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Giants Release Cruz

adamg : 2/13/2017 12:32 pm
PEr Kim Jones
wow - well, not such a surprise,  
Del Shofner : 2/13/2017 12:32 pm : link
I guess.
Tweet reads:  
adamg : 2/13/2017 12:32 pm : link
Quote:
Kimberly Jones ‏@KimJonesSports 1m1 minute ago
More
I'm told the NYG just released Victor Cruz. Source: Cruz "is OK."
RE: wow - well, not such a surprise,  
adamg : 2/13/2017 12:33 pm : link
In comment 13359104 Del Shofner said:
Quote:
I guess.


My feelings exactly. End of an era.
Well that hits you in the gut as a fan.  
bceagle05 : 2/13/2017 12:34 pm : link
What an impact he made in such a short period of time.
Very sad - Cruz will always be a Giant in my eyes  
jcn56 : 2/13/2017 12:34 pm : link
unless he signs elsewhere in the NFCE, in which case he can drop dead.

Kidding - thanks for everything VC, very sorry that you were injured and that it had to go that way, but you were a great Giant for your tenure, and your tenacity in your return from injury was admirable.
had to be done  
UConn4523 : 2/13/2017 12:35 pm : link
he can't play outside at an NFL level and he isn't better than Shepard. Hope he finds a home or does whatever makes him happy, but the Giants were more than fair with him and now need to move on.
This had to happen.  
Tom in NY : 2/13/2017 12:35 pm : link
Cap hit too much, and his ability as an outside receiver just isn't what the team needs.

I'll leave the Miami boat trip out of this.

Victor was a great Giant. I will personally never forget what he did during the entire 2011 season, and the NFC Championship game in SF.

Thank you Victor, and best of luck to you!
at least there doing right by him  
ECham : 2/13/2017 12:35 pm : link
give him every chance to sign elsewhere.
Great player. Great person.  
Brown Recluse : 2/13/2017 12:36 pm : link
Good luck after football.
Good luck Victor,  
Tittle 9 20 64 : 2/13/2017 12:36 pm : link
where ever you end up. You were a great Giant!
Very sad to hear it  
JonC : 2/13/2017 12:37 pm : link
hoped they'd paycut one more time.
while unfortunately injuries sapped him of pretty much all he had left  
Stu11 : 2/13/2017 12:37 pm : link
and the move had to be made its still a sad day. His 2011 season and that 99 yard catch remain legendary in Giants history. I'll never get tired of watching his highlights from that season.
Excellent.  
Big Blue '56 : 2/13/2017 12:37 pm : link
He gets about a month head start to try and hook up with another team, unless he hangs them up and perhaps gets into modeling
Would have been curious to  
Tim in Eternal Blue : 2/13/2017 12:38 pm : link
See how he would have done in the slot in a 4 WR set. But BM refused to change his formations.
Thanks for the SB Victor  
Mason : 2/13/2017 12:39 pm : link
good luck to all future endeavors.
Thank you, Victor, and good luck to you.  
yatqb : 2/13/2017 12:39 pm : link
I know you have a good future ahead of you.
Thank You Victor Cruz  
EddieNYG : 2/13/2017 12:42 pm : link
We all saw this coming, unfortunately.

Will always  
Fred in Atlanta : 2/13/2017 12:43 pm : link
Remember him against the Jets. Thanks.
Inevitable  
giantsfan227B : 2/13/2017 12:44 pm : link
Thank you Victor. I will always remember your TD catch and run vs the Jets as the kick start to a SB title.

Best wishes.
It was unfortunately time  
Mike in Long Beach : 2/13/2017 12:44 pm : link
and that's coming from a big time Cruz apologist throughout 2016. The whole offense never got going and Cruz's numbers as a 3rd receiver were in line with that of a 3rd receiver on a bad offense.

Still, at the end of the day he was a 3rd WR making 7 million dollars with a couple other guys on the roster who showed flashes of quality play. It's the right move, as shitty as it feels.
Unfortunately  
Matt in SGS : 2/13/2017 12:45 pm : link
the NFL is a results business. The reality is the Shepard took his roster spot. Playing on the outside, where he didn't have size, and the speed was gone, made him an after thought. This is Odell's team. Shepard in Cruz's old position in the slot. That he was on the bench late for King in the Packers game kind of said it all.

Cruz was a great story and a wonderful Giant. I'm happy for him that he was able to get that big contract before the injuries set in starting in 2013 with the knee injury vs. the Seahawks. He was able to cash out where Steve Smith got burned.

I wish him the best of luck, but the amount of injuries made him a shell of his former self, and all the credit for him to fight his way back, but his salary number made him impossible to bring back at that number. And per my post a few weeks back, where I asked if the Giants did him a disservice, he's not really a fit on the team anymore. It was time to move on.
Thank you for being a Giant  
AnnapolisMike : 2/13/2017 12:45 pm : link
It was time....
.  
Stan in LA : 2/13/2017 12:46 pm : link
RE: This had to happen.  
AcidTest : 2/13/2017 12:46 pm : link
In comment 13359117 Tom in NY said:
Quote:
Cap hit too much, and his ability as an outside receiver just isn't what the team needs.

I'll leave the Miami boat trip out of this.

Victor was a great Giant. I will personally never forget what he did during the entire 2011 season, and the NFC Championship game in SF.

Thank you Victor, and best of luck to you!


Agreed. Congratulations on all you achieved Victor, and best of luck in your future. I'm sure you'll be incredibly successful if you continue your football career, or with the next chapter in your life. Your contributions as a Giant will never be forgotten.
damn  
giantfan2000 : 2/13/2017 12:49 pm : link
so sad Cruz was my favorite

classy guy
lets sticky the Thank You thread as well  
idiotsavant : 2/13/2017 12:50 pm : link
pls
Best wishes  
rasbutant : 2/13/2017 12:50 pm : link
now go sign with the Pats and get another ring.
Sad day but  
Stan in LA : 2/13/2017 12:50 pm : link
He was the odd man out. Maybe he'll find a team needing a slot receiver.
If and when he catches on somewhere else, I'll root for him  
jeffusedtobeonwebtv : 2/13/2017 12:52 pm : link
That is except if he plays against the Giants.

Reminds me of Mark Bavaro playing for the Eagles. You had to root for him. It was not as if he left voluntarily to play for another team; he also suffered injuries that caused the Giants to cut him.
.  
Go Terps : 2/13/2017 12:53 pm : link
He's seemed, wisely, to have his mind on life after football for a while now.

He and Nicks are lessons in how quickly things can change, and how important it is for the Giants to maintain a pipeline of fresh talent while remaining financially flexible.

On July 8, 2013 Cruz signed a 5 year, $46 million dollar deal. Since that day here's what they got out of Cruz (4 total seasons):

35 games played
29 games missed
135 receptions
1921 yards
6 TDs

This was a major case of paying for past performance.
Love Cruz  
djm : 2/13/2017 12:53 pm : link
I just hope the Giants have a plan in place to replace Cruz with a veteran FA. I would have liked to see Cruz stick around as the 4th WR. You'd think he would be a nice backup to Shepard and a guy that could play outside in a pinch. Hard to ignore some signs that we saw in 2016. The whole offense was weird so it was hard to judge Cruz I guess the Giants saw enough on tape to conclude the guy's done. He didn't get any separation on the outside...

So I presume the Giants are signing a vet FA.
RE: .  
drkenneth : 2/13/2017 12:57 pm : link
In comment 13359197 Go Terps said:
Quote:
He's seemed, wisely, to have his mind on life after football for a while now.

He and Nicks are lessons in how quickly things can change, and how important it is for the Giants to maintain a pipeline of fresh talent while remaining financially flexible.

On July 8, 2013 Cruz signed a 5 year, $46 million dollar deal. Since that day here's what they got out of Cruz (4 total seasons):

35 games played
29 games missed
135 receptions
1921 yards
6 TDs

This was a major case of paying for past performance.


Yup. After the 2011 SB, we thought we had a top 5 WR duo with Nicks & Cruz.

Seems so long ago.
Bummer  
Heisenberg : 2/13/2017 12:57 pm : link
Injuries ruined him. Good luck to him. Should be able to transition to a media career pretty easily.
Again  
Matt in SGS : 2/13/2017 12:58 pm : link
we are making assumptions that Cruz wanted to come back. For all we know, the Giants came to him and offered him a paycut and incentives. When Cruz saw how he played out last year, and with Odell entering his contract years, and with Shepard in year 2, Cruz was not going to put up any numbers in this offense. He may well have said that he would like to move on. I honestly think that both sides realized that they thank each other for their joint success in the past, but it was time to go their separate ways.
I've been bracing for this since midseason  
sjnyfan : 2/13/2017 12:58 pm : link
but we all knew it was coming. He was due $9.4 million for '17, way too much to be the team's #4 receiver in catches. But the memories are golden and I wish him the best. I hope he finds a team with a good QB that puts him back in the slot where he belongs.
terps  
djm : 2/13/2017 12:58 pm : link
the guy was what...26 at the time? BArely ever injured. showing no signs of regression. You have a 30 year old QB. How do you not sign Cruz? Tough sell there. Easy to second guess now. Cruz was a safer bet than signing Snacks Harrison last spring. For starters, Cruz has produced as a Giant. Great off the field. Signing Cruz was a no brainer. It just blew up. Every signing is a risk. With inaction comes risk too.
He was OBJ before OBJ  
GiantsRage2007 : 2/13/2017 12:58 pm : link
2011 was magical. He was so good. He was OBJ before there was an OBJ.

Injuries and time... they remain undefeated
Not surprised ....  
Beer Man : 2/13/2017 12:59 pm : link
I really pulled for him this year after all he had been through; he never made it back to the old Victor. I wish him well on his next endeavor.
Hate to see him go.  
MOOPS : 2/13/2017 12:59 pm : link
But bottom line, it's a business. This is a business decision. Successful teams make good business decisions.
nfl  
Chip : 2/13/2017 1:00 pm : link
not for long. Good Luck Victor.
question  
giantfan2000 : 2/13/2017 1:01 pm : link
which team do you think cruz signs with?
Good Luck Victor...  
Torrag : 2/13/2017 1:01 pm : link
...as best as your interests don't conflict with ours.

It's the right decision. He can't operate on the outside and the future of the slot for us is Sheppard. Time to move on. His cap space will be spent much better elsewhere.

I'll never forget how he exploded on the scene or his incredible run in the Jets game and so many more moments. Including a Superbowl Championship.
Cruz  
stretch234 : 2/13/2017 1:01 pm : link
The unfortunate side to the NFL... A move that had to be made.

The NFL does not keep players like Cruz on teams to be 4th WR. They almost always let the guy go to find something else. He could still work as a slot WR, but here, Shepard is better

He would be perfect for Cincy
One thing hardly ever mentioned  
Chris684 : 2/13/2017 1:02 pm : link
when critics evaluate Eli, is what has happened to his receiving threats during his prime.

Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. All Super Bowl winners, all flashed huge potential and put up big seasons.

All 3 probably never able to realize their true potential due to injury.

Sad.
Cruz was a great Giant  
bigblue12 : 2/13/2017 1:02 pm : link
He had a short time as a great player, but he was a great Giant throughout his career.
RE: Very sad to hear it  
Rjanyg : 2/13/2017 1:03 pm : link
In comment 13359124 JonC said:
Quote:
hoped they'd paycut one more time.


This
RE: terps  
Go Terps : 2/13/2017 1:04 pm : link
In comment 13359214 djm said:
Quote:
the guy was what...26 at the time? BArely ever injured. showing no signs of regression. You have a 30 year old QB. How do you not sign Cruz? Tough sell there. Easy to second guess now. Cruz was a safer bet than signing Snacks Harrison last spring. For starters, Cruz has produced as a Giant. Great off the field. Signing Cruz was a no brainer. It just blew up. Every signing is a risk. With inaction comes risk too.


Hey I was in the same boat at the time. I was pissed when they didn't bring back Manningham, as I thought they had a great thing with those three guys together. I wanted them all signed long term.

It turns out I could not have been more wrong.
He was one of the greats..  
Fred-in-Florida : 2/13/2017 1:06 pm : link
Glad he was on our team. One of those fairy tale stories. Undrafted, local boy to Super bowl winner and Pro Bowler.

Thank You Victor!
Sad, Sad Day  
ny2plano : 2/13/2017 1:09 pm : link
One of my all time favorite Giants. Will be missed. All the Best!!!
Christmas Eve 2011  
Drewcon40 : 2/13/2017 1:09 pm : link
my brother in law (season ticket for Jet owner) took me to the game. Fans were still in buying into Rex mode giving me "the business". Then 3rd and 10, late in the 2nd quarter, down 7-3, #80 with the 99 yard TD! Changed the game and was probably where the Superbowl was built upon!

Thank you Victor!
Loved Cruz but  
Carl in CT : 2/13/2017 1:09 pm : link
Don't say he was OBJ. Not in the same league talent wise. Great guy and he will be missed but it was time.
Thank you Victor!  
phil in arizona : 2/13/2017 1:10 pm : link
2011 doesn't happen without you!
I'm no dancer  
nyjuggernaut2 : 2/13/2017 1:11 pm : link
but I'll be sure to have some chips and salsa tonight to honor a great Giant.
A great Giant. His catch and run vs the Jets help save one  
NBGblue : 2/13/2017 1:13 pm : link
championship season. Thank you Victor and good luck. Look forward to seeing your induction to the Ring of Honor.
Thank you  
Gap92 : 2/13/2017 1:17 pm : link
Victor. You'll always be a Giant.
Great career in NY  
giantsfan44ab : 2/13/2017 1:18 pm : link
Was critical of him but there's got to be a few places he'd be an upgrade In the slot.
Appreciate what VC  
old man : 2/13/2017 1:21 pm : link
did for the Giants, especially in 2011.
Thank you VC!
Good luck VC!
Save whats left of the knee.
Will always love Victor Cruz  
Dan in the Springs : 2/13/2017 1:22 pm : link
Best of luck to you - will always be a Giant in my heart! You gave us your all!
This guy  
LCtheINTMachine : 2/13/2017 1:23 pm : link
will catch on. He is made of special stuff.
What are the savings for the cap?  
No Where Man : 2/13/2017 1:23 pm : link
.
Really a bummer  
Sonic Youth : 2/13/2017 1:24 pm : link
It's a travesty that we, as Giants fans, never got to see the real VC and OBJ on the field together at the same time.

I hope that if nobody signs him, we can bring him to camp fro the vet minimum. I think there's a chance he might have still been recovering, and that he can come back and contribute in some form.
Sad day  
I Love Clams Casino : 2/13/2017 1:24 pm : link
..
Thanks Victor  
WillVAB : 2/13/2017 1:24 pm : link
This had to happen though.
Far too short of a career ...  
Beezer : 2/13/2017 1:25 pm : link

but then again, better to burn out, than to fade away. (Even though he did kinda fade away this season.)

No worries.

A great New York Giant.

Thanks for your work, Victor!
This isn't one of those cut-and-resign kinda deals, no?  
SHO'NUFF : 2/13/2017 1:26 pm : link
Damn, what a sad day.
too bad  
mdc1 : 2/13/2017 1:27 pm : link
The injuries derailed his latter time here.
Thank you Victor...  
Chris in Philly : 2/13/2017 1:31 pm : link
You'l always be a Giant to me.
Thank you Victor a true Giant on and off the field!  
nicky43 : 2/13/2017 1:34 pm : link
You will be missed in the locker room and on the field. I know you will return to top form in the 2017 season so please don't go to an NFCE team.
RE: Would have been curious to  
SHO'NUFF : 2/13/2017 1:38 pm : link
In comment 13359128 Tim in Eternal Blue said:
Quote:
See how he would have done in the slot in a 4 WR set. But BM refused to change his formations.


THIS. and I was just thinking about Cruz and how he had another offseason to strengthen his leg and come back stronger next year.
The right move...  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 2/13/2017 1:39 pm : link
But it still sucks. Thanks for the memories Victor!
too bad. he was not the same since the injury.  
Victor in CT : 2/13/2017 1:48 pm : link
he's a bright guy, I hope he retires and moves on with his life.
It's crazy to think that  
Beezer : 2/13/2017 1:49 pm : link
he only played 4 full seasons with the Giants.

In those 4 seasons, he averaged 70 catches, 1053 yards and 6 TDs.

Damn injuries.

All-time Giant.
Live shot of Victor..  
Vin R : 2/13/2017 1:49 pm : link
Frees up some cap space  
johnnyb : 2/13/2017 1:57 pm : link
for a RT. We can always sign him for insurance, but probably best to move on.
Reconnection with TC in Jacksonville?  
lawguy9801 : 2/13/2017 2:02 pm : link
Veteran presence over the middle for Bortles?
RE: Best wishes  
Vin R : 2/13/2017 2:15 pm : link
In comment 13359185 rasbutant said:
Quote:
now go sign with the Pats and get another ring.


Da fuq?
smart guy....  
BillKo : 2/13/2017 2:26 pm : link
he'll be fine. Thanks for some great, live moments at Met Life!!

http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/13/news/victor-cruz-nfl-money/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom
He hasnt  
area junc : 2/13/2017 2:53 pm : link
cared about football for a while now
RE: He hasnt  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 2/13/2017 3:02 pm : link
In comment 13359553 area junc said:
Quote:
cared about football for a while now


Total cheap-shot.
RE: He hasnt  
PetesHereNow : 2/13/2017 3:51 pm : link
In comment 13359553 area junc said:
Quote:
cared about football for a while now


With all your faux insider bullshit, you remain one of the worst posters around here.
...  
Eric from BBI : Admin : 2/13/2017 4:08 pm : link
I'm not sure area junc is too far off here.

Nothing concrete, but just getting a weird vibe from him since his pre-calf injury days. Cruz has a lot of off-the-field options. I'm not sure how important the game really is to him anymore. But he wasn't going to kiss that fat contract goodbye the Giants were giving him.
Amazing how a guy  
djstat : 2/13/2017 5:06 pm : link
With two great seasons gets viewed as a legend.

2010 - One great pre-season game
2011 - Great Season
2012 - Good/Great Season
2013 - Meh
2014 - Injured
2015 - Guest Starred on Ballers
2016 - Meh

Hasn't been a huge factor since 2012.

Bye
RE: ...  
FStubbs : 2/13/2017 5:08 pm : link
In comment 13359657 Eric from BBI said:
Quote:
I'm not sure area junc is too far off here.

Nothing concrete, but just getting a weird vibe from him since his pre-calf injury days. Cruz has a lot of off-the-field options. I'm not sure how important the game really is to him anymore. But he wasn't going to kiss that fat contract goodbye the Giants were giving him.


If that were the case, he wouldn't have scratched and clawed to get back on the field in '16.
RE: RE: ...  
Danny Kanell : 2/13/2017 5:17 pm : link
In comment 13359791 FStubbs said:
Quote:
In comment 13359657 Eric from BBI said:


Quote:


I'm not sure area junc is too far off here.

Nothing concrete, but just getting a weird vibe from him since his pre-calf injury days. Cruz has a lot of off-the-field options. I'm not sure how important the game really is to him anymore. But he wasn't going to kiss that fat contract goodbye the Giants were giving him.



If that were the case, he wouldn't have scratched and clawed to get back on the field in '16.


He had no choice or he was getting cut last pre-season. They basically gave him an ultimatum with 2 games left in the pre-season that if he didn't get on the field and show he can do it, he was gone. He was cleared well before he appeared in a game but he kept "tweaking" things and kept himself out. I don't believe the team was confident he was fully mentally invested. That's kinda the harsh reality.

Doesn't diminish what he did for the franchise pre-injury. His 2011 was legendary and we dont win a title without him.
RE: RE: Would have been curious to  
SB 42 and 46 and ? : 2/13/2017 5:18 pm : link
In comment 13359404 SHO'NUFF said:
Quote:
In comment 13359128 Tim in Eternal Blue said:


Quote:


See how he would have done in the slot in a 4 WR set. But BM refused to change his formations.



THIS. and I was just thinking about Cruz and how he had another offseason to strengthen his leg and come back stronger next year.


Like you, I would have liked to see Cruz back in the slot, a second year away from his injuries. But I guess it's not to be.

As for Cruz not especially wanting to be back in football, I can't say for myself but it really appeared that he had thrown himself into difficult rehabilitation and wanted nothing better than to be back on the field.

But as for me, I have no knowledge.
RE: Amazing how a guy  
shyster : 2/13/2017 6:03 pm : link
In comment 13359786 djstat said:
Quote:
With two great seasons gets viewed as a legend.

2010 - One great pre-season game
2011 - Great Season
2012 - Good/Great Season
2013 - Meh
2014 - Injured
2015 - Guest Starred on Ballers
2016 - Meh

Hasn't been a huge factor since 2012.

Bye


There was no real drop off from 2012 to 2013. In terms of yards gained and yards per reception, Cruz's 2013 season was on track to be just as good as 2012 (or even somewhat better) until he was injured in Week 15 game vs Seahawks. That happened on a high pass where he sacrificed his body making the effort and came down with a concussion and knee sprain.

And his 2011 season ranks with the greatest seasons any Giants' receiver has ever had.
You don't do all that rehab if your heart isn't in it.  
Ten Ton Hammer : 2/13/2017 6:04 pm : link
Anyone who has had to heal from surgery and take months of physical therapy can tell you that.
RE: He hasnt  
Klaatu : 2/13/2017 6:23 pm : link
In comment 13359553 area junc said:
Quote:
cared about football for a while now


He would have cared, but someone lied to him about the Giants signing Anthony Davis. Totally bummed him out.
At the time of his contract, he was 26  
PetesHereNow : 2/13/2017 10:00 pm : link
And everyone and their mother thought it was a great idea to re-sign him while still leaving available funds for Nicks. That's what a catastrophic injury like a patella tear does. Does Cruz have a lot of options after football? Sure. It's not outlandish to think so. But for area junc to say with absolute certainty that he doesn't care about football on the day he was cut, that strikes me as wrong. Especially when he spends a lot of his time pursuing this faux insider status in which Anthony Davis is a Giant, and the secrets of the 2005 Bears/Giants halftime shall never be uttered.
He had a calf injury  
tomjgiant : 2/14/2017 6:51 am : link
that eventually needed surgery to repair. Do you really think he didn't want to play ?
RE: He hasnt  
djm : 2/14/2017 10:41 am : link
In comment 13359553 area junc said:
Quote:
cared about football for a while now


And BBI hasn't cared about your horse shit musings for quite some time.

You don't play in the NFL for a full year without caring and live to tell about it.
and more so  
djm : 2/14/2017 10:44 am : link
you don't come back from a brutal injury--rehabbing for two years if you don't care.

Just because Cruz wasn't productive doesn't mean he didn't do everything he could to play at the highest level. He was playing out of position. He's lost a step. And he was the 3rd or 4th option in a struggling offense. That's why he's no longer a Giant.
Three years too late  
TMS : 2/14/2017 9:57 pm : link
for this move . The difference between the Giants front office and NEs. Right there.
RE: Three years too late  
djm : 2/14/2017 11:35 pm : link
In comment 13361350 TMS said:
Quote:
for this move . The difference between the Giants front office and NEs. Right there.


Oh shut it for fucks sake. New England never re-signed one of its own free agents is that it?
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