Victor Cruz Reportedly Released by New York Giants
Victor Cruz had two years remaining on his contract with the New York Giants, but the team reportedly cut the wide receiver to save a nice chunk of money.
Art Stapleton of the Record and Kimberly Jones of NFL.com both reported Cruz was let go on Monday. The news comes after Cruz expressed uncertainty about his future with the team on Feb. 7.
Cruz said he hadn't spoken to the Giants about a new contract and didn't even have the standard exit interview with head coach Ben McAdoo after the season, per SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.
On Feb. 2, Cruz told reporters in Houston that he had yet to hear from the team regarding his status for the 2017 season.
"I'm just handling things accordingly, going about my business the way I go about it," he said, per NJ.com's James Kratch. "I haven't heard anything from the Giants. But obviously, in my heart, I want to stay here and finish my career here for as long as God determines."
After missing the entire 2015 season, Cruz appeared in 15 games—and made 12 starts—during the 2016 season.
All told, Cruz racked up 39 catches on 72 targets for 586 yards and a touchdown, operating as a supplementary receiving option behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard.
And while those numbers were encouraging, the 30-year-old was due base salaries of $6.4 million and $7.4 million over the next two seasons.
| 2017 | $6,400,000 | $1,900,000 | $9,400,000 | $1,900,000 |
| 2018 | $7,400,000 | ----- | $8,500,000 | ----- |
For a player with Cruz's injury history who's now on the wrong side of 30, those numbers are a bit high. And as Kratch noted, the Giants will save $7.5 million against the salary cap after cutting him.
Beckham and Shepard are solidified as Eli Manning's top targets, and the Giants could opt to sign a less expensive wideout in free agency or draft a cost-controlled rookie in April to bolster their corps for the future in Cruz's absence.
Contract information courtesy of Spotrac unless noted otherwise.
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