Steve Weatherford will be aiming for the seats and not just the sidelines tomorrow at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Giants’ veteran punter knows all too well the fate that befell predecessor Matt Dodge for kicking to Eagles speedster DeSean Jackson with the game on the line last December.
Dodge ultimately lost his job after his accidental line drive to Jackson at the Meadowlands resulted in a 65-yard touchdown return with no time left and devastating 38-31 Giants loss.
Not wanting to repeat Dodge’s massive mistake, Weatherford said the Giants have no intention of punting to Jackson at any point in this weekend’s NFC East matchup.
“Ideally, I’d like to have the ball as far out of bounds as possible every time I punt it,” Weatherford said.
Weatherford, the former Jet who is off to a great start (a 45.6-yard gross average through two games) after beating out Dodge in training camp, is much less of a danger to replicate Dodge’s miscue.
That’s because Weatherford is a more accomplished directional kicker than Dodge, a rookie last year who relied on pure leg power and hang time.
Weatherford remembers feeling badly for Dodge and said the ire directed at him was a bit misplaced.
“If you play long enough, every punter’s going to be in a situation like that,” Weatherford said. “It’s just unfortunate it happened that way. A lot of things went wrong prior to that, and Matt got the unfair brunt of it. It’s not like a Madden video game, where you point the arrow and push ‘X.’¤”
That said, Weatherford appears confident the Giants won’t be done in by a Jackson punt return for the second straight meeting.
“I feel really good about my protection and coverage, so I’m looking forward to [tomorrow],” Weatherford said.
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Wide receiver Mario Manningham was listed as doubtful, but isn’t expected to play because of lingering effects from his concussion Monday against the Rams.
Coach Tom Coughlin said Manningham missed practice yesterday because he was being examined by a third-party neurologist as part of the NFL’s new concussion protocol. Manningham must be cleared by both the Giants and the independent physician before being allowed back on the field.
“All I know, and rightfully so, someone with a head injury has to go through protocol for him to get back on the field, and that is what he is trying to do,” Coughlin said.
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Osi Umenyiora was ruled out and still appears at least a week away from making his season debut after arthroscopic right knee surgery in August.
Fellow defensive end Justin Tuck was excused from practice yesterday because of a death in his family.