Way back in October, Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz said that he and the Giants had agreed to the framework of a deal that would keep him from being a restricted free agent this offseason.
It’s almost February and Cruz hasn’t signed a new deal, which must be why he was singing a different tune in New Orleans on Thursday. Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that Cruz said he and the Giants agreed to disagree during the regular season and that he is still waiting to resume discussions during the offseason. The delay hasn’t left him worried that things won’t work out in the end.
“I’m not getting antsy at all,” Cruz said. “I know they have to come around at some point.”
They don’t, actually. The Giants could slap the maximum restricted tender on Cruz and gamble that no team will be willing to give up a first round pick in addition to the cash it will take to sign Cruz to a long-term deal. It’s a risk other teams have taken successfully, including the Steelers with Mike Wallace last offseason.
It’s also possible that the Giants want to figure out some of their other decisions first in order to get a handle on their cap situation before agreeing to a deal that keeps Cruz in their uniform for several years. Whatever route things travel, it’s hard to imagine the Giants will allow Cruz to leave during this or any of the next few offseasons.