TERRE HAUTE —
In professional sports, when one door closes, another door sometimes opens to a better situation on the other side.
That has proven to be the case for Terre Haute native Steve Weatherford, whose career has reached its pinnacle in 2012 after landing with the New York Giants last offseason. The Terre Haute North graduate was released by the New York Jets after two seasons in 2011, and he had also been let go by the New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs prior to his arrival in New York.
On Friday, the Giants and Weatherford agreed on a five-year, $12.75-million contract, culminating a winter in which the 29-year-old played a critical role in the Giants’ winning Super Bowl XLVI in his home state. The deal includes a $3.2-million signing bonus.
“The last six weeks has been incredible,’ Weatherford told the Tribune-Star. “To go from finally getting past championship game to winning the Super Bowl, to getting franchise tagged, to getting a 5-year, multi-million dollar deal. It’s surreal. I’m just so happy and so proud of my family for helping make this possible.”
Weatherford averaged 45.7 yards per punt last season, and he was clutch in the playoffs. He pinned the New England Patriots inside the 10-yard line three times to set a Super Bowl record.
Also serving as the team’s holder, Weatherford came up with a low snap on the game-winning Lawrence Tynes field goal in the NFC Championship.
The Giants franchise tagged Weatherford, giving them more time to negotiate a long-term deal.
“When I got franchise tagged, my options were play that on a one-year deal or work with them on a long-term deal,” Weatherford said.
Weatherford and his wife Laura have two children, 4-year-old son Ace and 2-year-old daughter Carney. A third child is on the way.
“It feels great that a team wants me to so bad to give me that kind of money. It feels so good to give my wife and kids financial security,” Weatherford said. “That hasn’t happened without a lot of blessings and a lot of hard work.”
Continuing his career for coach Tom Coughlin and his staff in a city like New York is thrilling, he said.
“New York’s a fun town, but aside from that the coaching staff and franchise are just incredible,” Weatherford said. “They gave me a warm welcome and it was very encouraging. As soon as I got there, I was part of the guys as soon as I got there. It was a comfort level, that showed on Sundays. I was able to play really well, but a lot of that had to do with the comfort I had there.”
Return trips to the Super Bowl are not out of the question with quarterback Eli Manning in his prime and an elite defensive unit opposite the offense.
“Obviously, the nucleus of your team is going to be your QB. I really believe he’s one of the best in the league. We probably have the most clutch QB in the NFL. It’s mind-blowing how good he is in the fourth quarter,” Weatherford said. “As everyone in Indiana has seen, the Mannings are a classy family. It’s a blessing to see up close how humble and hard-working that family is. That’s a classy family.”
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Related Photos
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Champion: Steve Weatherford signs autographs after an assembly Feb. 10 at North Vigo High School where he received a North jacket with Super Bowl Champion on the back.
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You the man: Steve Weatherford recognizes a fan as he travels along Wabash Avenue during a parade honoring him Friday afternoon.
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Super hero: Steve Weatherford (black jacket) waves to fans as he rides a fire engine along Wabash Avenue Friday afternoon.
Discussion
Steve Weatherford signs 5-year deal with NY Giants
Long-term contract worth $12.75 million
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. -
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. -
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.
There will be only one round tonight. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with seven minutes allotted per pick in the second round and five minutes allowed in the third. The final four rounds are slated to begin at noon Saturday with four minutes between selections.
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. -
Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
The Indianapolis Colts’ roster moves just keep coming.
While the Colts haven’t yet added that big-name wide receiver that team owner Jim Irsay hinted at in tweets over the weekend, Indianapolis has addressed one area on offense.
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.” -
Colts introduce free-agent signees
What the Indianapolis Colts accomplished last season — posting an 11-5 record and earning an AFC wild-card berth with a young team plus having that kind of success without its head coach on the sidelines for 12 games — didn’t go unnoticed by players around the NFL.
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. -
Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
A week ago, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano said it was a priority that the team retain the services of punter Pat McAfee.
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. -
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
Back and ready to go.
That’s the attitude Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano is taking during the National Football Scouting Combine, which completed its second day of operations Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. During a wide-ranging press conference at the combine, Pagano confirmed that he is back to a full work regimen after missing 12 games last fall as he battled a rare form of leukemia.
After undergoing cancer treatments that featured heavy doses of chemotherapy, the second-year head coach was able to return to the sidelines for Indianapolis’ final regular-season home game against Houston and for the team’s AFC wild-card matchup with eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore. -
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It's a job, not a reunion, Luck says
Andrew Luck made one thing clear this week.
He doesn’t regard Sunday’s game at Reliant Stadium with the Houston Texans as a chance to go back to his home town and talk about old times. -
Colts’ meeting comes on heels of Texans’ big loss
The Indianapolis Colts are quite aware of who, and what, they’re going to be facing Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
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Former Illinois star Meyers Leonard living the NBA dream
One thing is for certain. Meyers Leonard of the Portland Trail Blazers doesn’t need 40 minutes to incite a crowd with a posterizing slam dunk or a big shot block.
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. -
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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.
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Leonard has moment for highlight reel, but Pacers come away with victory
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Titans to sport new look vs. Colts
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Do-or-die Bills next for Colts
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How will the Colts rebound vs. the Bills?
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Colts healthy entering key road game
If all goes well during today’s short walk-through practice, it appears the Indianapolis Colts will be in pretty good health heading into Sunday’s nationally televised (4:25 p.m., CBS Sports) road game with the New England Patriots.
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Colts, Patriots renew rivalry for 10th straight year
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Times have changed
A lot has changed for the Indianapolis Colts since a 22-17 home loss to Jacksonville on Sept. 23.
For starters, that’s the only game the 1-7 Jaguars have won this season. Indianapolis, meanwhile, has posted wins in four of its last five games and is rolling along with a 5-3 record.
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.
In fact, the Colts led 17-16 with 0:45 remaining in the game. That’s when Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert connected with speedy wide receiver Cecil Shorts III on an 80-yard pass play that resulted in the final margin of victory.
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Colts not carried away with success
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Not pretty, but Colts take win
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Colts wish linebackers could play more at same time
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Pagano gives Colts 4 days off
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Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano put the Colts through workouts Tuesday and Wednesday before allowing the team to scatter across the country.
Players are due back Sunday evening as Pagano and his coaching staff hope to hit the ground running heading into Indianapolis’ Oct. 7 home game with Green Bay. -
Tentative agreement reached on NFL referees' contract
The NFL and the referees’ union reached a tentative contract agreement at midnight today, ending an impasse that began in June when the league locked out the officials and used replacements instead.
“Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night” for the Cleveland-Baltimore game, Commissioner Roger Goodell said after a day of marathon negotiations.
With Goodell at the table, the sides concluded two days of talks with the announcement of a tentative eight-year deal, which must be ratified by 51 percent of the union’s 121 members. They plan to vote Friday. -
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