Ballard suffers torn ACL

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants tight end Jake Ballard tore his left anterior cruciate ligament during the second half of the Super Bowl, the team announced on Tuesday.

An MRI discovered Ballard's injury, and with the help of crutches, he was able to participate in Tuesday's parade and ceremonies in New York and New Jersey.

Ballard, an undrafted free agent, had 38 catches for 604 yards and four touchdowns this regular season. In the four playoff games, he had five catches for 43 yards. He had two receptions in the Giants' 21-17 win over New England on Sunday in Indianapolis. Ballard made fans quickly forget about former Giants tight end Kevin Boss, who signed with the Oakland Raiders after the lockout ended last summer.

In the Giants' 24-20 win over the Patriots on Nov. 6 in Foxborough, Mass., he had four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. In a 27-24 win over Buffalo at home on Oct. 16, he had his career-best receiving total, 81 yards on five receptions.