Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Surprising, but also not...


Former Giants, Eagles, Rams, and Buccanneers receiver Steve Smith announced his retirement today.  I wouldn't be shocked if he attempted a comeback eventually, only being 28, but for now, a once promising career is over.

It's surprising, and not surprising, at the same time.  Surprising because in 2010, he was poised to become an elite-level NFL receiver - if he wasn't already - and less than three years later, he's out of the league.  But not surprising, because it shows the fleeting nature of a life in pro football.  

The great Mike Garafolo touches on it at the end of his article, and I keep coming back to Victor Cruz and how this relates to his current contract dispute with the Giants.  

If you're Cruz, you dig in even more in contract negotiations, and say, "This is why I need as much guaranteed money as possible"  

If you're the Giants, you also dig in even more, and say, "This is why we can't give you as much guaranteed money as possible."

So as far as Cruz's contract goes, hopefully a compromise can be reached.  I have to think Cruz is smart enough to know that, hypothetically, $7 million a year with the Giants is better than $9 million a year with the Chiefs, as his marketing value more than makes up for the difference in NFL salary.  Not to mention how much better he looks with Eli Manning throwing him the ball, like Steve Smith did before him.

And on a personal note, I can't help but remember how much of a disaster I thought it was for the Giants when in 2011, Smith signed with the Eagles as a free agent.