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• New York Giants place holder Steve Weatherford (5) celebrates after his team scored a game-winning field goal during overtime of the NFC Championship on Sunday in San Francisco. The Giants won 20-17 to advance to Super Bowl XLVI. (AP/David J. Phillip)

  

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January 24, 2012

Fourth time's a charm for Terre Haute’s Weatherford

Giants punter and Terre Haute North grad headed to Super Bowl

Todd Golden The Tribune-Star The Tribune Star Tue Jan 24, 2012, 09:51 AM EST

Thank God for slow motion. Without the benefit of slo-mo, it would be much harder to appreciate the impact New York Giants punter and holder Steve Weatherford had on the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

And his unbridled celebration afterwards.

As Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes attempted a 31-yard game-winning field goal against the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, the slo-mo cameras showed what Weatherford – a Terre Haute native – saw live in the flash of a nano-second.

The ball off the snap from Zak DeOssie arrived at Weatherford’s hands perpendicular to its intended position – flat to the grass.

No worries though. Weatherford calmly put the ball into proper position for Tynes – who slightly delayed his approach to give Weatherford time to adjust. Tynes then calmly booted his second championship overtime game-winning field goal in four years as the Giants won a taut 20-17 thriller.

Reached Monday by the Tribune-Star, Weatherford was still reveling in the moment.

“It’s kind of surreal and it hasn’t set in yet. I don’t think the gravity of it will until the Super Bowl is over and I hopefully have a Super Bowl ring. It’s a blessing to get to do what I do. I’m excited for myself, my family and my hometown,” Weatherford said.

Weatherford told the assembled media after the game that he had no recollection of his recovery of the snap and hold. On Monday, Weatherford reflected on his role as the holder, a job that is usually done in anonymity unless something bad happens.

“It’s a thankless job. You usually get noticed when you screw up. [Holding] is not a job I’m thrilled to do, but it’s what I have to do to help the team,” Weatherford said.

Tynes' field goal sent Weatherford into unhinged ecstasy, also revealed in slow motion. Chin-strap partially obscuring his face, Weatherford took off on a celebratory sprint across the wet Candlestick Park gridiron as he yelled, “I’m going to the Super Bowl!” … with a few unprintable newspaper words tossed into his jaunt for good measure.

“I still don’t believe it right now, so you can’t imagine what it’s like in the heat of the moment. It’s like hitting the lottery,” Weatherford said.

Television viewers the world over lived the Giants’ NFC championship through Weatherford’s jubilation.

And why not? For Weatherford, who starred at Terre Haute North and the University of Illinois, championship game glory was a long time in coming. After three previous championship game appearances – he was with the New Orleans Saints in 2006 and the New York Jets in 2009 and 2010 – that left Weatherford one stop shy of the Super Bowl, Weatherford was finally going to the promised land.

In his home state, no less. The Giants will meet the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XVLI on Feb. 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, an added bonus for the long Super Bowl wait Weatherford endured.

The gregarious Weatherford – who takes part in Terre Haute charity events and who hosts his own free football camp in Terre Haute during the summer – said he would love to accommodate everyone who would like to see him play, but he knows he has to draw a line somewhere.

“I’m going to keep my entourage – if that’s what you want to call it – to my immediate family. I’m keeping it close-knit. If you get beyond that, you begin to hurt people’s feelings and I don’t want to do that. I’d love to bring the entire city of Terre Haute, but I know I can’t do that,” Weatherford said.

In a game where defense reigned supreme – the Giants and 49ers combined to go 8-for-34 on third down conversions – Weatherford loomed large over the proceedings. In wet and windy conditions, Weatherford punted 12 times with an average of 40.6 per punt. He had a long punt of 57 yards.

Weatherford punted four times in the fourth quarter – twice with less than two minutes to play – when the margin was a possession or less. One slip up by Weatherford could have proved fatal to the Giants.

“It was tough being a holder, kicker or punter yesterday. It was raining sideways,” Weatherford said. “But in my opinion, our special teams did a great job. The 49ers had the number one special teams in the NFL this season.”

It was the 49ers who blinked. Two of Weatherford’s punts were muffed or fumbled by 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams, who played in place of injured Ted Ginn Jr. The first, a muff that grazed Williams’ knee, allowed the Giants to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. The last, a fumble by Williams in overtime, ultimately set up Tynes’ game-winner.

Weatherford, who has never averaged less than 42 yards per punt in any of his six seasons, was signed by the Giants – his fifth NFL team since 2006 – on July 29, 2011, after he had played the two previous seasons with the Jets.

While with the Jets in the 2009 playoffs, Weatherford had to overcome adversity as an irregular heartbeat caused him to miss a wild card playoff game against Cincinnati.

Weatherford was cleared to play in the Jets’ 2009 playoff victory over San Diego and the AFC Championship game loss to Indianapolis. Weatherford ultimately had a cardiac ablation in 2010 to fix the condition.

For Weatherford, however, those moments are in the past. He fully intends to live in the moment and enjoy his long-awaited Super Bowl experience to the fullest.

“I’m going to videotape everything. I know I won’t remember everything when I get to be an old man, so I want to make sure I enjoy every minute of it,” Weatherford said.

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Pro Sports

• Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks

  A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
  Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
  While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway.

  April 28, 2013  

• Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft

  As the 2013 NFL draft gets underway tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Indianapolis Colts are continuing their wait-and-see stance in regard to the first-round pick.
  The draft begins at 8 p.m. — televised by the NFL Network and ESPN — with the Kansas City Chiefs making the night’s first selection. Teams will have 10 minutes to make their decisions during the first round. Indianapolis will have the 24th overall pick in the first round.
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  As it stands now, Indianapolis does not have a second-round pick. It was traded to Miami last fall in exchange for veteran cornerback Vontae Davis. But second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has nut ruled out the possibility of trading down from the first round if the Colts aren’t satisfied with the players available.

  April 25, 2013  

• Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck

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  Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had agreed Monday night to be the Colts’ primary back-up to second-year starter Andrew Luck. He officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the team Tuesday morning.
  “We are very pleased to announce the signing of Matt Hasselbeck,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a prepared statement. “His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward.”

  March 20, 2013  

• Colts introduce free-agent signees

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  That was especially true for the five veteran free agents who were added to the Colts’ roster Tuesday. Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England) and linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) admitted as much Wednesday.
  “I felt like this would be the best fit for me at this point in my career. I really liked what I saw was happening with the program here and the way things have taken shape. I feel like we have a really great team here and it’s on the rise. I really wanted to be a part of that,” Thomas said during a teleconference interview with the Colts’ media.

  March 14, 2013  

• Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee

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  McAfee, an unrestricted free agent who’s contract is due to expire March 12, was designated as the Colts’ franchise player Friday. The move allows Indianapolis extra time to work out a long-term deal for the team’s special-teams ace.
  “He’s huge. He’s a major priority in free agency. Obviously, we’ve reached out and are working to get Pat re-signed,” Pagano said during the National Football Scouting Combine. “We saw what he did for us last year. He’s a great weapon, not only kickoffs and touchbacks.

  March 3, 2013  

• Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine

  Back and ready to go.
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  December 13, 2012  

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  At just 20 years of age, the former Robinson, Ill., standout who took his talents to Champaign for two years is getting his feet wet at the highest level of basketball.
  Close to 300 fans, many of whom watched Leonard take the Maroons to the 2010 IHSA Class 2A state championship, rode on charter buses to watch him battle the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis last week.

  December 12, 2012 2 Photos  

• Update: Ravens dismiss former South standout Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator

  Former Terre Haute South High School football and basketball standout Cam Cameron was fired Monday as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, who have lost two straight and are still striving for consistency in the running and passing game.

  December 10, 2012 1 Photo  

• Leonard has moment for highlight reel, but Pacers come away with victory

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  December 6, 2012 2 Photos  

• Titans to sport new look vs. Colts

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  November 30, 2012  

• Wild card looking mighty doable right now: Colts improve to 7-4 with win

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  November 26, 2012 1 Photo  

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  November 26, 2012  

• Do-or-die Bills next for Colts

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  November 24, 2012  

• How will the Colts rebound vs. the Bills?

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  November 21, 2012  

• Colts healthy entering key road game

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  November 17, 2012  

• Colts, Patriots renew rivalry for 10th straight year

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• Times have changed

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  Many Colts point to that loss in the third week of the season. Indianapolis led 14-3 at the half and were ahead 14-13 after three quarters of play.
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  November 7, 2012  

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  October 12, 2012  

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  September 27, 2012  

• Tentative agreement reached on NFL referees' contract

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  September 27, 2012  

• Colts receiver Collie will miss season with knee injury

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  September 24, 2012  

• Wide receiver Avery starting to feel at home with Colts

  Count Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians as two of Donnie Avery’s biggest supporters.
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  September 22, 2012  

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