Perhaps no one other than Victor Cruz has more vested interest in the Victor Cruz negotiations than Eli Manning.
And while the Giants’ quarterback has no insight into the negotiating process for his star wide receiver, he does have a preference.
“We get into some real practices next week so hopefully as we get into those live going-against-the-defense practices he’ll get back in so we can get back to work,” Manning said, via Tom Rock of Newsday.
The Giants open OTAs on May 22, and as Florio mentioned last week, this time frame was deemed important in the contract talks already.
Manning also mentioned how Cruz not being there was helpful in cultivating other receivers, but it wasn’t as if he was taking a shot at Cruz for not being around. He was mostly discussing the benefit of reps for others, fully cognizant of Cruz’s unique value to their offense.
Manning is smart enough to know when to stay out of another man’s business, and has been careful to not instigate anyone throughout what could be a delicate process.