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UPDATE
The Giants have found their replacement punter in the Steelers' Brad Wing.
Steelers traded Brad Wing to the Giants for a late-round draft pick, according to a source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 4, 2015
The 24 year old Austrailian punter was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of LSU by the Philadelphia Eagles, but played his rookie year in Pittsburgh. Heading into the preseason finale, he averaged 49.1 yards per punt, and landed four of his 11 punts inside the 20-yard line.
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The first of the Giants' cuts is a surprising one: Rand Getlin of NFL.com is reporting that the New York Giants have cut punter Steve Weatherford.
The #Giants have released punter Steve Weatherford, a source says.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) September 4, 2015
Weatherford signed a 5 year, $12.5mil contract following a brilliant 2011 campaign that saw the punter play a vital role in the Giants' Superbowl championship.
Weatherford proved to be one of the Giants few reliable special teams' assets through the 2013 season. In 2014, however, he suffered a devestating ankle injury in the first game of the season against the Detroit Lions. Though he played through though the injury, it compromised his plant foot and severely limited his effectiveness, and lead to compensation injuries.
Throughout the 2015 training camp there had been rumbles that the Giants were dissatisfied with Weatherford's punting, and his directional punting in particular. Upgrading their punting, along with the $4.4mil remaining on Weatherford's contract likely combined to spell the end for the popular punter's time with the Giants.
Stay tuned for more cut-day news.