Source: Al Bello / Getty
Giants fans will never hear the name “Cruuuuz” belted from the stands or see Vic-tory hit the salsa after a big play, but beloved wide receiver Victor Cruz will surely be missed on the field.
Paterson, N.J.’s own was dropped from Big Blue following a less than stellar last season, in which he only recorded one touchdown and 586 yards. Cruz was coming off a nasty patella tendon that left him sidelined for nearly two seasons— so he returned to the turf two years older and injury-laden. And with the emergence of rising NFL star Odell Beckham, Jr.— and his gravity-defying one-handed catches— Cruz’s role on the Giants was minimized. The organization let #80 go in February 2017, and Cruz has been relatively quiet ever since. But don’t count him out— the 30 year old has tons of experience and juice that will benefit any team that picks him up in the off-season.
Cruz appeared on Power 105.1’s Breakfast Club this morning, where he broke down why the Giants released him. He said he even saw it coming.
Charlamagne also asked him about that pay cut he took from the Giants, and Cruz didn’t hesitate to explain what went down.
“I took a pay cut last season and this year the [Giants] want to move in another direction with the team. That was the first thing they said to me when I walked in,” he said. “And you know what, I felt it all year long. Halfway through the year you’re like, ‘O.K., I’m balling,’ then the other half I’m not getting the ball. But I knew they didn’t want me here anymore.”
He also admits that his performance played a part in him being cut. “If I played well and I was a 1000 yard receiver it’d be harder to cut me from a fan perspective. But if I had 500 yards it’s a little easier on the fans. And if I played well they owed me a ton of money next year,” he explained.
You can watch the entire interview— where Cruz also talks about LaVar Ball— below.