I'm not going to lie, it's tough. It's tough. When you understand from a numbers standpoint, and the numbers you put up you feel like deserve a certain amount of money ... and you want your team to owe that to you. But I think playing in NY, you can't take that away. You have to hold that up to an account at some point when you're going through these negotiations."
"You ask yourself 'Would you want to play for this amount in New York and play in the best city in the world and play football, and -- I'm a hometown kid -- be close to home and your mom and your family? Or do you want to take a big pay day and go somewhere like Kansas City or Minnesota where your family might not be able to come as often as you want and you're living in a city you're not too familiar with and it's an adjustment for you?' So you have to take all those things into account as well. But I'm not going to say it's easy when you see guys getting these huge paydays and you feel like you're at the same caliber, if not better than some of those guys."
I'm not following why you're looking for other jersey options. Â
with anything he said. When the numbers for the contract came out, most on here agreed it was a team-friendly deal. Its not like he is complaining about it, he is just reinforcing that playing in NY is worth something to him.
did take less money on his contract to stay with the Giants. Could he be renumerated in other ways off the field? Yes, but that doesn't make his original statement wrong, since he was specifically discussing contracts.
to not have a chip on his shoulder.. then you have no understanding of how an athlete works. Especially an URFA! That kind of attitude and personality is why he has become the dominate football player he is today. The man is GOOD.. and he knows it. Nothing he said was out of line to me.
wanted him to feel about the negotiation. Over and over again we read how he shouldn't be a greedy idiot. How he should appreciate the added value of playing in the New York market and staying near home.
Then the contract is announced and everyone lauds Reese for getting such a great deal for the Giants and keeping Cruz.
Then Cruz comes out and says a few things that give us some insight into the thought process most of us hoped he'd have, including the perspective most athletes have. I still think I should be making a little more money. and you're bothered because...
Yeah, please be specific with your problem here.
We have no ability to mock other fanbases and them being Â
I don't blame him for being a tough negotiator but now that the deal is done he should STFU and concentrate on football. To hear him bitching about a contract he just signed around the same time he pops off about Zimmerman makes me wonder about his maturity. I've always had a bad feeling about the way he likes the limelight, his salsa bullshit and his big head. He's a very good receiver. He's not a top receiver, He's not even the top receiver on this team. Nicks is.
I hope he learns to cool it and concentrate on football. I don't want to see him become another early flameout case the way Jeremy Shockey was.
he took less $ because the Giants held all of the leverage Â
From all accounts, when he wasn't signed he worked out quite hard to stay in shape and stay sharp. Seems to be like he's quite able to multi-task.
Let's think about it. Football players at this level are the cream of the crop. Typically which also means that they have healthy egos (they should; I don't know many people who wouldn't be supremely confident about themselves when they are one of the best in the world at a particular sport). And that ego has usually helped them develop the drive to succeed at this level.
It's amazing that we, as fans, feel entitled as to how players should go about what they do. We have no problems bitching and moaning about our jobs constantly, griping about pay (and other related problems), and yet the athletes should concentrate more? Methinks that most of them do, including Cruz.
And methinks it's a bit of irony (in general, not one specific person) that people always complain about lack of concentration when posting on a message board during working hours...
An athlete to speak his mind. As long as he's catching first down passes with an NY on the helmet, I could really care less. Fans just can't be pleased.
I'll refrain from calling people stupid in the spirit of the new BBI but I do feel obligated to point out that some opinions are really, really, really fucking stupid.
What's that saying about not throwing something in a glass house?
My guess is that you did singular things that didn't display high maturity at that point, but that singular events don't define a person in the aggregate.
And I appreciate him ultimately being reasonable and signing the deal the Giants put on the table other than holding out, creating a media shitstorm, or whatever else.
would have put his so called 'huge payday' at considerable risk. If injured he could have lost it all. So Victor doesn't reference that in his statements...but he should have. Part of the value in his deal with the Giants is removal of that risk. Factor in his marketability in NY...certainly greater than in any other city he could have gone to....and VC has nothing to worry about. He made the smart business decision...just ask Steve Smith.
contract-leverage-wise, and the Giants played hardball. No question he'd have gotten more if he hit the open market. But the rules are stacked against players like him, so he didn't.
He made the best he could out of it, and now he's putting on a happy face.
but he and many other pros come across as not appreciating the riches they have. This kid JUST signed on for a life of the rich and famous (fully knowing he could be physically hurt or even killed on the job) but instead of saying how incredibly lucky he is he says it's "tough" because he could have gotten more. He's not a bad person by any means, but his words lately kind of dampen the image I had of him.
than that he got paid now, before a contract year where any number of career ending injuries can (and often do) occur. Like for another talented former Giants receiver who played his cards poorly.
Good on him for trying to negotiate as much as possible for his considerable worth, but the Giants were in the driver's seat from the beginning and he and his agent no doubt understood that while they were feigning "holding out."
a lesson by not getting him a jersey for a guy who took a hometown discount because he felt loyalty to the team and the region and was honest enough to admit it to the world?
Okay, knock yourself out.
Is Victor more or less mature than those broads sitting on juries? Â
how much hate there seems to be for Cruz. He handled this whole contract thing perfectly.
He never complained to the media, even when the owners were making statements to the press. He showed up to Eli's passing camp down south to get some work in despite not being under contract. He eventually signed for less than he could have gotten on the open market and now admits that he gave a hometown discount.
I really don't understand why people bashed Cruz throughout this thing and continue to do so. He is a rare example of a high profile athlete handling a contract situation maturely. It's even more mind-boggling that a lot of the same guys who crucify Cruz over this give a pass to guys like LT, Strahan, and Armstead who used to hold out all the time.
Honestly, sometimes I don't think that Giants fans deserve this team.
Cruz has been and will go down as one of the all-time great Giants - and a solid Giant citizen and popular TV personality as well. I don't get the hate/disdain for the guy from the vocal few out there.
Much spite around here for a great kid who made a mistake. I guess everyone around here is perfect, or they sure think they are. Refusing to buy a jersey for someone out of spite over a contract negotiation is not a great lesson for your kid
interview. I listened to the interview and they were really baiting/pushing Cruz to say something like this. The quote should be placed into the context of the entire interview. He kept saying he was happy with the contract and lucky to be in NY, etc and then Ross Tucker kept telling him that he thought he was a better football player than Mike Wallace and how could it not bother him that Wallace essentially received twice the contract when he may not even be a better football player. That wasn't all, Bob Papa came back to the same exact point and brought up other players, asking Cruz if he thought he was just as good players. These guys basically went after him for a quote just like this, and now you have sites like this serving up the quote without the context of the interview. I mean, Ross Tucker was basically prodding him to say something, if you heard the line of questioning I don't think you'd have a problem at all with this quote. Cruz handled himself very well in the interview.
Eli "I took the Giants to the cleaners last time" Manning Â
...to go for the big contract score? Seems to be an inherent conflict of interest there. For every Mike Wallace that seems torn direct from the script of Jerry Maguire there is a Steve Smith who will look back at the contract he eschewed with lifelong regret.
Forget the what ifs Victor. You weren't an unrestricted free agent. You protected yourself and your family from the ever present NFL spectre of injury. You will be a wealthy man for the rest of your life.
It was the smart business decision. The right decision. Make your peace with it and stop the hand wringing and sound bytes. They only serve to annoy the fans and cloud your focus.
This thread is actually this long. We got everything we could possibly ask for in Cruz. Hometown guy that took a discount to stay with the organization that found him and stayed local where he grew up. He has shown nothing but class from Day 1 (recent tweet aside)and has been a model citizen.
Some of you would be so lucky to have a kid turn out the way Victor Cruz has. If you want to be thick-headed and hold that quote over VC's head after he did literally everything right during the toughest offseason of his career, than so be it. The guy got less than he thought he was worth and this is the worst thing he's said? Grow up guys.
And I hope most die yards are smart enough to recognize that fact. Look at what Wallace and Harvin got and tell me otherwise. Immature? A guy that actually looks at he big picture and doesn't give in to the money grab? He's showing a wealth of maturity in his decision making, more than most would actually. I'm sure a lot of guys here would take a 15-20% pay raise to uproot, and that's without public salary figures where ego has a bigger influence.
I guess his honesty and transparency is what you have an issue with, so you would prefer cliches and platitudes? I actually respect him more for being open with these comments, he's showing more respect for the fans with his transparency here.
The average pro athlete has the IQ of a box of crayons. Â
They collectively continue to make stupid decisions.
Fortunately for me, I feel no need to pay $50 for parking, etc., to feed these dipshits. Victor, you are proving to be going down that road of major dipshit.
Catch your passes, do your dance and help the team win another SB.
Tell you what, I believe the NFL better be very careful, as HDTV has more than replaced the price, and moral/ inconvenience of supporting these fuck-tards.
Victor, I suggest for your sake, have a productive year.
that by getting an HDTV and watching the NFL Network or Redzone or Sunday Ticket or a Giants game or any other game, that you're still supporting them, right? their TV revenue is huge and dwarfs the gate yearly.
because of his brilliance in matters of economics or social commentary. He was hired to catch a ball thrown to him. Eli likes him and they work well together which makes him more valuable than a rookie in the eyes of Reese and the owners.
He helps the team win and unless he violates some sort of team rule, league rule or shoots himself in the leg, I really don't care.
If I concerned myself with how athletes thought on issues of the day and if we knew how most of them were outside of the limelight, I don't think we would watch any sport.
A little advice to those that become emotionally invested in a player, they come and go like people on the sidewalk. It's easier to just cheer for the laundry.
IMO Cruz is a great slot receiver and the highest paid slot receiver. Steve Smith had great success as a Giant slot receiver so there may be a common denominator (ELI). Hey I am glad the Giants held firm they held all the leverage they could have franchised him next year if he had another great year. I think Cruz is better when Nicks is on the outside and if they paid Cruz outside receiver money what does Nicks ask for next year? He signed a contract after holding out (his right), but it is over now stop saying how you took less money. Just like in the military you are a volunteer and when you reenlist no wants to hear how you could have made more somewhere else.
that relate to a verdict that had nothing to do with a problem that we don't have in this country anymore should just shut the fuck up about everything.
but should have phrased it differently ...
Like - Signing with the Giants has a lot more to offer than going elsewhere being near my home town, my friends and family ... Being with a top flight organization ... Things money can't buy ... Others top WRs who I feel I'm every bit as good as if not better than may be paid more and although extra money is one way that is shown, I'm happy with my deal that keeps me here for most if not all the rest of my career ...
I mean, with all the money these greedy athletes want, you'd think that people were paying all this money just to see THEM! How arrogant can they be? Me, I'd feel a lot better if it all stayed in John Mara and Steve Tisch's bank accounts where it belongs!
All through the process we're sitting here on our internetz talking about how Cruz should take less money to stay here because he can more than make up for it by marketing himself in NY.
So now that he's actually done that and talked about it...we hate him now???
I did not like the tweet at all. Cruz is a public figure who has the potential to incite an incident with a comment like that but it's a mistake he appears to have corrected.
I didn't know he had a kid out of wedlock. I don't really care one way or the other but it does mystify me how people just let that happen.
Cruz is a slot receiver, not a #1 WR. He has held up well to this point but, he is due for a drop in production and injury.
Oh, let's not acknowledge his becoming more verbally flippant either.
entire threads get deleted on the account of a stupid post here and there. It's selectively over policed over here, while dumb shits get carte blanche to post whatever they want.
Giants had the leverage, he wanted to stay so he compromised.
Percentages would've been in his favor to land a contract similar to Harvin, had he been a UFA.
I get the calls for maturity etc but the fact is pro athletes live in a different world than average joe. Their perspective and comments tend to reflect that. It's a waste of time complaining about it.
per se. What I mean is that most of these players probably understand that getting paid 40 million over five years versus being paid 50 million over 5 years isn't going to make an appreciable difference in quality of life (save the Latrell Sprewell exceptions). How much they're paid is often a proxy for how much respect they feel they deserve; that's why it's telling that Cruz mentions other players who he thinks he's just as good as if not better than being paid more than him as a relevant factor. Insofar as he's concerned, it's an issue of fairness. Why should he be paid less for work that's just as good as others' work?
There are obviously numerous ways of responding to him that involve invoking things like leverage, supply and demand, alternate forms of renumeration, and even the base fact that ultimately they're still being paid exceptionally well. But I think framing the issue in the terms present above is a helpful way of thinking about it.
What leads you believe that he's due for a drop in production Â
Exactly! I mean, I haven't heard the interview myself, but my imagination is decent enough to consider that these quotes were responses to a very specific question. Maybe even as specific as: "Is it kind of tough to know that your contract isn't quite the same as it would have been if you were a true free agent?"
People act like Cruz was overheard muttering these remarks while nursing a whiskey within the dark confines of a shoddy downtown bar, whilst some delta blues played faintly in the background.
If Cruz had been taking negotiating lessons from Eli Manning, this negotiation would either still be in progress, or it would have resulted in a 60 million dollar contract.
Yes, they'd certainly prefer clichés and platitudes.
Not to generalize too much, but something tells me that the sort of person who finds fault with Cruz merely based on these quotes presented in a vacuum is the exact sort of person who extrapolates a shitload of meaning out of clichés and platitudes, and probably brandishes some on his shirts, posters, or the bumper of his car.
about the whole "playing in New York is worth an additional 1 million in marketing" thing. Wouldn't that advantage rely upon a fan base and populace that isn't so sensitive and fickle?
"You ask yourself 'Would you want to play for this amount in New York and play in the best city in the world and play football, and -- I'm a hometown kid -- be close to home and your mom and your family? Or do you want to take a big pay day and go somewhere like Kansas City or Minnesota where your family might not be able to come as often as you want and you're living in a city you're not too familiar with and it's an adjustment for you?' So you have to take all those things into account as well. But I'm not going to say it's easy when you see guys getting these huge paydays and you feel like you're at the same caliber, if not better than some of those guys."
Then the contract is announced and everyone lauds Reese for getting such a great deal for the Giants and keeping Cruz.
Then Cruz comes out and says a few things that give us some insight into the thought process most of us hoped he'd have, including the perspective most athletes have. I still think I should be making a little more money. and you're bothered because...
Yeah, please be specific with your problem here.
I hope he learns to cool it and concentrate on football. I don't want to see him become another early flameout case the way Jeremy Shockey was.
2. Explain how those comments are 'bitching'
What a world. Lip service really does go a long way these days. Speak the truth at your own risk.
You're not the only one questioning this kids maturity.
From all accounts, when he wasn't signed he worked out quite hard to stay in shape and stay sharp. Seems to be like he's quite able to multi-task.
Let's think about it. Football players at this level are the cream of the crop. Typically which also means that they have healthy egos (they should; I don't know many people who wouldn't be supremely confident about themselves when they are one of the best in the world at a particular sport). And that ego has usually helped them develop the drive to succeed at this level.
It's amazing that we, as fans, feel entitled as to how players should go about what they do. We have no problems bitching and moaning about our jobs constantly, griping about pay (and other related problems), and yet the athletes should concentrate more? Methinks that most of them do, including Cruz.
And methinks it's a bit of irony (in general, not one specific person) that people always complain about lack of concentration when posting on a message board during working hours...
Just curious.
I'll refrain from calling people stupid in the spirit of the new BBI but I do feel obligated to point out that some opinions are really, really, really fucking stupid.
My guess is that you did singular things that didn't display high maturity at that point, but that singular events don't define a person in the aggregate.
But I'm not sure you knew that...
It's either barilko, dave in DC, or good 'ol southern cali Gene.
The latter would appear to be a winner.
He didn't even miss any time.
Cruz is a unique case.
He has slot size and speed, but big time game breaking ability. He can take it to the house any time he touches it.
I think both sides came out nicely, but Cruz is certainly right that somebody would have WAY overpaid for his services, IMO.
He made the best he could out of it, and now he's putting on a happy face.
Good on him for trying to negotiate as much as possible for his considerable worth, but the Giants were in the driver's seat from the beginning and he and his agent no doubt understood that while they were feigning "holding out."
Okay, knock yourself out.
I hate it when someone starts a thread and then doesn't participate in it. To me, that is a cowardly act.
He never complained to the media, even when the owners were making statements to the press. He showed up to Eli's passing camp down south to get some work in despite not being under contract. He eventually signed for less than he could have gotten on the open market and now admits that he gave a hometown discount.
I really don't understand why people bashed Cruz throughout this thing and continue to do so. He is a rare example of a high profile athlete handling a contract situation maturely. It's even more mind-boggling that a lot of the same guys who crucify Cruz over this give a pass to guys like LT, Strahan, and Armstead who used to hold out all the time.
Honestly, sometimes I don't think that Giants fans deserve this team.
jcn56 : 8:03 pm
and tell them we've got a container full of fans they can have, no cost to them.
Seriously.
No big deal.
Forget the what ifs Victor. You weren't an unrestricted free agent. You protected yourself and your family from the ever present NFL spectre of injury. You will be a wealthy man for the rest of your life.
It was the smart business decision. The right decision. Make your peace with it and stop the hand wringing and sound bytes. They only serve to annoy the fans and cloud your focus.
Some of you people need your head examines.
Some of you would be so lucky to have a kid turn out the way Victor Cruz has. If you want to be thick-headed and hold that quote over VC's head after he did literally everything right during the toughest offseason of his career, than so be it. The guy got less than he thought he was worth and this is the worst thing he's said? Grow up guys.
I guess his honesty and transparency is what you have an issue with, so you would prefer cliches and platitudes? I actually respect him more for being open with these comments, he's showing more respect for the fans with his transparency here.
They collectively continue to make stupid decisions.
Fortunately for me, I feel no need to pay $50 for parking, etc., to feed these dipshits. Victor, you are proving to be going down that road of major dipshit.
Catch your passes, do your dance and help the team win another SB.
Tell you what, I believe the NFL better be very careful, as HDTV has more than replaced the price, and moral/ inconvenience of supporting these fuck-tards.
Victor, I suggest for your sake, have a productive year.
that by getting an HDTV and watching the NFL Network or Redzone or Sunday Ticket or a Giants game or any other game, that you're still supporting them, right? their TV revenue is huge and dwarfs the gate yearly.
Eric you ruined this place.
Cruz sirius interview - ( New Window )
He helps the team win and unless he violates some sort of team rule, league rule or shoots himself in the leg, I really don't care.
If I concerned myself with how athletes thought on issues of the day and if we knew how most of them were outside of the limelight, I don't think we would watch any sport.
A little advice to those that become emotionally invested in a player, they come and go like people on the sidewalk. It's easier to just cheer for the laundry.
And some seriously bad posts here.
I think I got it right.
Like - Signing with the Giants has a lot more to offer than going elsewhere being near my home town, my friends and family ... Being with a top flight organization ... Things money can't buy ... Others top WRs who I feel I'm every bit as good as if not better than may be paid more and although extra money is one way that is shown, I'm happy with my deal that keeps me here for most if not all the rest of my career ...
I'll probably have to order a Cruz jersey now to make up for the folks that are pissed off at him.
So now that he's actually done that and talked about it...we hate him now???
The list of reasons...I mean, you can't believe...
...really???
Randy in CT : 8:53 am
starting with the stupidest opening post ever
I didn't know he had a kid out of wedlock. I don't really care one way or the other but it does mystify me how people just let that happen.
Oh, let's not acknowledge his becoming more verbally flippant either.
This is worse than a game thread.
Percentages would've been in his favor to land a contract similar to Harvin, had he been a UFA.
I get the calls for maturity etc but the fact is pro athletes live in a different world than average joe. Their perspective and comments tend to reflect that. It's a waste of time complaining about it.
There are obviously numerous ways of responding to him that involve invoking things like leverage, supply and demand, alternate forms of renumeration, and even the base fact that ultimately they're still being paid exceptionally well. But I think framing the issue in the terms present above is a helpful way of thinking about it.
People act like Cruz was overheard muttering these remarks while nursing a whiskey within the dark confines of a shoddy downtown bar, whilst some delta blues played faintly in the background.
Yes, they'd certainly prefer clichés and platitudes.
Not to generalize too much, but something tells me that the sort of person who finds fault with Cruz merely based on these quotes presented in a vacuum is the exact sort of person who extrapolates a shitload of meaning out of clichés and platitudes, and probably brandishes some on his shirts, posters, or the bumper of his car.
Cruz is setting himself to be bashed by fans if he doesn't have a big year this year.
...I think...
because BBI has alot of stupid posters? and now they've been encouraged to be stupid?
And what do you do for a living ronzo?
jcn56 : 8:03 pm
and tell them we've got a container full of fans they can have, no cost to them.