National Football League

Giants cut TE Ballard, re-sign Bernard

Published Jun. 11, 2012 9:40 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New York Giants waived starting tight end Jake Ballard after he failed a physical exam Monday.

Ballard tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the Giants' Super Bowl victory over New England in February. In his second pro season, Ballard had a breakout year with 38 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns. He had five catches for 43 yards in the postseason before being hurt.

Ballard stepped in last season after the Giants lost starter Kevin Boss to Oakland in free agency. Ballard's most important contributions came in a win at New England, where he caught four passes for 67 yards, including a 28-yarder on third-and-10 that set up his winning 1-yard touchdown reception with 15 seconds remaining.

The Giants have seven tight ends on the roster, including holdovers Bear Pascoe and Travis Beckum - who tore his right ACL in the Super Bowl - and free agent signee Martellus Bennett.

Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard was re-signed. The 33-year-old Bernard is entering his 11th NFL season and fourth with the Giants. He joined the team as a free agent in 2009 after seven years with Seattle and has played in 148 regular-season games with 55 starts, and 12 postseason games with eight starts.

Bernard had a strong performance in a wild-card victory over Atlanta when he twice sacked Matt Ryan.