After the Giants hit a game-winning kick to defeat the Niners in the NFC Championship game, punter Steve Weatherford went crazy. Weatherford was the holder on the play, and the snap wasn’t perfect. The muddy conditions made life difficult, but he was able to field it cleanly and do his job. Lawrence Tynes knocked the kick through and the Giants are on their way to Indianapolis. For Weatherford, this entire season has been one that he enjoyed far more than the previous two with his former team, the Jets.
“I’m glad it’s with this franchise and I’m glad it’s now,” Weatherford explained according to the NY Daily News. “This is definitely my best season, for sure. I think I’m playing well at the right time. I think I’ve had a strong season. … A lot of it has to do with playing for (special teams coach) Tom Quinn and being comfortable and confident and strong. Playing for the Jets, and playing for that positional coach, was draining, it was difficult and it was physically taxing.”
Apparently Weatherford did not enjoy playing for Jets special-teams coach Mike Westhoff. Judging by Westhoff’s remarks at the beginning of the season, the feeling was mutual. He said the Jets got rid of Weatherford because they were trying to improve and he “just didn’t do the job.” With the other New York team this season, Weatherford averaged 45.7 yards per punt, which is the highest total of his career. He has won the support of Tynes, who said Westhoff’s comments in September were “the worst statement of the year by any coach.”
Who would have thought a punter and a special teams coach could have such issues? Better yet, who would have thought a special teams coach could be too “physically taxing” on his punter? Apparently it happens. For Weatherford’s sake, the Jets picked the perfect year to cut him loose.
