The New York Giants and receiver Victor Cruz are in talks to rework his contract so he can remain with the club, per Art Stapleton of The Record.
WR Victor Cruz and #Giants working out details that will keep him with team this season. Sounds hopeful something will get done, per source.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 9, 2016
The talks were confirmed by Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, who also said to “expect him to remain with the Giants.”
Cruz missed all of the 2015 after playing only six games in 2014.
Due to the “what have you done for me lately” nature of sports, especially the NFL, it would be very easy to forget how good Cruz was for the Giants in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, he caught 82 passes for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns for New York in a season that ended with a Super Bowl victory. The following year, Cruz caught 86 passes for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Given that Cruz is 29 and has dealt with injuries over the last few years, it’s unlikely that he’ll be that good again.
The good news for the Giants and their fans is that he doesn’t need to. Odell Beckham Jr. is clearly New York’s No. 1 receiver now and will attract the bulk of the opposing defense’s attention. If Cruz can return to about 75 percent of his 2011-2012 form, the Giants will have one of the best 1-2 punches in the NFL.