George Willis

George Willis

NFL

Giants punter hoping for better outcome after bad Week 2

Steve Weatherford is one of the most accommodating players on the Giants, always willing to speak to the media or agree to support a worthy cause. But the Giants punter was a bit cranky this week, anxious to redeem himself for what he called “a crappy game” in last Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.

“Sunday can’t get here soon enough,” Weatherford told The Post on Friday, referring to the Giants’ visit to the Panthers.

This is a week when Weatherford could take bows for his philanthropic endeavors. On Monday, he will be named the Health and Fitness Ambassador of the Boys and Girls Club of New Jersey, making him a mentor to 80,000 kids in the Garden State. On Tuesday, he will be named the spokesperson for Wellness in Schools, a fitness program for more than 50,000 in the New York metropolitan area.

Teaching kids about health and nutrition is something Weatherford is as passionate about as his punting.

“I’m not too far from being removed from being a kid, and I understand how kids look up to professional athletes,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to inspire some kids in a positive way.”

Weatherford hopes to be wearing a smile at these appearances early next week and not the frown caused by his “crappy”— his word — punting during the Giants’ 41-23 loss to the Broncos.

He had a solid 46.2-yard gross average on five punts, but one of his kicks was a low liner down the middle of the field that Trindon Holliday returned 81 yards for a touchdown. It was just the second of Weatherford’s 511 career punts to be returned for a score, and the first in six years. It wasn’t the only kick that drew the ire of coach Tom Coughlin, who called it “a bad day” for Weatherford.

“The number one thing we always do is punt team,” Coughlin said, referring to the Giants’ daily practice schedule. “That sends that kind of message. That’s why it’s so disappointing from last week. He has worked hard. He’s been very serious about it, so we’ll see.”

Weatherford prides himself on being taken for granted, someone Coughlin doesn’t have to worry about during the heat of a game. Until last week, Weatherford wasn’t even on the list of Giants concerns. But nothing can be taken for granted after a 0-2 start that has put every member of the roster on alert.

The performance of the special teams figures to play a role in the outcome of the game on Sunday, and Weatherford faces a dangerous returner in the Panthers’ Ted Ginn Jr.

“I’ve been with Coach Coughlin for three years,” Weatherford said. “I’ve tried my best to be what he wants me to be every week. That was just one week where there was poor execution. Nobody is more frustrated about it than I am. But I’ve got 14 more games to prove my worth to my coach and my team.”

Weatherford can be a master at directional punting, landing a ball so close to the sideline the opposition has little chance for a big return. But last week too many punts went down the middle, leading to good field position for the Broncos.

“[Coughlin] was disappointed and I was disappointed,” Weatherford said of his punts against the Broncos. “We both know how hard I work and prepare for each game. We know it’s not a problem of preparation. It was just poor execution.”

He’s ready to redeem himself after what he calls “one of the longest weeks of my career.” He has refocused on the basic techniques and regained his confidence.

“I’m up for the challenge,” Weatherford said.

A win Sunday will put him in a good mood to lift the spirits of the boys and girls he’ll mentor on Monday and Tuesday. A loss and it might need to be the other way around.