Tom Coughlin calls losing Jake Ballard 'very disappointing'

From the sounds of things, it wasn’t Tom Coughlin’s idea to try to slide tight end Jake Ballard to injured reserve by waiving him on Tuesday.

The New York Giants coach had very little to say on the matter after practice today when he made it clear he was disappointed the team lost Ballard, who was claimed on waivers by the New England Patriots. It is expected Ballard will need the entire 2012 season to rehabilitate his knee. He suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl.

“Discouraged is a minor description,” Coughlin said. “Very disappointing. I’m not going to have a lot to say about that one -- just the fact that we are disappointed. Very disappointed.”

The Giants took a risk when they made the move, aimed at freeing up a spot on the 90-man roster. That is what is perplexing here. Did the Giants need a body for training camp that bad?

“Don’t ask me those questions,” Coughlin said. “I don’t have the answers for you there. We are all disappointed, that’s all.”

Coughlin says he believes Ballard will be an impact player in 2013 when he is healthy.

“I certainly thought so, for sure,” he said. “So did everybody. The whole building felt that way. Everyone did. It is obvious that it was a calculated risk and it didn’t work.”

Was he surprised the Patriots, who are rich at tight end, were the ones to pluck Ballard away?

“I don’t have any comment on that one,” he said. “It’s the nature of the business.”

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune

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