Giants fans may not remember many details from the team’s final game last season against the Carolina Panthers, other than it was a blowout. The final score: Panthers 41, Giants 9 in the finale at Giants Stadium, but Panthers receiver Steve Smith remembers safety Michael Johnson’s hit that broke Smith’s arm and ended his season. During training camp, Smith told SI.com that he would seek revenge on Johnson in Sunday’s regular-season opener, adding, “I’m going after him.’’ When asked about the comments today, Smith backtracked. “What I said in the summer was shallow, ignorant, immature and really no need,” Smith said in a teleconference. “I don’t need to be that way and I’m not going to be that way to my opponents anymore.” Smith said the comments were “kind of taken out of context,” although he acknowledged he left the sentence open-ended so it could be perceived how it came across, and he had not spoken to Johnson, but that he understands Johnson tried to make a play. “I know a lot of guys do respect my game,” Smith said, “and I have to respect them and look at my opponent as really what they’re doing, which is taking an opportunity to make a living and put food on the table.”
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