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TE Jake Ballard (Super Bowl Champion)

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Ballard, Johnson sign

Jake Ballard and Bruce Johnson, two exclusive-rights free agents, have signed one-year contracts with the Giants for $540,000, according to NFLPA records.

Johnson, a cornerback, suffered a torn Achilles in the preseason. Ballard was a play-making tight end for most of the season before he tore his ACL in the Super Bowl. The Giants expect Ballard to start the 2012 season on the PUP list.
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http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/eli-restructures-his-contract-1.3589941?qr=1
 
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Giants tight end Jake Ballard faces long road back
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
BY JEFF ROBERTS
STAFF WRITER
The Record

He knew something wasn?t right, before his knee buckled, before he collapsed on the sideline cradling his left leg against the pain that contorted his face.

The Giants medical staff had examined Jake Ballard and thought he had torn his meniscus, not his ACL, when he went down in the fourth quarter of the Giants? Super Bowl XLVI victory. But that was reason enough to try to go back out there ? even if he was experiencing the worst pain of his life.

"I definitely felt it rip and heard it pop," said the tight end, describing his knee after he had been jammed by Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes. "I felt like I ripped everything and broke everything.

"But it was the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. I wasn?t not going to try to get back out there."

So the trainers watched and NBC cameras filmed as Ballard tested his knee on the side. He doesn?t know exactly what happened, but he thinks he already had torn his ACL, then damaged cartilage when his knee buckled while testing it.

Ballard, 24, underwent microfracture surgery to repair the cartilage as well as surgery to repair his torn ACL in February, casting doubt on when ? or if ? he will return for the 2012 season.

"My knee just collapsed," Ballard said Monday night in a phone interview, a week before the Giants begin OTAs. "I definitely tore [my ACL] on the field. I?d say [the cartilage damage] probably happened on the sideline from trying to run with no ACL.

"But I don?t regret trying to get back in the game. It?s the biggest game in any football player?s career."

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http://www.northjersey.com/sports/146939705_Ballard_faces_long_road_back.html?page=all
 
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April 19, 2012
Ballard, Beckum on different roads to recovery
BY Ralph Vacchiano

Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum were on parallel paths from the moment they both tore their ACLs in Super Bowl XLVI. They were ?ACL buddies,? as Beckum called them, and for the first few weeks of their rehabs they were on the same schedule and same plan.

Now, though, they?re more of an odd couple. Beckum?s rehab is going great, and he?s hoping to return by the start of the regular season. Ballard said his ?best chance? for a return ?would be mid-season, if at all.?

The doctors had warned them not to compare their situations because things could turn out drastically different. It turns out the doctors were right.

?That?s what they kind of harped on us about not doing, because one could possibly be doing better than the other and you don?t want to rush the injury and make it worse,? Beckum said. ?Obviously I?m mentally here for Jake and I think we?re going to push each other to get back as soon as possible. But you never know. They always say it?s like a 6-8 month injury and some guys get back by 5 1/2, 5 months.

?So you never know. You just have to kind of hit rehab and hope for the best.?

So far Beckum?s news has been closest to the ?best.? His six-week checkup brought him the news that Opening Night was at least a possibility. The doctors looked at how he walked without crutches, looked at his muscle definition, the healing of his scar, and at least opened the door and his mind to the possibility that he won?t have to begin the season on PUP.

Ballard, meanwhile, was setback from the beginning when his knee required microfracture surgery, too. He said the second procedure, which was done at the same time of the first one, set him back three weeks at the start. He wasn?t able to even walk until about two weeks ago.

Ballard always knew it would likely be October before he could return. Now he?s not sure if he?ll even be back by then.

?A lot of people have ACLs and miss a year. Why should I be lucky enough that I don?t miss the whole entire year?? Ballard said. ?I can?t do anything (about it) now. I?m past that. I?m hurt. I?m trying to get better.?

Asked about the fact that Beckum might be able to return much sooner, Ballard said ?More power to him. Travis is a smaller athlete, smaller tight end. It might work out.?

Beckum doesn?t know for sure. In fact, despite his optimism he knows there?s still a good chance he won?t be ready for the start of training camp or the regular season. But at least at this point he has something Ballard doesn?t seem to have:

Hope.

?You know what? You?ve got to try to think positive about the situation,? Beckum said. ?Obviously I would love to be back by the first game. If I?m not (and am on) PUP, I don?t necessarily look at it as a bad thing. More time to make sure my knee is 100 percent and to get my body right.?
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http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2012/04/ballard-beckum-on-different-roads-to-recovery
 
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I know football is a game of injuries but I just think it sucks that he re-injuried himself trying to get back out there for his team. Now, the team is cutting him because of the injury.

IDC, I'd always sit if I had a serious injury, for fear of doing further damage.
 
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Giants waived/failed physical TE Jake Ballard.
He'll clear waivers and go on I.R. Ballard returned from a torn PCL in his left knee late last season, but proceeded to tear his right ACL and meniscus in Super Bowl XLVI. On February 21, Ballard underwent both an ACL reconstruction and microfracture surgery. He'll sit this year out and try to make a comeback in 2013. Ballard caught 38 balls for 604 yards and four TDs last season. Jun 11
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http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6310/jake-ballard
 
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southcampus;2165109; said:
I know football is a game of injuries but I just think it sucks that he re-injuried himself trying to get back out there for his team. Now, the team is cutting him because of the injury.

IDC, I'd always sit if I had a serious injury, for fear of doing further damage.
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I don't think they would've just released him if his injury weren't really serious. This is not a good sign for Jake.. they're basically saying they think his knee is done. It's what it says to me, anyways. If he could fully recover they could just put him on IR I think.

EDIT: Just saw the above post.
 
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Jake Ballard waived by NY Giants, tight end hopes to return to Big Blue in 2013 when ACL heals
Ballard was a surprise for Big Blue last season
By Ralph Vacchiano / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, June 11, 2012

image.jpg

Charlie Riedel/AP
New York Giants tight end Jake Ballard tears his left ACL in Super Bowl XLII against the Patriots in Indianapolis in February.

Jake Ballard knew he didn't have much of a chance of returning for the 2012 season after he tore his ACL in Super Bowl XLVI. But he's still intent on returning to the Giants in 2013.

His season officially ended on Monday when he failed his pre-minicamp physical and was promptly waived by the defending champs. Once he clears waivers, it's expected that he will be added to the Giants' physically unable to perform (PUP) reserves list, which would allow the Giants to retain his rights until next season while clearing a spot on the 90-man roster.

They used that spot on Monday when they re-signed veteran defensive tackle Rocky Bernard.

Ballard was a big bright spot for the Giants last season, filling a huge void at tight end by playing in 14 regular season games and caught a surprising 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns. He played in all four playoff games too, but tore his right ACL in the first half of the Super Bowl.

He made a valiant attempt to convince trainers to let him back in the game by attempting to run on the sidelines. But he quickly collapsed and eventually needed surgery to repair the torn ligament and a microfracture procedure, too.

Ballard said all along he'd likely need at least a year to fully recover.

"I'm on the road to recovery," he said on Monday via Twitter. "And I believe I'll be in a Giants uniform in '13."

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Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...013-acl-heals-article-1.1093795#ixzz1xZyLW7I9
 
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