Source: Giants' Chris Snee 'can't move'
Giants guard Chris Snee speaks to the media during a news conference at the team's practice facility. (April 18, 2013) Credit: AP
Chris Snee fought through a torn labrum in his hip for about four years before having surgery to repair it this offseason. But while that injury was painful, he was able to at least play. Now, Snee has a tear in the opposite hip, and while this one is just as painful, it also is far more constrictive to his abilities on the field.
"This one has the pain, but he can't move," a source told Newsday. "If they don't get the joint to move again, [surgery] is probably going to be the only option."
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Chris Snee fought through a torn labrum in his hip for about four years before having surgery to repair it this offseason. But while that injury was painful, he was able to at least play. Now, Snee has a tear in the opposite hip, and while this one is just as painful, it also is far more constrictive to his abilities on the field.
"This one has the pain, but he can't move," a source told Newsday. "If they don't get the joint to move again, [surgery] is probably going to be the only option."
Snee missed only his second game since his rookie season on Sunday when he did not travel with the team to Kansas City. The 31-year-old Pro Bowl guard was replaced by James Brewer, a third-year player making his second NFL start. The Giants are also without veteran center David Baas, who was replaced by Jim Cordle on Sunday. Baas could miss extended time with a neck injury.
Snee also has restructured his contract recently, giving him $2.5 million of his $4.2 million base salary this year in the form of a bonus, according to NFLPA records. That defers $1.25 million toward next year, giving the Giants some much needed breathing room on this year's salary cap.
But it also could be a sign that Snee won't be around next year. His cap number in 2014, the final year of his contract, would be about $11.75 million. If he retires or is released -- Snee admitted he mulled retirement briefly this offseason -- the Giants would only be on the hook for $4.5 million in dead money against their 2014 salary cap.
He could possibly accept a pay cut, much the way veterans Corey Webster and David Diehl did to return this year in the final year of their contracts, to lower that $11.75 million number.
We may have seen the last of Snee in a Giants uniform in 2013. Whether he will ever wear it again is also in question.
Snee, who looked debilitated and frustrated when he last played in Week 3 against the Panthers, has been working to get his hip well enough to play, but it could take more time. The Giants have two games within five days next week, and it is doubtful that Snee would be ready to play in either of those.
"[There's] not a lot of improvement from the treatments," the source said. "It is not looking too good right now."