The Ballad of Jake Ballard.

Every morning on the field you could see him arrive,
He stood six-foot-six, weighed two-seven-five.
Was a UDFA from Ohio State,
But everyone knew the Giants had no faith in Big Jake.

He got signed by the Giants, April two-thousand-ten.
Pulled a hammy in August, got waived/injured then.
Found a home on the practice squad, September that year,
Not a great start to the pro career of Big Jake.

Now it's twenty-eleven, Jake is still with the team,
But making the roster seems an impossible dream.
The Boss was ahead of him, the Bear next in line.
There was still Travis Beckum (though I still don't know why).

When from out of the west, came a crafty old man.
A blustering pirate, with cash in his hand.
In need of a tight end, he targeted Boss,
Caught Jerry Reese napping - Raider gain, Giant loss.

So in comes Ben Patrick, shedding Cardinal red.
But who knew that he wasn't right in the head?
Trade for Carlson, some shouted, throw in Osi to do it!
But, thankfully, Reese knew enough to eschew it.

Start the preseason, the Bear looks real shaky.
His blocking inline would leave Eli real achy.
And Beckum's no better, I'm telling you, mister.
He may have good hands, but he can't block my sister.

Off the bench comes Jake Ballard, unathletic and slow,
Or so all of the scouts said...didn't you know?
He's a scrub, he's a body, at worst he's camp fodder.
At best he'll be nothing but a low practice squadder.

But he gets in the Jet game and catches a pass,
And Eric says, "Who knew that Jake was so fast?"
He plays in New England - you know Springboro's beaming.
And KWALL starts a thread where he's practically creaming.

Now the Giants could still another tight end,
If a good vet shakes loose, they'll have money to spend.
But Game One is a week away, down in DC,
Are there others who have some faith - not just me - in Big Jake?