BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Giants have only themselves to blame for losing Steve Smith to the hated Eagles.
That was Smith’s version of events yesterday as the Pro Bowl slot receiver — sidelined indefinitely by knee surgery — donned a “weird-feeling” green jersey and watched his new team go through its paces.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin acted betrayed last week when Smith abruptly bolted to Philadelphia in free agency, indicating Smith owed Big Blue for using its doctor for his microfracture operation and claiming Smith’s agents didn’t give the Giants a chance to match the Eagles’ one-year, $2 million offer.
But Smith, one of Eli Manning’s favorite targets on third down and in tight situations, said he feels as if the Giants took him for granted after the lockout ended last month.
“It was how many days since free agency [began] that I was out?” Smith told The Post, pointing to the roughly two weeks the Giants dawdled while he was available. “The Eagles made a great offer. I don’t know . . . the Giants had a lot of time. Let’s put it that way.”
Smith added he had “no regrets” about how he and his agent, Ben Dogra, handled leaving New York.
“The Giants might have [taken me for granted], but the Eagles didn’t,” Smith said.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese, at least publicly, did not share Coughlin’s dismay at how Smith exited and noted that losing key players is a fact-of-life risk.
“That’s why they call it free agency,” Reese said.
Part of the Giants’ sluggishness in re-signing Smith stemmed from what they feel is the sluggishness of his recovery from the microfracture procedure last December.
The Giants, who speak from experience after safety Kenny Phillips’ slow recovery from the same surgery last season, predict Smith will not be ready until late September — at the earliest.
The Eagles do not share their NFC East rivals’ pessimism, and Smith said yesterday he expects to prove his new club correct by practicing early next month and playing in the Birds’ Sept. 11 opener at St. Louis.
Smith more likely will end up on the regular-season Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and miss the Eagles’ first six games, but he is determined to avoid that.
“[The repaired knee] feels a little weaker than the other one, but it feels great when I’m running and cutting,” said Smith, who walked with a noticeable limp. “I haven’t had any setbacks, so hopefully I can continue on this pace.”
Smith, 26, is eager to take his spot on the Eagles’ “Dream Team” and start catching passes from Michael Vick in Andy Reid’s let-it-fly attack.
That scenario prompted Smith to take a little dig at Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and Manning.
“It’s really exciting because they throw the ball so much here, so many downfield throws,” Smith said. “I was used to short [and] shorter stuff in New York, but here, they’re running.”
That said, Smith admits it will take time for him to wrap his head around playing for one of the Giants’ biggest rivals.
“I used to hate the Eagles, now I don’t like the Giants,” he said. “I’ve still got ex-teammates that are friends there, but I definitely want to get on that field for the Eagles now. I want to say I won a Super Bowl for both teams.”