Hakeem Nicks broke his foot last year and a promise this year. And the two are very much related.
The Giants’ wide receiver said yesterday it was injury concerns — not his contract — that kept him away from the team’s voluntary workouts this spring.
In a lengthy and exclusive sitdown with The Post, Nicks revealed he formally apologized to Giants coach Tom Coughlin for breaking his promise to attend the voluntary workouts, but isn’t sorry he skipped them.
Nicks also offered a cloudy outlook on his long-term future with the team beyond the final year of his contract, saying only that he enjoys being a Giant “right now.”
Nicks, who was making a promotional appearance for Procter & Gamble in Herald Square as part of a new marketing deal with the company, was asked if his goal ultimately is to retire a Giant.
“I really can’t speak for my whole career,” Nicks said. “I enjoy being a Giant right now. I’m going to take care of what I can take care of as long as I’m a Giant, but I do understand the business side of football, too.”
Nicks attended Big Blue’s mandatory mini-camp last week and said his OTAs absence wasn’t about frustration with his contract, as had been widely speculated.
“At the end of the day, there’s stuff that’s mandatory and there’s things that are not mandatory,” he said. “From my eyes, anytime you can let your body rest [is good]. Football is a physical sport, and it’s a long season, too. Anytime you can let your body rest, I feel like that’s always a blessing.”
Coughlin was openly frustrated with Nicks for missing OTAs only because the coach said Nicks had promised to attend.
Nicks confirmed he made that promise, and further revealed that he met with Coughlin behind closed doors last week to formally apologize.
“I told him I would be there, but some things just took place and I had to take care of what I had to take care of,” Nicks told The Post. “As soon as I got back, we sat down and talked and got things squared away. I apologized, and everybody knew where I was coming from.”
Nicks said he and Coughlin are now back on the same page.
“Me and Coach Coughlin have a great relationship,” Nicks said. “Like I’ve said, he’s one of the best coaches I’ve been around. I like our relationship, and I don’t think it could ever be soured.”
Ominously, though, Nicks wouldn’t say the same about his relationship with the Giants beyond the five-year, $12.54 million contract he signed as a rookie in 2009 that is about to enter its final season.
“As long as I’m here, I’m going to represent the Giants well,” Nicks said. “I’m just focused on this season.”