Yes I know it is still real early and yes I know Cruz has more experience than many. And yes I am aware of how hard Cruz has worked and what a wonderful and moving story his comeback is...
But do we really want to take a chance on losing one of the young wrs that are shining right now?
Tavarres King
Roger Lewis
Darius Powe
These are the guys I'm talking about. They are making plays and competing hard. Will it be for naught?
Beckam, Shepherd, Harris are likely locks for obvious reasons
But is Cruz a Lock?
Myles White may be the fastest player on the team and now has a full year in the system under his belt. Could be a tough cut under any circumstance
Geremy Davis has been making plays. A late round draft choice but still a draft choice and you know how JR hates cutting draft choices. Davis has some height and could be a nice red zone target. Another tough cut...
Sure we might get lucky and cut one or two of the above noted non locks but wouldn't you hate to see one of the young guys picked up by another team and really shine?
Cruz could still shake off the rust and start making some plays but is it too soon to start wondering about what needs to be done if he doesn't?
Cruz is a known commodity re route-running, taking hits and so on..Obviously the big question is, what has he lost?
somehow I think he will "sneak on" the roster Marty...
I know that he hasn't played in a couple years but its easy to forget what an outstanding player he was. If he can come back to 85% of that player (especially if Sheppard is the real deal) he's probably the fourth best receiver (at worst) on the roster and will be an invaluable asset to the team.
As for Cruz, unless he's still injured, I think his floor on the team at this point is as a slot receiver exclusively. He's been hurt, he hasn't forgotten how to play football. No way this roster has seven or eight WRs better than him, unless he simply can't run anymore.
Outside of the top four "names" the odds of the other guys being anything other than generic camp fodder are pretty slim.
Outside of the top four "names" the odds of the other guys being anything other than generic camp fodder are pretty slim.
Some of those guys should turn into more than just camp fodder. There is some talent there...just need playing time and targets.
If he is cut, we'll search the waiver wire for a veteran replacement.
Locks if Cruz is cut: OBJ, Shepard, Davis, Harris, ??? (I think the best veteran plus a youngster like Myles White who at least has experience). Or maybe the Giants keep just White as the 5th and see how things go as the season moves along?
But it would suck if Cruz didn't make it back 99%.
If Cruz is healthy, he's making the team. He is a known commodity.
Now if he truly is #8 or #9 we eat a big number and walk away.
Almost surely one at least of these "7 or 8" guys "better than Cruz" will end up on IR.
Cruz minus half a step is still Steve Smith Jr and a valuable possession WR.
Even if Cruz falls all the way to the 7th best WR among them, his experience and value to "the room" earns him a spot in the roster over guy #6.
Old Dirty Beckham dumb post. By now it's pretty clear the guys clamoring for the last one or two WR slots aren't the typical roster filler types that would simply be "lucky to make any team's 53."
Tavarres King was in fact a 5th round draft pick. Myles White was a small school project lark for GB, but was hand picked by Mac for the Giants and has top end speed, not to mention familiarity with Mac's O. Roger Lewis would have been drafted in the middle rounds if not for his stumble (in high school!) with the law AND a poor combine that didn't confirm his pretty clear "on the field" speed seen over and over on his college tape.
LOFL!! I'm stealing that line.
if he's the eighth or ninth best WR, he's totally shot and is laughing all the way to the bank while lamenting what could have been, and will not be on the roster.
next question from captain obvious?
LOL. Methinks you kinda missed the boat on what "inside info" means.
"Inside info" from someone who knows zilch!!! Where is Fats?
If he doesn't his career is likely over sooner than later.
All of a sudden, we're all flying off it's surface into outer space (right behind the moon) !
If Cruz is done, he's gone, period (no mystery).
But, where, why, is this smelly stuff gurgling to the surface ?
All of a sudden, we're all flying off it's surface into outer space (right behind the moon) !
Damn, i might have to buy some costume jewelry for the trip
OBJ
Shepard
Davis
Harris
are the cream
the jury is still out on Cruz
then there are the rest -- if Cruz falls into the rest then the swill at the bottom is murky -- it's really hard to judge the level of talent of the rest of these guys -- I'm not high on Myles White by the way -- but there jsut isn;t a great way to evaluate the rest of these guys - they are going up against 3rd teamers at practice
I did not say the Jints had 8 or 9 NFL quality receivers on their current roster
I do posit the question though what if Cruz is ranked as the #8 or 9 wr on the team?
As you put it, that would put Cruz in with the swill
So then what happens?
If Cruz is rated somewhere between #5 and #8 for the purposes of this discussion what do you do with him?
Historically those wr's at the bottom of the totem pole had to be effective special teasers to make the final roster
While you may not be high on White I was under the impression that he was an effective gunner on kr
I am not clear on what ST role Lewis or Powe or the others could bring but I would think their respective athletic talent might also qualify them for a gunner role.
Can anyone at this point really see Cruz as a gunner?
How about KR?
Probably not
So while the consensus on this thread appears to be if Cruz is only #8 or #9 wr he is out, what if he is #6 or #7 and does not provide any ST role and his roster selection eliminates a young wr with tantalizing upside as the scouts like to say?
But what if no one gets hurt by some miracle and more than one young guy makes some big plays while the vets chill ?
Some tough decisions coming up at wr...
Has Odell missed 2 seasons of football? Not remotely the same scenario here.
Quote:
What if Odell is only the sixth or seventh best WR on the roster? Do we cut him or is he trade bait?
Has Odell missed 2 seasons of football? Not remotely the same scenario here.
Cruz is not going anywhere is the point...
Football is brutal and the Giants and new coach McAdoo will do what they must: cut Cruz with best wishes for his hard work, for his 2011 which got us to a SB in the midst of 7 seasons with but one playoff appearance.
Quote:
In comment 13057992 est1986 said:
Quote:
What if Odell is only the sixth or seventh best WR on the roster? Do we cut him or is he trade bait?
Has Odell missed 2 seasons of football? Not remotely the same scenario here.
Cruz is not going anywhere is the point...
He misses a lot
One is a guy who provides excellent camp reviews and the other one is a drooling invalid.
How is that an inside info? He has knows nothing specific about Cruz or his injury but since he's an NFL player, his opinion is inside info? Come on.
Manny in CA : 8/4/2016 8:26 pm : link : reply
All of a sudden, we're all flying off it's surface into outer space (right behind the moon) !
Carousel?
I was first thinking we'd bring in a veteran WR to replace Cruz, a surprise cut. Now I wonder if we'd go with our youth including UDFA's like Roger Lewis or Powe or Dable?
My faith tells me to believe Cruz will come back strong and produce. We truly need him to flourish and lead this year and I believe in my heart he will do just that: be effective and worth of his salary. At least for this year. Next year is a different story.
If Cruz is a 6-700-6 type guy who just can't accelerate for longer gains anymore than you adjust accordingly. Injuries suck, they just do, and you play with the hand you are dealt.