When the Giants lost tight end Kevin Boss to the Raiders heading into the 2011 season, there was palpable unrest from even the most trusting fans. After all, Boss helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII, and why the heck didn’t general manager Jerry Reese ante up to keep him?
Well, Reese came up with a little-known player named Jake Ballard and, under the tutelage of Mike Pope — considered the top tight ends coach in the NFL — Ballard contributed in a big way on the march to victory in Super Bowl XLVII.
Here we go again. As free agency kicked off yesterday, the Giants lost tight end Martellus Bennett after only one year in blue. Bennett signed a four-year, $20 million deal with the Bears, far too rich for the Giants. In one season with the Giants, Bennett hauled in 55 passes (second on the team), added ordinary blocking and authored countless colorful quotes (he dubbed himself the Black Unicorn and called himself a superhero).
He wanted to stay, but the Giants clearly weren’t impressed enough to offer Bennett a lucrative deal to secure his services.
The Giants don’t believe in spending big money on tight ends and are now in the market for a new one, as the roster is devoid of anyone who will keep any defenses up at night. They re-signed Bear Pascoe (four receptions in 2012) and hope Adrien Robinson, a 2012 fourth-round draft pick, can develop into “the JPP of tight ends’’ as Reese described him, comparing Robinson’s raw athletic ability to that of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.
As far as finding outside help, the tight end market quickly dried up. In the first few hours Anthony Fasano signed with the Chiefs, Delanie Walker signed with the Titans and Jared Cook signed with the Rams.
* The Giants did add a player — Aaron Ross, their former 2007 first-round draft pick. He started at cornerback in two Super Bowl victories and left on good terms in 2012. Ross lasted just one year with the Jaguars, and now is back with a one-year contract.
Ross has to pass a physical, which should come later this week. Ross, 30, after five years with the Giants, signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the Jaguars and started nine of the 14 games he played last season. He was released last week.
Ross started 15 games in 2011, plus all four in the postseason. He had four interceptions that season, giving him 10 in his five-year Giants career. Ross, a superior athlete, never developed into a top-tier cornerback and at times had problems with his legs and hamstrings.
Safety Antrel Rolle tweeted, “My brotha Aaron Ross is back! It’s time to get down once again!!’’
* RB Ryan Torain, a restricted free agent who was not tendered, re-signed with the Giants. … WR Domenik Hixon received an offer from the Lions but will “explore other options,’’ according to his agent, Eric Metz. … The Giants expressed interest in prolific returner Josh Cribbs but he is likely going to sign with the Cardinals.
*DT Chris Canty, released by the Giants in a salary dump, signed a three-year, $8 million deal ($2.8 million guaranteed) with the Super Bowl champion Ravens. It is virtually an identical deal that his replacement with the Giants, Cullen Jenkins, received (three years, $8 million, $3 million guaranteed.
*The Cowboys recently cut LB Dan Connor, and as a result have expressed some interest in Chase Blackburn, who started 15 games for the Giants last season.
paul.schwartz@nypost.com