TSR’s Punter of the Week
Steve Weatherford – New York Giants
Who is he?
Weatherford has a cocky streak in him and he can be kind of a wild child and a prankster. He’s brash. He’s imposing physically and he has a Super Bowl ring. His warm personality and on-field contributions during last season’s magical Big Blue playoff ride made him a celebrity on a team loaded with interesting characters. Weatherford’s antics can get him in a bit of trouble however. During this past summer’s training camp, Giants coach Tom Coughlin got livid about a Weatherford Twitter post linking to a video showing two teammates engaging in reckless horseplay. After Big Blue won a dramatic NFC title game in San Fran earlier this year, Weatherford could be seen on national television mouthing the words “I’m Going to the Mother-Fucking Super Bowl!” as he celebrated victory on the field. Not exactly something the staid Giants brass wants from its punter. But Weatherford has been great as a Giant. At 29 years old, Weatherford has a steady punting job after bouncing to and from four teams starting with the Saints in 2006. A four-year starter at the University of Illinois, Weatherford grew up in the state of Indiana and maintains close charitable ties with organizations in Terre Haute. Weatherford is an active cheerleader during games which is a little unusual for a punter. He appears to have a close working relationship with kicker Lawrence Tynes.
Weatherford’s stat line against the Panthers on 9-20-12:
2 punts. 76 yards total. Avg. 38.0 yards per. 38.0 net.
The punts in detail:
1. Weatherford’s first of only two punts in this game came with 46 seconds left in the first half and the Giants up by 20. There was concern in the run-up to this Thursday night contest in Charlotte that Big Blue would struggle without Nicks, Bradshaw and Diehl. Instead, they coasted. Neither Weatherford punt was a pressure kick. Standing at midfield, Weatherford’s first punt bounced at the five and came back high in the air. Teammate Chase Blackburn snared it at the eight. Weatherford walked off the field with a big grin on his face. He received a high five from Tynes. The NFL Network showed replays of Giants QB Eli Manning chastising Martellus Bennett after the latter stopped his route prematurely on the previous play. By pinning them so deep, Weatherford forced the Panthers to kill what was left of the first half clock. Carolina walked to its locker room to a cascade of boos. Officially, it was a 35 yard punt with no return.
2. It was garbage time when Weatherford came on for his final punt late in a blowout. Again standing near midfield, the 4th and 13 play from the NYG 40 called for a pooch. The replacement officials working the game had to halt play just before the kick. They convened a discussion when one of the stripes realized the game clock was winding down with the play clock off. After that was straightened out, the Panthers sent the house and tried for a block. Weatherford sniffed out the heavy rush and expedited the kick, a 41-yarder to the Carolina 19. Rookie Carolina returner Joe Adams muffed the catch and the fumble was recovered by Justin Tryon of the Giants in the red zone. Adams took his eye off the ball just before catching it and it slipped right through his hands. There didn’t appear to be any special knuckling action or English on Weatherford’s ball. Adams had earlier fumbled a kickoff return leading to a NYG TD. This one led to a Giants FG. The long delay before the punt meant Weatherford stood on the field for a solid three minutes before being able to launch it. While the officials bungled clock administration, Big Blue wideout Ramses Barden could be seen on the sidelines leading Lets Go Giants chants coming from a huge contingent of fans who made the trip to Carolina.
The Sound of a Punt:
Bob Papa and Carl Banks call Big Blue on radio and their description of the Adams muff on Weatherford’s second punt was spot on. Competent but largely passionless is how I’d describe Papa’s calls these days. I used to like him a lot more. Over on the NFL Network on the same play, Brad Nessler mistakenly told the audience that Tryon’s dash with the ball into the end zone was a TD. The NFL Network’s production truck put the points on the board before Nessler’s partner Mike Mayock correctly asserted that you can’t advance an opponent’s muff. Unrelated point: my cable system Time Warner finally added the NFL Network the day after the Giants game and I’ve been watching a lot of it since it appeared on my system. The audio clip below is Papa and Banks calling the punt and muff on WFAN here in New York.
The Punt-osis:
Weatherford is basking in the glory and pride of a championship and performing at a high level. He was given a generous, front-loaded contract extension before the current season. Included is an unusual amount of guaranteed and first-year-of-the-deal dough (for a punter). It’s said to be seven-plus million in the bank if Weatherford completes this season with four more at a mil-per (non-guaranteed) going forward. Weatherford’s two seasons with the Jets (preceding his free agent signing with Big Blue) were solid but special teams coach Mike Westhoff’s type A didn’t seem to mesh with a type A punter. The two have sparred verbally in the media since Weatherford left. You’d have to say Weatherford’s future as a Giant is pretty secure given the money already doled out. The Giants don’t put up with much nonsense so Weatherford likely knows the limits on acceptable behavior and will have to remind himself of that on occasion. I saw Weatherford at the parade up the Canyon of Heroes and it was great to see so much love showered on a punter. He clearly enjoys the attention and adulation.
Next week’s Punter of the Week: Chris Jones – Dallas Cowboys