Cancer Survivor Mark Herzlich Makes Team As Giants Reduce Roster To 53

The Giants made 27 transactions on Saturday to reach the NFL regular-season roster limit of 53 players.

Big Blue significantly reshaped their roster as they have a new punter, a familiar backup quarterback, and four rookie linebackers - including cancer survivor Mark Herzlich.

Herzlich made the Giants roster two years after missing a season at Boston College because he contracted Ewing’s sarcoma.

To get down to 53, the Giants waived three of their 2010 draft choices – linebackers Phillip Dillard and Adrian Tracy and punter Matt Dodge.

Steve Weatherford, a seven-year veteran signed early in training camp, replaces Dodge as the Giants’ punter.

Sage Rosenfels, the backup quarterback in 2010, was placed on injured reserve because of the strep throat and subsequent back problems that have plagued him for three weeks. David Carr, who played for New York in 2008 and 2009, is again Eli Manning’s backup.

The four rookie linebackers who made the team include two 2011 draft choices – fifth-rounder Greg Jones of Michigan State and sixth-rounder Jacquian Williams of South Florida – and free agents Herzlich of Boston College and Spencer Paysinger of Oregon.

The team terminated the contracts of six veterans: wide receiver Michael Clayton, tight end Daniel Coats, guard Ikechuku Ndukwe, center Chris White, defensive tackle Gabe Watson and kicker Rhys Lloyd.

Nineteen players were waived: Dillard, Tracy, Dodge, quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, running backs Andre Brown and Charles Scott, tight end Christian Hopkins, wide receiver Darius Reynaud, tackles Jamon Meredith and Jarriel King, center Jim Cordle, defensive ends Ayanaga Okpokowuruk, Craig Marshall, Alex Hall and Justin Trattou and Dwayne Hendricks and defensive backs Joe Burnett, David Sims and Jerrard Tarrant.

Wide receiver Ramses Barden and offensive lineman Adam Koets are on the physically unable to perform list.

Saturday’s transactions leave the Giants with the following roster as they begin preparations for their season opener at Washington on September 11th.

Offense (25)

Quarterbacks (2): Eli Manning, David Carr

Running Backs (4): Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, D.J. Ware, Da’Rel Scott

Fullbacks (2): Bear Pascoe, Henry Hynoski (Pascoe also plays tight end)

Wide Receivers (6): Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Domenik Hixon, Devin Thomas, Victor Cruz, Jerrel Jernigan

Tight Ends (2): Travis Beckum, Jake Ballard

Offensive Linemen (9): David Diehl, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, Will Beatty, David Bass, Stacy Andrews, Mitch Petrus, James Brewer, Kevin Boothe

Defense (25)

Defensive Linemen: (8): Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Chris Canty, Linval Joseph, Jason Pierre-Paul, Rocky Bernard, Dave Tollefson, Jimmy Kennedy

Linebackers (7): Mathias Kiwanuka, Jonathan Goff, Michael Boley, Jacquian Williams, Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones, Spencer Paysinger.

Cornerbacks (5): Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Michael Coe, Brian Williams, Prince Amukamara

Safeties (5): Antrel Rolle, Deon Grant, Kenny Phillips, Tyler Sash, Derrick Martin