NFL Notes: Victor Cruz, Cardinals, Eagles

Victor Cruz

New Bears WR Victor Cruz admitted that he feels as though he still has something to prove to people, despite his past success.

“Every day,” Cruz told Jordan Raanan of ESPN. “Even after a Super Bowl or after an injury-riddled two years, I always feel like I have something to prove. I’ll always strap up my laces and helmet and have something to prove, because you do.

“You’re only as good as your last catch, your last game, your last year of production. That is what you’re marketed as. That is what they categorize you as, whatever your last showing is on the field.”

Cruz said he isn’t sure what specifically went into the Giants’ decision to release him this offseason.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what there plans are or what they think about upstairs,” Cruz said. “I just go and play the game and see where it takes me.

“No, I haven’t had any conversations with anyone. Everybody is underway with their programs and things they’re doing with their respective teams. Nobody has time to handle issues and for me to call and those things. We just turn the page and move on.”

Cardinals

Despite missing the offseason program, Cardinals second-round S Budda Baker said he’s “not really that far behind.”

“For me, I always try to watch film, watch film of the practices,” Baker said in an interview with Mike Jurecki and Bertrand Berry of Arizona Sports 98.7-FM. “So I feel like I’m not really that far behind.

“The only thing I haven’t done is really taken the reps with the whole team; the rookies have done seven-on-seven and all that type of stuff, so I’ve been able to run the plays consistently during seven-on-seven so now it’s just a matter of doing it at camp.”

Baker added that he’s looking forward to getting more reps during training camp and the preseason to make up for lost time.

“So for these preseason games, I know the rookies get a lot of reps, so get as much reps as I can. I like to think of it as these preseason games are like my OTAs and mini-camp that I missed,” Baker said. “Just getting all these reps, taking as much reps as I can — whether it’s defense or special teams — and ultimately competing. That’s my goal.”

Eagles

• According to Jimmy Kempski, Eagles LT Jason Peters‘ extension saved the team $4,783,334 in cap space for 2017 season, as his new deal reduces his $11.7 million figure down to $4,783,334.
• Over the remainder of his contract, Peters will count for $6,916,666 against this season’s salary cap, $11,666,666 in 2018, and $10,666,668 in 2019. (Jimmy Kempski)