News & Info/Headlines

Giants Release Victor Cruz
According to multiple reports, the New York Giants are moving on from Victor Cruz, making him a free agent who is available to all suitors.

Cruz has spent his entire seven-year career with the Giants since entering the league as an undrafted free agent. As Profootballtalk.com's Josh Alper reminded readers, his breakout 2011 campaign -- where he caught 82 passes for 1,536 yards -- greatly contributed to the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI win over the New England Patriots.

But Cruz suffered a torn patellar tendon in 2014, cutting his season short after six games. He would miss the entire 2015 campaign after lingering injury issues and a calf injury that would require season-ending surgery.

Cruz got his wish in 2016 and made a long-awaited comeback after nearly two lost seasons.

However, he was nowhere near the receiver he was prior to his injury, never really taking to the outside receiver role.

Cruz caught 39 passes for 586 yards and a touchdown in 2016 and made some big plays early in the year, but his production slowed to 15 catches over the final nine games of the regular season.

So with a $9.4 million cap figure along with the presence of Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard, the veteran's release isn't a huge surprise. As NFL.com pointed out, a lower salary wouldn’t have done anything to solve the issue of having a veteran receiver best suited to playing in the slot on an offense with 2016 rookie Shepard playing the same role at an even lower cost.

Now, as the Sports Xchange suggested, the Giants would do well to find a consistent outside threat with size to do some of the dirty work that Cruz hasn't been able to accomplish working alongside Beckham and Shepard.

Could the Eagles pounce?

NJ.com's Eliot Shorr-Parks reminded readers this morning that Eagles top personnel executive Howie Roseman said earlier this offseason that he wants to target young players in free agency, allowing those players to grow with 24-year old quarterback Carson Wentz.

Cruz doesn't fit that mold, as he isn't an impact player now, and he likely won't be in two or three seasons when the Eagles are really ready to compete.

Ideally, the Eagles would like to sign an impact free agent, and have been linked through various reports to Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery, Redskins receiver Pierre Garcon, 49ers receiver Torrey Smith (via trade), Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills and, of course, Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson.

The cap space available might not allow them to do that.

While Cruz is not a player to build around, Shorr-Parks believes he could be a cheap band aid for the Eagles next season, something Roseman also admitted the team might need next year.

Whatever the case, I'll continue watching to see what kind of interest Cruz draws and what direction the Giants appear to be taking to add to their rotation behind Beckham and Shepard. Remember, as NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal pointed out, Cruz lost snaps to Roger Lewis and Tavarres King in big moments last season. Both are worth watching.