Victor Cruz has no choice between now and training camp but to sign the multi-year offer the Giants weeks ago put on the table, because playing for less than $3 million for this season makes absolutely no sense.
So says a prominent NFL player agent who has done many lucrative deals throughout the league.
“I don’t see how he can’t [sign the deal] now, I don’t understand it, it’s just logic,’’ said the agent, who asked not to be identified.
Cruz walked into the Giants’ facility Friday and signed the one-year tender that will pay him $2.879 million for the 2013 season. Both the Giants and Cruz hope a long-term deal can be finalized before the July 26 reporting date for training camp, but for that to happen, Cruz is going to have to accept he will not be earning what he believes is his market value.
“I don’t see any scenario where he gets any more money than they have on the table right now,’’ the agent said, “unless out of the goodness of their heart they decide to throw him a couple extra million.
“If you’re Victor Cruz, you’re never getting paid by the Giants, ever. They’ve never had an $11 million receiver, you’re not gonna be it. They had every opportunity to lock you up — they’ve given you exactly what they feel you’re worth.You can disagree until the cows come home, it does not matter. And now you’re going to go out there and help make them better, which is going to make them stronger. If you can live with that, then that’s what you should do.’’
Cruz eyed a deal that averaged at least $10 million per year and the Giants countered with a contract that would pay him more than $7 million per year. It is believed the Giants are offering $12-15 million in guaranteed money and Cruz is seeking $15-18 million in guaranteed money.
If Cruz did not sign the tender he could have held out of training camp with no repercussions, as the Giants could not fine him because he would not have had a contract. That leverage is now gone for Cruz, who would incur fines of $30,000 for every day he held out of training camp.
“You look weak,’’ the agent said. “ ‘I want a long-term deal and I’m not going to play unless you give me one,’ and then I sign, which takes my leverage away from getting a long-term deal. There are some players who will come in and say, ‘I trust the team and hopefully they do the right thing,’ which is basically what Cruz is doing.’’
The Giants can prevent Cruz from hitting the open market until the 2015 season, as after this season they can designate him a franchise player, which would pay Cruz $10.5 million for the 2014 season. In that scenario, he would play the next two years for slightly more than $13 million, considerably less than what Cruz believes is his market value.
“This year doesn’t help him at all,’’ the agent said. “What’s Cruz going to do this year other than become overexposed? He could go out there and have 100 receptions for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns and be the hottest thing on the market next year and then they’ll just franchise him. That’s all he’s playing for.’’
Taking out a disability insurance policy for the season would not help Cruz, as the payoff is based only on a career-ending injuryand not income replacement.
If Cruz did not sign the tender, he could have sat out the season and then hit the open market, but would have burned his bridges with the Giants. Clearly, he wants to stay and get paid, and that desire likely will lead him to relent and accept the standing offer.
Ernie Accorsi spent most of his adult life in the NFL. He was the general manager when the Colts drafted John Elway in 1983 (he resigned a short time later after finding out that owner Robert Irsay had agreed to trade Elway without Accorsi's knowledge), and he was also responsible for pulling off the deal that brought Eli Manning to the Giants hours after the Chargers had selected Manning with the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.
At the time, trading for Manning was a huge risk. The Giants were coming off a four-win season. To acquire Manning, they gave up Philip Rivers (whom they had drafted fourth overall in 2004), an '04 third-rounder and a first-rounder in '05 (San Diego selected kicker Nate Kaeding and outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, respectively).
Manning struggled as a rookie, going 1-6 as a starter, completing 48 percent of his passes and tossing six touchdowns against nine interceptions. But Accorsi saw enough in Manning -- who played on a mediocre Ole Miss team -- to know that it was a chance worth taking.
Some highlights: "In shotgun on most plays and his only running option is a draw … his offensive line is poor. Red-shirt freshman left tackle. Eli doesn't trust his protection. Can't. No way he can take any form of a deep drop and look downfield. With no running game (10 yards rushing the first half) and no real top receivers, he's stuck with the three-step drops and waiting til the last second to see if a receiver can get free. No tight end either. No flaring back. So he's taking some big hits. Taking them well. …
"Plays smart and with complete confidence. Doesn't scold his teammates, but lets them know when they line up wrong or run the wrong pattern … Threw three interceptions. Two were his fault. Trying to force something both times. He could have run on one of them, a fourth-down play. He has a lot to learn."
In the scheme of things, the three interceptions didn't matter; Accorsi was still impressed: "Think he's the complete package. He's not going to be a fast runner, but a little like Joe Montana, he has enough athletic ability to get out of trouble. Remember how Archie ran? In that department, Eli doesn't have the best genes, although I never timed mom Olivia in the 40. But he has a feel for the pocket. …
"Has courage and poise. In my opinion, most of all, he has that quality you can't define. Call it magic …Peyton had much better talent around him at Tennessee. But I honestly give this guy a chance to be better than his brother."
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