The Star-Ledger-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Giants have had quite an interesting offseason between their top two receivers being absent from team activities at times. There were questions about both Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks in regards to those absences, and well, let’s just say one guy had several more questions and boy were they loaded.
Cruz had put off signing his restricted free agent tender of just under $3 million this summer until later in June and prior to that there were plenty questioning his motives behind his unwillingness to ink the deal.
Many thought that he didn’t deserve to be paid a large long-term contract just yet because he’s only had two productive seasons at this point, and that doesn’t necessarily warrant Wes Welker-type money.
Well, not only did Cruz sign his tender but shortly afterwards he decided to go about saying how he felt he deserved more. Well, please Mr. Cruz tell us something we didn’t already know.
Cruz is slowly turning into what some may call a diva, and that doesn’t bode well for the Giants. There’s no doubt he’s a very talented receiver in the system they’ve got in New York. But, after only two seasons he isn’t in position to start making demands.
Now that training camp is almost here, Cruz will be put in a position where he has to step up his game in all facets of the word. Not only will his effort on the field need to be at 110 percent, but his leadership as one of the go-to guys on that roster must be shown.
If he wants to act like he is entitled to a large deal, he has to prove it not only with his game on the field but also his attitude and work ethic in camp. There won’t be many things to nit-pick at as far as his game, but during camp his body language, attitude and how vocal he is will be scrutinized as much as it ever has. He would be wise to suck it up and be a big boy.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
