Shepard not worried after two concussions

Sterling Shepard took some time to push his tiny, giggly daughter, barely larger than a football herself, on the swings at a Manhattan playground on Tuesday morning. His wife, expecting another child later this year, stood off to the side, ducking out of the drizzle as best she could.

“I’m a handson father,” the Giants receiver said proudly.

Shepard was brighteyed and smiling. The perfect image of a doting father and husband enjoying time with his beautiful young family.

But there was a cloud over it all, and not the one that brought the soft rain.

Shepard, 26, is in the NFL’s concussion protocol for the second time this season.

They’re gone now, the headaches and fogginess. He’s been symptomfree for about two weeks, he said. He’s been practicing with the Giants since last Monday. He’s itching to get back out there and help his team, losers of three straight, fix itself.

But that green light may be hard to come by. Because of the two concussions in a short period of time, doctors are being very cautious and conservative with Shepard. While there is a chance he can play Sunday against Detroit, it may be a few more weeks before he is cleared to return to games.

“It’s frustrating not being out there with your boys,” Shepard told Newsday. “Especially when you feel like you can contribute.”

There are, however, some in his life who are trying to nudge him away from football. They would rather have the Shepard, in his fourth season, who plays carefree on the swing set than the one who plays for the Giants and puts his future health at risk.

“They’ve been saying stuff,” he shrugged. “But I’m going to do what makes me happy and this is what makes me happy. I’m going to continue to do that until I feel like it’s a little too much?”

What’s a little too much? “When I get fed up with it.”