The New York Giants are welcoming back one member of last year’s Super Bowl team, and saying goodbye to another.
Rocky Bernard, a defensive tackle who played in every game last season, has re-signed with the team. And Jake Ballard, a tight end who suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl, has been designated as waived/failed physical.
The 33-year-old Bernard has been with the Giants since signing with them in 2009, and although he hasn’t been a starter, he has been an important part of the defensive line rotation. Last season he played in all 16 regular-season games and all four postseason games, and he had two tackles in the Super Bowl.
After Ballard’s ACL injury in the Super Bowl, he had microfracture surgery on his knee two months ago. It is unclear whether the 24-year-old Ballard will ever completely recover after such a severe knee injury, but he appears unlikely to play at all this season, for any team.