Weatherford was released by the Giants on Friday, Rand Getlin of NFL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Giants will move on from the veteran, who averaged 45.5 yards per punt last season. Coach Tom Coughlin was apparently displeased with Weatherford's showing during camp, intimating that consistency has been an issue. "Well, he's been off and on," Coughlin said. "He's had some good ones and he's had some that aren't so good." It's unclear who the Giants will bring in to punt at this point after cutting ties with Robert Malone earlier in the week.

Sports With Alternatives To Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.) co-owner Mitch Ross included Giants P Steve Weatherford as one of his clients. This story just keeps getting more bizarre. In an hour-long "press conference" outside the Super Bowl XLVII media center, Ross also mentioned Brett Favre, Ray Lewis, Terrell Owens, recent BCS national championship teams at Auburn and Alabama, baseball players Johnny Damon and Carlos Pena and golfer Vijay Singh as clients. Weatherford angrily denied ever knowing or meeting Ross, adding he has contacted an attorney to rebut the "slanderous" accusations.

Giants signed franchise player P Steve Weatherford to a five-year, $12.75 million contract. The deal will reportedly include around $4 million "up front." The 29-year-old Weatherford averaged a career best 45.7 yards per punt (with a 39.2 net punting average) last season, and most importantly, he did not kick to DeSean Jackson.

Giants assigned the franchise tag to P Steve Weatherford.

Free agent P Steve Weatherford expects to re-sign with the Giants. Weatherford had a solid season after being signed away from the Jets in July, posting a career-best net punting average of 45.7. He also shined in the Super Bowl, pinning the Patriots inside their own 10-yard line three times. It could take a multi-year deal to prevent him from signing elsewhere.

Giants agreed to terms with P Steve Weatherford, formerly of the Jets. Weatherford will compete with second-year punter Matt Dodge, who sports a big leg and consistency issues. Weatherford tied an NFL record with 42 punts inside the 20-yard line last season, so he would afford coach Tom Coughlin fewer headaches than Dodge.

It doesn't appear the Jets will be offering free agent P Steve Weatherford a contract, according to beat writer Manish Mehta. It was suggested that the Jets may try to bring Weatherford back cheaper than the $1.2 million tender they declined before the lockout, but they're moving on. After putting 42 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line last year, Weatherford will certainly have plenty of suitors.

The Bears are expected to pursue free agent P Steve Weatherford this summer. The Bears will let 37-year-old Brad Maynard walk after a 29th place finish in net average last season. The Jets opted not to tender Weatherford, balking at the $1.2 million price tag. The Illinois alumnus finished a more respectable 15th in net punting average last season while also tying an NFL record with 42 punts inside the 20-yard line.