he’s improved as the year has gone along."The 29-year-old out of Illinois was an unsung hero in the Giants' NFC Championship Game victory, as he handled a low snap as well as possible on Lawrence Tynes's game-winning overtime kick.
"He adds an element of excitement to our team in that he’s been in four championship games and not advanced to the Super Bowl," Coughlin said. "He’s very, very excited to be a part of this Super Bowl team."
Rex Ryan guaranteed Weatherford would be there. He was right.
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