Giants

Giants WR Victor Cruz Hopes To Stay With New York, But Has Yet To Hear From Team

February 2, 2017

Giants WR Victor Cruz said on Thursday that he still wants to play for New York but admits that he has still not heard from the team regarding his future with the team.

“I’m just handling things accordingly, going about my business the way I go about it,” Cruz said, via James Kratch of NJ Advance Media. “I haven’t heard anything from the Giants. But obviously in my heart, I want to stay here and finish my career here for as long as God determines.

Cruz acknowledged that he could reach free agency and would appreciate the opportunity to primarily play as a slot receiver.

“That’s a good question. Maybe. You never know,” Cruz said. “I think you’ve just got to take it as it comes, eat the food that’s given to you, and see how it tastes. That’s kind of the term I like to use. But we’ll see. Playing the slot is obviously something that I’m best at, and an opportunity to do that would definitely be great.”

Earlier in the week, Cruz admitted “the ball is in [the Giants’] court” when asked about his candidacy with the team.

A few weeks ago, Ralph Vacchiano spoke to a team source who said the Giants are concerned that Cruz and the team’s other receivers didn’t do enough to draw double teams and attention away from WR Odell Beckham this season.

With this in mind, Vacchiano believes the Giants may ultimately decide to move on and find younger and faster receiving option next year while also looking for a larger target on the outside.

Cruz, 30, originally signed on with the Giants as an undrafted free agent out of UMass back in 2010. He agreed to restructure his contract last year, which reduced his compensation to $1.3 million for the 2016 season to go along with $4.2 million in play-time incentives. Cruz stands to make another $7.4 million in 2017.

According to OverTheCap.com, releasing will free up $7.5 million in available cap space while creating $1.9 million in dead money.

In 2016, Cruz appeared in 15 games for the Giants and caught 39 passes for 586 yards receiving and one touchdown. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 101 receiver out of 119 qualifying players.