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.
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
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
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?
"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.