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Steve Smith Critical To Giants' Success

The New York Giants are one of several teams that have in-house decisions to make in free agency. According to ESPN, they are approximately $6 million over the new salary cap. For some players, their days in blue might be over.
 
Of all the available free agents, there is one that GM Jerry Reese should go out of his way to sign. His name is Steve Smith.
 
No, not the one who plays in Carolina. I’m talking about the Giants’ Steve Smith.
 
He may only have 11 career touchdowns, but Smith is a vital part of New York’s offensive attack. After playing a limited role in 2007 and 2008, Smith emerged as a threat in his Pro Bowl 2009 season. He helped usher in the post-Plaxico era by catching 107 passes for 1,220 yards and 7 touchdowns. He accounted for about 33% of Eli Manning’s completions and 30% of his yards in 2009. In that season, the younger Manning also set career highs in touchdowns (27; broken in 2010) and quarterback rating (93.1).
 
Ironically, Smith showed his worth even more in 2010 when he missed several games due to injury. He played in only nine contests. The Giants were 7-2 in those games and Eli threw 18 of his 31 touchdowns (58%). When Smith was out, the Giants won only three games and lost four. The losses included back-to-back NFC East defeats at the hands of the Cowboys and Eagles and a 45-17 embarrassment against Green Bay in a crucial late-December game.
 
Without his favorite target, Manning reverted to his pre-2007 playoffs, deer-in-the-headlights mode. Before the injury, Manning had thrown only 11 interceptions. After Smith went down, Eli had a whopping 14 (including 2 against the Vikings; a game Smith played in).
 
While he had flashes of brilliance (Nov. 28 against Jacksonville and Dec. 19 against the Eagles), Manning was largely a mediocre quarterback. Manning threw 13 touchdown passes after Smith got hurt and his erratic nature was one of main reasons the Giants missed the playoffs for the second straight season.
 
Ever since he joined the team in 2004, Manning has dictated the Giants’ success. For his career, he has started 104 games (including postseason). In 60 wins, he has thrown 12,990 yards, 101 touchdowns, and 48 interceptions. His quarterback rating is 88.8. In 44 losses, Manning’s stats are significantly lower: 9,656 yards, 55 touchdowns, 65 interceptions, and a 69.8 rating. Granted, not all of these games have been played with Smith on the outside, but as I showed earlier, Manning plays better with No. 12.
 
If the Giants are to return to the postseason in 2011, resigning Smith is critical. Not only does he have great chemistry with Manning, he is also clutch. Everyone talks about David Tyree’s miracle catch or Plaxico Burress’ winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII, but it was Smith who also converted a crucial 3^rd-and-11 on the winning drive. 

Read more:  Eli Manning, New York Giants, NFL, Steve Smith

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