EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The New York Giants released popular punter Steve Weatherford on Friday and acquired Brad Wing in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The moves came days after coach Tom Coughlin suggested neither Weatherford nor free agent Robert Malone would be his punter this season.
Malone was cut Tuesday, hours after Coughlin spoke. Weatherford, a key member of the Giants’ Super Bowl champions in February 2012, was released hours after punting in the preseason finale against the New England Patriots.
His release will save the team money. Weatherford was to earn $3.075 million, while Wing, a former teammate of Odell Beckham Jr., at LSU will get $510,000.
Money wasn’t the only issue. Coughlin has not been happy with Weatherford the past two years. The coach wanted his punts to land between the numbers and the sideline. It wasn’t happening as often as Coughlin wanted.
Weatherford, who joined the Giants in 2011, also had a run-in with special teams coordinator Tom Quinn.
Weatherford played in all 16 games last season, averaging 45.5 yard with a 38.6 net. He landed 25 punts inside the 20-yard line and had six touchbacks. One punt was returned for a touchdown last year. The previous year three were returned for scores. He also was the holder on kicks.
The Steelers received a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2016 from the Giants for Wing, who averaged 48.8 yards on 12 punts in the preseason. He averaged 43.7 yards with a 38.8 net in 16 games with the Steelers last season.
Jordan Berry beat out Wing for the Steelers punting job.
Weatherford was popular in the area for his charity work. One of the fittest members of the team, he also had a large following on social network, although some of his videos from the locker room were not appreciated by Coughlin.
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