Surely a part of Victor Cruz believes in his heart he belongs in New York, belongs a Giant, belongs in blue wearing No. 80, belongs catching touchdown passes from Eli Manning and doing his salsa in the end zone. Belongs being a symbol of hope and healing inspiration for a little boy and a family traumatized by the tragic horror experienced by the community of Newtown, Conn.
But surely Victor Cruz believes in his heart that in the violent world of the NFL, where concussions and ACLs and, worst of all, paralysis can turn that world and your life upside down, you had better strike while the iron is hot, you had better wield the hammer when you have it in your hand, especially when you have risked life and limb over the past season with a $560,000 salary, because nothing is guaranteed except the guaranteed money.
Cruz hiring superagent Tom Condon yesterday could signal that, as the Giants remind one and all that this is a business, Cruz has reminded them he means business. Maybe it helps (Condon represents Manning and knows how to cut a deal), maybe it doesn’t.
In the meantime, in the midst of this impasse and the start of free agency, Big Blue Nation will be singing The Cruz Blues.
Here is the money quote, from Giants co-owner John Mara: “If somebody’s willing to pay more than we’re willing to pay, then we’ll have to say goodbye.”
This is a high-stakes gamble that could blow up in the faces of both sides.
The Giants allowing Cruz to salsa in the free agent waters is risky business, but they are willing to take that risk, and begrudgingly receive a first-round pick if another team — say the Rams, Vikings now that Percy Harvin is a Seahawk, or Ravens, now that Anquan Boldin is a 49er — makes him an offer he can’t refuse, but they can.
“Certainly we’re taking a risk,” Mara said.
The Giants tendering Cruz at the first-round compensation level would pay him $2.879 million.
Cruz’s best-case scenario is a desperate suitor swooping in with a Brinks truck of cash, and the Giants deciding he is indispensable and matching the offer and thereby retaining him. Because catching passes from Manning, on a team with legitimate Super Bowl hopes, in an area where he has already established himself as a darling of Madison Avenue, are all tremendously seductive incentives to stay.
But sometimes money talks, and the player walks. Even if the grass isn’t always greener, as long as he deems the money is, no one should begrudge Cruz if he ultimately forfeits the opportunity to be a Giant For Life. Or something close.
“It’s not going to shock me if somebody makes him an offer,” Mara said.
All of them — Mara and Steve Tisch, general manager Jerry Reese, coach Tom Coughlin and Manning — want to keep Cruz, but not at all costs. It is called fiscal responsibility.
“You can’t worry about the player’s popularity,” Mara said, “because at the end of the day, the fans want to win. They want you to build an organization that’s going to be in contention every year, and if you overpay for players, it’s going to hurt you in other areas. I’ll say it again — he’s been a great player for us, we’d love to have him back, but you have to place a value on these contracts, and we have. Hopefully at some point we’ll be able to reach an agreement.”
Cruz is on record as saying that he wants to be a Giant. But not at any cost.
“Let’s just say that if he took our offer, he’d be a very wealthy young man,” Mara said.
Complicating matters is the club’s desire to pay Hakeem Nicks, who is entering the final year of his contract. And Dwayne Bowe (five years, $56 million, $26 million guaranteed) and Vincent Jackson (5 years, $55 million, $26 million guaranteed) have likely set the market value for Nicks, more so than for Cruz.
“They’re both priorities for us,” Mara said.
Wes Welker, a more accomplished receiver, rejected a two-year, $16 million deal from the Patriots last year and was franchised at $9.515 million for 2012.
Allow me to mediate.
The Giants should take into account Cruz played for veritable crumbs in 2012.
“We’ve made him a very substantial offer,” Mara said.
Cruz, who absolutely does not want to be perceived in any circle as greedy, should give the Giants a hometown discount.
Now get a deal done.
Losing Cruz would be more impactful than cutting Ahmad Bradshaw.
“If you let your emotions get in the way, then you end up in the place that you were in the 1970s, and I’m not going there,” Mara said, and laughed, undoubtedly to keep from crying.
That was a dark, depressing place.
“I believe in the long term he will be a Giant,” Mara said, “but time will tell.”
As of today, they’re both on the clock.
Salsa to a deal, boys.