From out in Los Angeles, Steve Smith describes the situation as “uncertain” and “unknown,” and he’s not just talking in broad terms about the impending NFL lockout.
The wide receiver is trying not to focus on the fact he is unsigned, impeding what once appeared to be a clear pathway to a lengthy stay with the Giants.
“I think once the labor deal is done it will clear itself up more, but I really don’t know,” Smith said in a phone interview with The Post. “I’m not putting pressure on myself. I’m not sitting at home worrying about it either. I’m living my life.”
Life looked exceedingly good for Smith when he was a strong contributor as a rookie to the 2007 Super Bowl run, set a franchise record with 107 receptions in 2009 and had 47 catches in the first eight games this past season. A big payday seemed assured.
Nothing has gone right since. Smith partially tore a pectoral muscle and missed four games. He came back against the Vikings in Week 14 in Minnesota, caught one pass and went down for good with torn articular cartilage in his left knee.
On Dec. 21, he underwent delicate microfracture surgery. He is encouraged by his rehab progress even though it is painstakingly slow. He firmly believes he will be running by the end of May and be ready for the coming season.
The injury, though, complicates and certainly doesn’t help his contract situation. Making things even stickier is tomorrow’s 11:59 p.m. expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which will trigger a lockout that will halt any free-agent contract talks until labor peace is restored.
“I know it’s different now, I know it will be a little more difficult now depending on how I come back from this injury, how I look,” Smith said. “I think the Giants are going to reward me with a contract this year. They told me that.”
The Giants have made qualifying offers to Smith and several other players who might be restricted free agents, depending on a new CBA. Smith, Barry Cofield, Ahmad Bradshaw, Kevin Boss, Mathias Kiwanuka and Dave Tollefson were all given second-round tenders. That would seemingly secure Smith’s return, but these tenders are in flux because of the labor uncertainty. Offensive lineman Kevin Boothe was also tendered.
For now, all Smith can do is try to get healthy. He shed the crutches he was on for six weeks and is attending physical therapy three hours a day, five days a week at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.
“The doctors are saying I’m on point with everything, so it’s good,” Smith said. “It’s a very vanilla, very boring rehab. I can’t go run, I can’t go play basketball or do the things that everybody else can do. I got to stay off my feet. We ice, we do heat, we do massage, I’m doing some stuff with the bike, some leg curls, some different things to strengthen my leg. I’ve come a looooong way, and I still have a long way to go.”
Smith has an MRI exam scheduled for the three-month mark in mid-March in New York. If there is a lockout, Smith will not be allowed any contact with the Giants, but he can meet and speak with Giants team physician Dr. Russ Warren.
Smith’s first child, a son named Carter, was born on Feb. 18.
“It’s one of the greatest feelings I ever had, right up there with winning the Super Bowl,” he said. “It does change your life, makes you look at people differently and you have, I feel like, more love in your heart.”
Carter Smith’s mother lives in San Francisco, and to see his son Smith has to fly to the Bay Area from L.A on weekends.
“That makes it kind of difficult,” Smith said. “I think during the season I’m going to have him with me.”
He hopes that means with him with the Giants.
“My mindset is positive,” Smith said. “We kind of ended the season on a bad note, again, but I think we got a great team coming back, the chemistry. I want to be a Giant. I hope I’m in New York, I hope I’m back.”