Giants, Coughlin unhappy with Patriots grabbing TE

Giants, Coughlin unhappy with Patriots grabbing TE Ballard, coming off ACL and micro-fracture surgery and likely unavailable for action until 2013, was claimed shortly before Tuesday's opening workout of Giants minicamp, a day after he was waived because of a failed physical. When it was suggested that the Giants might just have kept their top pass-catching tight end from last season on the 90-man roster to ensure keeping his contract rights, Coughlin shot back, Don't ask me those questions. What was depicted as a "calculated risk" by New England in taking a fearless tight end who caught 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns last year was being viewed in some quarters as a vindictive move by Patriots coach Bill Belichick. [...]