Hakeem Nicks sounded Friday like someone who wants to be a Giant for life.
Defying the usual posture of an NFL free-agent-to-be at a premier position, Nicks all but pledged his undying loyalty to Big Blue as the veteran wide receiver prepared for what could be his final game for them Sunday at MetLife Stadium against the Redskins.
Nicks is so eager to stay he revealed plans to meet with the Giants next week — 2 1/2 months before the March 11 start of unrestricted free agency — to discuss his future with the team.
“We all know I want to be here,” Nicks said in a 10-minute interview with reporters after the 6-9 Giants’ final practice of the season. “[The Giants] know that. I won’t have to say that. It’s just a matter of how things are going to work out.”
Nicks, a first-round pick in 2009, also claimed stability — not money — would be his primary motivation if he reaches the open market.
“It’s not just about money,” Nicks said. “I’m not a guy who’s like, ‘Oh, let me go get this [big contract]!’ Players, coaches, the organization — all of it is something I want to look at and make sure I don’t get myself in a situation where there’s a lot going on. This organization is great, stability-wise.”
Nicks also said his admiration for Tom Coughlin and the entire coaching staff will be a big plus for the Giants in his decision-making, and Nicks gave embattled offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride a ringing endorsement.
“Obviously, I can’t control anything,” Nicks said. “But I love Coach Gilbride and his schemes, I love Coach Coughlin and the way he coaches, the defensive coaches — I love the whole staff.
“We won a Super Bowl with this coaching staff, so it’s not like we can’t do it. I believe we can do it. Obviously, we fell short this year. But it’s all about how you bounce back and how strong you be through the hard times.”
Asked whether he would consider giving the Giants a “hometown discount” to stay, Nicks wouldn’t rule it out.
“We ain’t really going to get into all that,” he said. “We aren’t talking money right now, because it’s bigger than that in my eyes.”
Of course, it’s not as if Nicks has much in the way of leverage in the wake of one of the worst contract years imaginable for a No. 1 receiver. He enters the finale with just 54 catches for 846 yards and — most embarrassingly — zero touchdowns in 14 games.
Not only that, but Nicks also has just one catch all season inside the opponent’s 20-yard line — an almost unimaginable figure for someone who averaged 78 receptions and nine touchdowns per year from 2010-2011.
Nicks, who turns 26 in January, obviously wouldn’t command anywhere near the $15 million-$18 million per year that fellow No. 1 receivers Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald are getting, but a $10 million average in free agency wouldn’t be out of the question for a player of Nicks’ age and talent at such a vital position.
A Charlotte, N.C., native, Nicks also would seemingly have a free-agent suitor in the hometown Panthers, who have former Giants executive Dave Gettleman as their GM and will be in the market for a lead receiver with Steve Smith in decline.
Despite that, Nicks made it clear Friday the Giants are where he wants to stay. The bigger question is whether the Giants feel as strongly about Nicks as he does about them.
Nicks’ production has declined considerably the past two seasons (he had just 53 catches for 692 yards and three TDs in 13 games in 2012), and the emergence of Rueben Randle this year would leave the Giants set with Randle alongside Victor Cruz if the team decided to move on from Nicks.
The Giants could apply the franchise tag to Nicks and keep him for at least one more season, but that is unlikely considering the contract number would be at least $11 million and the team has cap problems and other holes to fill.
In his first comments since undergoing season-ending knee surgery last week, Cruz said Friday his “gut feeling” is Nicks will be back.
Nicks hopes that ends up being the case, but said he will remain realistic.
“I understand the business,” Nicks said, “and there won’t be any negative vibes or bad blood on either side [if it doesn’t work out].”