Steve Smith trying to be LESS valuable this season

There aren’t a lot of postseason awards – no matter how small – that players hope to never win again. Steve Smith has found one.

Last year, in the week leading up the Super Bowl, Smith was named the Vizio “Top Value” Performer. He had 107 receptions for 1,220 yards and seven TDs in 2009 while earning a base salary of $460,000.

“It’s kind of good because you outplayed (what you earned),” Smith said, “but at the same time you’re underpaid. It’s kind of tough.”

Smith is in line to earn $550,000 in 2010, the final year of his contract. If he puts up close to the same numbers this season, he might be a repeat winner of the award. Unless, that is, he signs a long-term deal with the Giants. That’s almost certainly not going to happen because of the uncapped season and the 30-percent rule that would force the Giants to put the bulk of his salary in guaranteed bonuses.

Still, Smith is hopeful that something will happen. He changed agents this offseason and is now with Tom Condon and Ben Dogra of CAA – the same group that reps Eli Manning.

“I left it up to him,” Smith said of his agent. “I’m not worried about it. I know there are a lot of guys around the league trying to get new contracts. With the new bargaining agreement, it’s tough.”

“I’m not even going to worry about it,” Smith added. “Just play and we’ll see what happens.”