so I won't be able to give an educated opinion. That said, I don't think anything he does off the field will jeopardize his passion and preparation for Football. Other I do, but not Cruz.
I'd prepare for a down year from Vic.. it's pretty clear that his priorities have shifted. Winning it all and getting paid will do that to a lot of these guys so I don't really blame him.. just don't be surprised when he has a rather pedestrian year.
Let's see how the new system and his role impacts his production. Will the WR rules for the slot position, in terms of sight adjustments be kept the same? If they are changed then how does that impact Cruz? That's what I am curious to see.
It wouldn't surprise me one bit if he isn't AS productive as he was in the past.
of all the things that went wrong for the Giants in 2013, and a lot went wrong, Victor Cruz wasn't one of them, and that was after he got a new contract.
Next, I'd say I recommend people watch the 30 for 30 shot a few years ago entitled "Broke". How 2 years after retirement, 78% of NFL players are broke or in financial stress. There is no loyalty in this game, if Cruz can set himself up financially after is playing days are over (and he's been doing that with his clothing line and other various appearances) all the better for him. Of course, his "brand" and his popularity are very much tied to his ability to produce and be productive on the football field. As of now, we have seen no reason to worry about Cruz coming out of shape or not focused on football. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okFEZCgE5ag - ( New Window )
or the JayZ affiliation which he shows with the hand signs he has done. That said, I love him as a player, so I am happy that he is on our team. wish i didnt have to hear about the extraneous stuff
I think everyone on the offense is going to be focused and excited with a new offense to learn. I expect some bumps early on along the way as everyone works to get on the same page and absorb the plays but I can see Cruz having a really big year.
It really is amazing how fantastic Cruz is from a marketing perspective. Think of all the boxes he checks: Good at Football, Out-of-nowhere success story, Won a championship, Bi-racial, Attractive, Plays for the dominant team in the market where he grew up, Has a "signature move" that evolved naturally and suits his other strong points, Can speak eloquently in a middle-America-friendly dialect, and realizes all of this and is consciously working to take advantage of it.
This last point, I think, speaks to his seriousness of character. Which is a positive factor for his future success on the field-- it's a sign that he's going to keep working hard and that he's unlikely to commit some dumb mistake that threatens his career or otherwise poses an actual distraction to his football team.
but the reality is that somebody like Victor Cruz will make more money in his career off the field than he will make with his NFL contract. From that standpoint, he is correct to think about his "brand" first.
Luckily, the balancing factor is that his brand suffers if his perfomance on the field suffers. So I wouldn't worry too much about where his head is at.
His long time girlfriend does all his bookings and sets up all his promotions I believe she was a PR or something like that when she finished college. Cruz doesn't have to commit much thinking time to this.
He absolutely trust her and can concentrate on being the #1 receiver and keeping his name up there as a leading player for the Giants.
Thats's what he NEEDS to bring to make his brands go. She does the heavy hauling.
starts sucking as a football player, he is very expendable.
We saw how fast Giants fans turned on Barber (who didn't suck, but had a bad attitude) and Nicks (who started to suck but didn't have a bad public attitude).
I doubt the Giants would have been able to afford him. The kid is smart as well as a model NY Giant. The money he makes from his brand supplements the hometown discount he gave the Giants. You guys ought to be grateful this kid is as smart as he is. The alternative is Nicks. I'd take a team full of Victor Cruz types.
With at least 3 pension credited seasons is about 7. A pro bowl player is about 11. Let's split the difference for cruz and say he'll have 9 seasons. He's entering his fourth. He's got five left.
Guy has to make as much money as he can with a short window. He is absolutely a brand and deserves to make as much as he can. If his play drops off the money will stop coming in. Simple.
Sure, Cruz can say he is "a brand", and maybe he is or feels that way but his brand value is directly correlated with how he plays/performs for the New York Giants.
If he has a lack-luster year, his brand sucks. He knows this.
Eric the Barber comparison isn't fair. Tiki was selfish not because he was focused on things off the football field, but because despite being a great player, he was already focused on life beyond football, what's next, and had one proverbial foot out the door due to delusions of grandeur.
Cruz is simply a guy who is cashing in while he can and still is an NFL star. He knows he needs to be successful and will be focused on football when the season starts.
his on-field production will be effected.
Guy is too smart and talented to let that happen.
He may never have a 2011 year again, because he may never get a 2011 Eli again.
if not for his "brand" Cruz would've left the Giants to play for another team that could afford to pay him a higher salary.
after what i saw from him early in his career, i love the fact that we essentially got a home town discount for a young and talented player like Cruz. the day he stops trying hard because he's a wealthy man will be the day that opinion changes, but i've no reason to suspect it's coming any time soon.
as long as he's a star. He's a budding star, but he is not an established star. If he goes lame tomorrow or his production otherwise drops off the face of the earth, his brand is over.
I understand that he wants to make an off field career, to make sure he fully reaps the benefits of his talent, but it's waaaay too early for him to start referring to himself as a brand.
He's a young WR who has had a promising start to his career.
Cruz got to enjoy all of the perks right away. He comes in as an unknown, has a big time year wins a SB and gets paid. Now you see him go through a miserable losing season where he gets hurt on top of it.. you'd be surprised how fast a guy in that position will say "hey, being in commercials is a lot more fun than sitting on a trainer table and getting my ass kicked for a losing football team"
#1 If you're a football player: Don't suck on the field.
#2 ...
If Victor sucks on the football field for the next few years, his Brand will be shit regardless. He's got to be a good player until he's done or his name won't be much.
is one play away from a career ending injury. I don't blame Victor one bit. He should make what he can, when he can. Most of us would do the same thing.
football is temporary. careers are short and fragile - he is saying he is more than a football player and he takes a much broader perspective of his life and worth.
and unless the business ventures negatively impact his football - fans have no complaint. is there any evidence that has or will happen - I sure haven't seen it.
and he probably will be less productive in the coming years if Reese and TC and McAdoo do the right things. Stronger running game and better production form his wr and TE corps = less Cruz production.
football and I have absolutely no problem with that as long as when OTA's start through the end of the season/playoffs his #1 focus and priority is football while he is still playing. A severe injury could end his career at any given moment and he has to be ready to move on with his life. Victor Cruz doesn't strike me as a guy who will get his priorities confused. He knows full well the football career is his meal ticket into everything else he wants to do. The greater his football reputation becomes as a start player the more success it will bring him in his other endeavors.
Rule 1: Stay true to his roots
Rule 2: Follow Jeter's footsteps off AND on the field as a NY sports celebrity
Rule 3: Be humble
Rule 4: Sign with a superstar agent (I guess some of you would feel more comfortable if it were Rosenhaus than a rapper)
Rule 5: Work with other brands you believe in
What exactly is wrong with this that makes some think he won't be committed to the Giants? Would you rather his rules be the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? What about the Ten Commandments?
Got to love 'fans' who begrudge their own players the right to run a business and make money off their own talent.
This is still america, isn't it? You wouldn't think so.
He should sacrifice for the team. Remember the good old days when it was about the logo on the front, and not the individual name on the back? Players gave their all for the greater good. Nowadays athletes are just soft, spoiled, looking to market themselves, not willing to do what it takes.
Let him go play for a circus like Dallas if he wants to parade around about how important he is as an individual. This is a team game and the Giants are the ultimate team-first team.
is not because they are not capitalizing on all the money they could make during their playing years. It's because they live a life of partying, drugs/booze, and excessive spending. Many don't invest their money wisely and with the money they make they could easily set themselves up for life with just a little bit of living modestly.
Got to love 'fans' who begrudge their own players the right to run a business and make money off their own talent.
This is still america, isn't it? You wouldn't think so.
He should sacrifice for the team. Remember the good old days when it was about the logo on the front, and not the individual name on the back? Players gave their all for the greater good. Nowadays athletes are just soft, spoiled, looking to market themselves, not willing to do what it takes.
Let him go play for a circus like Dallas if he wants to parade around about how important he is as an individual. This is a team game and the Giants are the ultimate team-first team.
After saying what I said, I completely disagree with this tact. VC seems like a cool dude and is dedicated to his job on the field.
I'll tell you what JayZ as a brand went down in my estimation
when you are. Victor's brand encapsulates Patterson, being a high character guy, Giants Football, and Puerto Ricans in the NY/NJ. When you're in the public eye, recognizable, you're a fucking brand. What you want to make of that brand is up to you.
worry about what they are going to do for money post football after making millions upon millions of dollars first. I mean Cruz is going to make somewhere close to 50 million on this contract. He will probably get at least 1 more contract that will probably be near 25 million. He has endorsements, he has sponsors, etc.
If he is worrying about his brand now.... I think it shows more what he is worried about. And that is not to blame him, he has to look out for number 1. But after a subpar year, Victor is one of many Giants who should be more worried about his game than his brand.
I can feel for the likes of Brewer, who is on pace for the typical 3-4 year career at minimum wage. Minimum wage in the NFL, while far surpassing anything most of us will ever achieve in a one year span, still isn't all that lucrative when you consider that there's agent fees, relocation fees, and it's short term. These folk should have a leg up over the average non NFL career getting out of college, but it's still understandable that they don't realize this.
The likes of an Andre Brown, who got a couple million for one season, or especially Cruz, who got a very lucrative deal, need not apply for my sympathy. IF Cruz goes belly up financially, it's due to his own stupidity. I don't blame him for making all he can, while he can, but don't tie it in to bankruptcy rates for NFL players. He is NOT your average NFL player.
It wouldn't surprise me one bit if he isn't AS productive as he was in the past.
Next, I'd say I recommend people watch the 30 for 30 shot a few years ago entitled "Broke". How 2 years after retirement, 78% of NFL players are broke or in financial stress. There is no loyalty in this game, if Cruz can set himself up financially after is playing days are over (and he's been doing that with his clothing line and other various appearances) all the better for him. Of course, his "brand" and his popularity are very much tied to his ability to produce and be productive on the football field. As of now, we have seen no reason to worry about Cruz coming out of shape or not focused on football.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okFEZCgE5ag - ( New Window )
This last point, I think, speaks to his seriousness of character. Which is a positive factor for his future success on the field-- it's a sign that he's going to keep working hard and that he's unlikely to commit some dumb mistake that threatens his career or otherwise poses an actual distraction to his football team.
Luckily, the balancing factor is that his brand suffers if his perfomance on the field suffers. So I wouldn't worry too much about where his head is at.
He absolutely trust her and can concentrate on being the #1 receiver and keeping his name up there as a leading player for the Giants.
Thats's what he NEEDS to bring to make his brands go. She does the heavy hauling.
We saw how fast Giants fans turned on Barber (who didn't suck, but had a bad attitude) and Nicks (who started to suck but didn't have a bad public attitude).
Guy has to make as much money as he can with a short window. He is absolutely a brand and deserves to make as much as he can. If his play drops off the money will stop coming in. Simple.
If he has a lack-luster year, his brand sucks. He knows this.
Eric the Barber comparison isn't fair. Tiki was selfish not because he was focused on things off the football field, but because despite being a great player, he was already focused on life beyond football, what's next, and had one proverbial foot out the door due to delusions of grandeur.
Cruz is simply a guy who is cashing in while he can and still is an NFL star. He knows he needs to be successful and will be focused on football when the season starts.
Guy is too smart and talented to let that happen.
He may never have a 2011 year again, because he may never get a 2011 Eli again.
after what i saw from him early in his career, i love the fact that we essentially got a home town discount for a young and talented player like Cruz. the day he stops trying hard because he's a wealthy man will be the day that opinion changes, but i've no reason to suspect it's coming any time soon.
I understand that he wants to make an off field career, to make sure he fully reaps the benefits of his talent, but it's waaaay too early for him to start referring to himself as a brand.
He's a young WR who has had a promising start to his career.
#2 ...
If Victor sucks on the football field for the next few years, his Brand will be shit regardless. He's got to be a good player until he's done or his name won't be much.
This is still america, isn't it? You wouldn't think so.
The work you produce is your brand.
and unless the business ventures negatively impact his football - fans have no complaint. is there any evidence that has or will happen - I sure haven't seen it.
and he probably will be less productive in the coming years if Reese and TC and McAdoo do the right things. Stronger running game and better production form his wr and TE corps = less Cruz production.
and BBI would have siht if Shockey said it..
do it, but dont say it...classier
Rule 2: Follow Jeter's footsteps off AND on the field as a NY sports celebrity
Rule 3: Be humble
Rule 4: Sign with a superstar agent (I guess some of you would feel more comfortable if it were Rosenhaus than a rapper)
Rule 5: Work with other brands you believe in
What exactly is wrong with this that makes some think he won't be committed to the Giants? Would you rather his rules be the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? What about the Ten Commandments?
This is still america, isn't it? You wouldn't think so.
He should sacrifice for the team. Remember the good old days when it was about the logo on the front, and not the individual name on the back? Players gave their all for the greater good. Nowadays athletes are just soft, spoiled, looking to market themselves, not willing to do what it takes.
Let him go play for a circus like Dallas if he wants to parade around about how important he is as an individual. This is a team game and the Giants are the ultimate team-first team.
Quote:
Got to love 'fans' who begrudge their own players the right to run a business and make money off their own talent.
This is still america, isn't it? You wouldn't think so.
He should sacrifice for the team. Remember the good old days when it was about the logo on the front, and not the individual name on the back? Players gave their all for the greater good. Nowadays athletes are just soft, spoiled, looking to market themselves, not willing to do what it takes.
Let him go play for a circus like Dallas if he wants to parade around about how important he is as an individual. This is a team game and the Giants are the ultimate team-first team.
I sure hope Victor doesn't buy into that cr@p!
- Robert Griffin III
I also think he is smart enoug to know his success on the field drives this. I do not worry about Cruz on the field
If he is worrying about his brand now.... I think it shows more what he is worried about. And that is not to blame him, he has to look out for number 1. But after a subpar year, Victor is one of many Giants who should be more worried about his game than his brand.
The likes of an Andre Brown, who got a couple million for one season, or especially Cruz, who got a very lucrative deal, need not apply for my sympathy. IF Cruz goes belly up financially, it's due to his own stupidity. I don't blame him for making all he can, while he can, but don't tie it in to bankruptcy rates for NFL players. He is NOT your average NFL player.