Victor Cruz - Pro Football Rumors

This Date In Transactions History: Bears Sign Victor Cruz

May 26th, 2021 at 10:33am CST by Zachary Links

On this date in 2017, Victor Cruz joined the Bears on a one-year deal. With that, the longtime Giants wide receiver was set to start his next chapter. Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out as expected.

Cruz was a logical fit for the Bears after they lost Alshon Jeffery in free agency. With their WR1 gone, they were left with Cameron Meredith, the injury-prone Kevin White, veteran Kendall Wright, Daniel Braverman, and Markus Wheaton as their top targets. Cruz was not a one-for-one replacement for Jeffery at this stage of his career, but there was a clear path to the 53-man roster. Then, in the preseason, he suffered a knee injury that took him out of the equation.

From 2011 through 2013, Cruz averaged 80 receptions, 1,209 yards, and eight end zone salsas per season for the Giants. Cruz, a former undrafted free agent out of UMass, came out of nowhere and captivated the NFL . Later, the Giants locked Cruz down with a five-year extension worth up to $43MM. Cruz could have gambled by staying on track for free agency after the 2013 season. With hindsight, Cruz was pretty happy about his decision, which yielded nearly $16MM in guaranteed cash.

Things started to come apart in 2014, thanks to a torn patellar tendon, followed by a calf injury. By ’18, Cruz was still just 31, but also years removed from live action. So, after unsuccessfully lobbying the Giants to bring him back, Cruz called it a career. His final NFL contract came from the Bears, but he left the game having only played for the G-Men.

This Date In Transactions History: Victor Cruz Retires From NFL

August 23rd, 2020 at 7:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Two years ago today, former Giants superstar Victor Cruz retired from football. Cruz was still shy of his 32nd birthday, but a string of injuries ultimately slowed down the charismatic salsa dancer.

From 2011 through 2013, Cruz averaged 80 receptions, 1,209 yards, and eight end zone salsas per season. The first year in that set basically came out of the blue. Cruz joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent out of UMass in 2010. In 2011, he managed 82 grabs, 1,536 yards, and nine TDs. His 2012 encore wasn’t quite as efficient (he posted an 86/1092/10 stat line), but he was still recognized as a vital part of the Giants’ passing attack and earned his first career Pro Bowl nod.

Not wanting to risk losing Cruz to free agency – particularly after watching him carve up the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game – the locked Cruz down with a five-year extension worth up to $43MM. Cruz could have gambled by staying on track for free agency after the 2013 season, but the added security of the deal, including nearly $16MM in guarantees, made it a worthwhile tradeoff.

In hindsight, it was the smart play for Cruz. Initially slowed by a heel bruise, he came two yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark in 2013, despite missing two games. Unfortunately, in 2014, the course of his career changed dramatically. A torn patellar tendon ended his campaign after just six games and a calf injury in the following season put him under the knife before he could take the field.

By the time Cruz returned to action in 2016, the Giants’ offense was fully focused on Odell Beckham Jr. Meanwhile, Cruz’s trademark speed was gone, and so was his longtime mentor Tom Coughlin. Cruz took a pay cut to stay in the fold, but he registered just 39 catches for 586 yards. After that, he moved on to the Bears, only to suffer a season-ending injury at the end of the preseason. When his personal campaign to return to the Giants failed, Cruz called it quits.

This Date In Transactions History: Giants Extend Victor Cruz

July 8th, 2019 at 11:30am CST by Zachary Links

On this date in 2013, Victor Cruz likely performed one of the most enthusiastic salsa dances of his career. Heading into a contract year worth $2.879MM, the Giants receiver inked a five-year extension worth up to $43MM.

It was a substantial payout for Cruz, but one that reflected his value to the club as well as the league’s increased appreciation of the slot receiver position. Lining up mostly on the inside, Cruz broke out in 2011 with 82 catches, 1,536 yards, and nine touchdowns. His 2012 encore wasn’t quite as efficient (he posted an 86/1092/10 stat line), but he was still recognized as a vital part of the Giants’ passing attack and earned his first career Pro Bowl nod.

Not wanting to risk losing Cruz to free agency after his one-year restricted free agent tender – particularly after watching him carve up the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game – the Giants moved to lock down Cruz for the long term. Cruz could have gambled by staying on track for free agency after the 2013 season, but the added security of the deal, including nearly $16MM in guarantees, provided him with financial security.

In hindsight, it was the smart play for the former undrafted free agent. Initially slowed by a heel bruise, came two yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark in 2013, despite missing two games. Unfortunately, in 2014, the course of his career changed dramatically. A torn patellar tendon ended his campaign after just six games and a calf injury in the following season put him under the knife before he could take the field.

By the time Cruz returned to action in 2016, the Giants’ offense was fully focused on Odell Beckham Jr., who routinely toasted opposing defensive backs and gobbled up targets, catches, yards, and touchdowns. At this point, Cruz’s trademark speed was no longer there, and neither was his former Rabbi, Tom Coughlin. Cruz took a pay cut to stay in the fold, but registered just 39 catches for 586 yards. The two sides were expected to hammer out a similar arrangement for his 2017 season, but they released him instead.

Cruz moved on to the Bears, but a knee injury in the final preseason game torpedoed his comeback attempt. Later, he tried to lobby the Giants to sign him via the local press, but his request went unanswered. Finally, in August of 2018, Cruz announced his retirement and entry into the world of broadcasting with ESPN.

Although Cruz’s time on top was brief, he left the game with a tremendous highlight reel, multiple productive seasons, a Super Bowl ring, and an iconic touchdown celebration that will forever be remembered by Giants fans.

Victor Cruz Announces Retirement

August 21st, 2018 at 10:28am CST by Zachary Links

Victor Cruz is officially hanging up his cleats. On Tuesday, Cruz announced that he is retiring from the NFL in order to begin his broadcasting career.

“I’m excited to close down and open a new chapter and join the media world at ESPN,” Cruz said (video link). “I’m excited for the future, I’m excited for the next chapter, I’m excited for you all to be a part of this with me, and here we go.”

Cruz, 32 in November, inked a one-year, $2MM deal with the Bears last offseason. The deal included a a $500K signing bonus, but that guarantee didn’t stop the Bears from cutting him just before the start of the season. Cruz later lobbied the Giants to re-sign him after they lost Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Harris, and Sterling Shepard to injury, but the G-Men never reciprocated interest in a reunion. As recently as May, Cruz expressed interest in continuing his NFL career.

Cruz will be fondly remembered for his best years with the Giants. From 2011 through 2013, Cruz averaged 80 receptions 1,209 yards, and averaged eight end zone salsa dances per season. Unfortunately, injuries hampered and ultimately ended his career, but Cruz’s bold personality should suit him well on the airwaves.

Victor Cruz Hopes To Continue Playing

May 9th, 2018 at 8:16am CST by Zachary Links

We haven’t heard Victor Cruz‘s name much in recent months, but that doesn’t mean that he’s off of the NFL’s radar. At least, the wide receiver hopes that’s not the case. This week, Cruz said that he wants to continue playing football.

“I just love the game. I think I can still play,” Cruz said. “I don’t want to exhaust all of that before I fall off.”

Cruz, 32 in November, inked a one-year, $2MM deal with the Bears last offseason. The deal included a a $500K signing bonus, but that guarantee didn’t stop the Bears from cutting him just before the start of the season. Cruz later lobbied the Giants to re-sign him after they lost Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Harris, and Sterling Shepard to injury, but the G-Men never reciprocated interest in a reunion.

This offseason, things have been largely quiet, though Cruz says there was some interest from teams before the NFL draft. In the last two weeks, the veteran says he hasn’t heard from teams with serious interest. Cruz says that he will retire if he doesn’t have an offer from a team by a certain date this summer, though he did not disclose the exact self-imposed cutoff point.

“Once that deadline comes, if nothing has happened, I’ll hang them up,” he said. “Probably around training camp time and then we’ll go from there.”

Cruz was successful during his run with the G-Men as he averaged 80 receptions 1,209 yards, and eight touchdowns per season from 2011-13. Since that time, however, injuries have robbed Cruz of his explosiveness. He has failed to top 40 receptions or 600 yards over the past four years.

Victor Cruz Doesn’t Intend To Retire

January 31st, 2018 at 6:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although he didn’t appear in the NFL in 2017 after being released by the Bears in September, veteran wide receiver Victor Cruz doesn’t intend to retire, according to Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com.

“I’m going to give it one more shot and see what’s out there, see what’s in the market for me and if I can get into anybody’s camp,” said Cruz. “If not, we’ll see where it goes after that and take the necessary steps.”

Cruz, 31, inked a one-year, $2MM deal with Chicago last offseason that contained a $500K signing bonus, but that guarantee didn’t prevent the Bears from cutting the former undrafted free agent just prior to the start of the regular season. Cruz later lobbied the Giants — who had recently lost Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Harris, and Sterling Shepard to injury — to re-sign him, but New York never expressed any interest in a reunion.

“Naturally, I was surprised [that the Giants didn’t call], being that I knew the offense and was just there a few months ago at that point,” Cruz said. “I was a little bit surprised just as a normal human being just as everybody else I came across was surprised as they (said) to me everywhere I go.”

Cruz, of course, was highly successful during his run with the G-Men, and averaged 80 receptions 1,209 yards, and eight touchdowns per season from 2011-13. Since that time, however, injuries have made Cruz a shell of himself, and he’s failed to top 40 receptions or 600 yards over the past four years.

Victor Cruz Lobbies Giants To Sign Him

October 13th, 2017 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are in desperate need of help at wide receiver. Still, they say that former star Victor Cruz is not an option and that is a mystery to the player.

“I’ve been literally thinking to myself of reasons why they wouldn’t and I can’t think of any,’’ Cruz said on his podcast (transcription via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post).

Earlier this week, coach Ben McAdoo threw cold water on the idea that Cruz could return to the Giants’ lineup in the wake of injuries to Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard, and Dwayne Harris. That hasn’t stopped Cruz from dreaming.

“Can I paint a picture for you?’’ Cruz said. “Can you imagine, if I get a phone call from the New York Giants and I go back out there wearing the number 80 in blue and I get in that end zone one more time? Do you understand? I can already hear the deafening screams from the crowd. Already, I can hear it.’’

After the Giants’ nightmare of a game, Cruz says his agent called the team to ask about a potential reunion. The agent was told that the Giants would assess their injuries and then get back to him. If the 0-5 Giants can’t get in the win column this weekend, they may want to reconsider their stance on Cruz.

Giants Not Interested In Victor Cruz

October 9th, 2017 at 1:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants are in extreme need of help at the wide receiver position, but the club is not interested in a reunion with free agent pass-catcher Victor Cruz, head coach Ben McAdoo told reporters, including Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). “To my knowledge he is not an option,” said McAdoo. “But never say never.”

Cruz, of course, spent 2010-16 with the Giants, and was especially spectacular from 2011-13, when averaged 80 receptions, 1,209 yards, and eight touchdowns per season. Following three injury-ridden years, Cruz was released by the Giants in the spring, and he subsequently implied that the club’s coaching staff intentionally phased him out of the offense because New York was planning to cut him.

Although he signed a one-year deal worth up to $4MM with the Bears, Cruz couldn’t make it past final roster cuts despite Chicago’s depleted wide receiver depth chart. Cruz reportedly suffered a knee injury during the Bears’ preseason finale, but he now has a clean bill of health. Still, he has yet to generate any known interest being cut by Chicago.

New York is in dire straits at wideout, where Odell Beckham Jr. and Dwayne Harris are both out for the season. Sterling Shepard will be sidelined for a few weeks with a sprained ankle, while Brandon Marshall — who also suffered an ankle sprain — is still being evaluated. The Giants signed Travis Rudolph and Tavarres King this morning, and they’ll join Roger Lewis as Big Blue’s only healthy receivers.

Extra Points: Broncos, Ward, Dorsett

September 2nd, 2017 at 5:16pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos did not discuss a pay cut with safety T.J. Ward before releasing him on Saturday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post tweets. “It was a football decision,” a team source tells her, adding that the motivation was to give more playing time to Justin Simmons and Will Parks. Meanwhile, Broncos players are upset about losing Ward and his locker room presence, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets.

While Ward searches for a new home, here’s more from around the NFL:

The Colts had offers for Phillip Dorsett from other teams, but those proposed swaps involved draft choices instead of netting a young player at a positional need, Mike Lombardi of The Ringer tweets. Lombardi doesn’t name teams, but Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link) says the 49ers, Jets and Cardinals were among the teams that showed preliminary interest in him.
The Jets are expected to be interested in running back Travaris Cadet now that he has been released by New Orleans, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. The Jets showed interest in Cadet during free agency but ultimately lost out.
T.J. McDonald‘s new deal with the Dolphins has built in protections for the team that will override his guarantees if he has another suspension issue, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald tweets. The pact includes $10MM in “guarantees,” but McDonald can’t slip up if he wants to collect on all of it.
Wide receiver Victor Cruz says that he got a “clean bill of health” on his MRI this week, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. He’s now a free agent after being released by Chicago.
Chiefs GM Brett Veach says veteran running back C.J. Spiller could still end up on the Chiefs’ roster (Twitter link via BJ Kissel of Chiefs.com). Spiller was among the Chiefs’ mass cuts on Saturday as they trimmed down to 53.

Bears Release Victor Cruz

September 1st, 2017 at 4:20pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bears have released wide receiver Victor Cruz, Josina Anderson of ESPN tweets.

This is the latest setback in the career of Cruz, a former star who has dealt with significant injury issues in recent years. Cruz suffered a knee injury during the Bears’ preseason finale on Thursday and will undergo an MRI, per Anderson (on Twitter).

A longtime Giant, Cruz played just six games from 2014-15, and while he bounced back last year to appear in all but one of Big Blue’s contests, he only one caught 39 passes and one touchdown. At his best, Cruz combined for between 73 and 86 receptions in each season from 2011-13, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2012.

The 30-year-old Cruz joined the Bears in May on a deal worth up to $4MM. Chicago will save $1.97MM of Cruz’s $2.47MM cap hit, but it’s even thinner at receiver after losing Cameron Meredith to a season-ending injury last week. The Bears are now down to Kevin White, a 2015 first-rounder who has battled injuries during his short career, Markus Wheaton and Josh Bellamy, among others, at the position.