TAG TEAM: Victor Cruz had plenty to celebrate when he hooked up with Eli Manning, who yesterday said he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep Cruz with the Giants. (Getty Images (2))
If it helps the Giants work out a deal to keep Victor Cruz, Eli Manning says he’ll restructure his mammoth contract so the two can continue to play pitch and catch on the field.
“If the Giants want to work something out, I am always up for listening and figuring out what I can do to help the cause,” Manning said yesterday at the Samsung Spring Launch at the Museum of American Finance. “That is kind of up to the Giants and what they want to do. I am always up for listening and doing whatever is best for the team to put us in a [situation] to win more championships.”
The Giants have already won one championship with Manning and Cruz as central figures. The past two seasons, Cruz has caught 168 passes from Manning, good for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns, but he is a restricted free agent and has yet to sign his first-round tender of $2.879 million. It’s likely no team will sign Cruz to an offer sheet, but it could happen, much to the chagrin of Manning, who called the uncertainty “nerve-wracking.’’
Manning is scheduled to make $13 million in salary for the 2013 season and has three years remaining on his seven-year, $106.9 million contract. He counts a hefty $20.85 million on this year’s salary cap. The Giants have yet to ask him to rework his deal — exchanging salary into bonuses in order to help the team with the salary cap. Last week, co-owner John Mara explained why.
“That’s always an option at some point in time, but he’s proven to be worth the amount of salary-cap space that’s been allocated to him,’’ Mara said. “That’s something you could always do at some point to create more room. But again, the more room you create in current years, you have to pay that back at some point in time, and you don’t want to put yourself in a position where you are in salary-cap jail and you’re forced to cut an inordinate number of players. That’s something that may be discussed at some point in the future, but that’s not on our radar right now.”
There’s an offer on the table for Cruz believed to average at least $7 million per year and the Giants are not interested in going much higher for a player they unquestionably value and want to keep but will not break the bank to retain.
Manning has had several conversations this offseason with Cruz and so far, it is business as usual. Manning hopes it stays that way.
“Obviously every day I open the paper or look on the TV and try to see what’s happening with Victor, make sure no one else has signed him, check everything to make sure he’s still with us,’’ Manning said.
Tom Coughlin doesn’t seem to be sweating it out as much. Speaking at the owners’ meetings in Phoenix, the Giants coach said he’s confident Cruz isn’t going anywhere.
“No,” Coughlin said flatly when asked if he remains worried about losing Cruz. “I’m going to be optimistic in favor of Victor Cruz being in a Giant uniform. That’s my position on that. I don’t speculate in any of the other ways.”
Coughlin later admitted that he still has pangs of concern about Cruz, even though there doesn’t appear to be any teams willing (and with the salary-cap room) to make a move for the Pro Bowl slot specialist.
“I’m not as happy as I would be if it was settled and the issue was completed,” Coughlin said.
➤ RB Ahmad Bradshaw wants to go to a team that considers him a starter and said on ESPN radio that the Jets, Steelers and Packers have expressed interest. … DE Osi Umenyiora has made his first visit, reportedly meeting with the Falcons yesterday. It was a short trip for Umenyiora, who lives in Atlanta. The Falcons released DE John Abraham and are in the market for a pass-rusher.
— Bart Hubbuch in Phoenix contributed to this report
paul.schwartz@nypost.com