Victor Cruz wants a big pay raise from the New York Giants, but the team is not looking to over spend on the young wide reciever. Team owner John Mara wants Cruz to remain a Giant and is hopeful a deal can get done. While the feeling is mutal with Cruz, he expects to be paid like the best reciever in the league.
"I think I have definitely proven myself to be one of the highest compensated receivers in the league. That's kind of the way I feel and my team feels," Cruz said.
Cruz burst onto the scene in 2011 with the Giants and is coming off two back-to-back consistant seasons of high numbers. In 2011, he set the team's single-season recieving record with 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns. Not bad for a guy that went undrafted. In 2012, he backed up the previous year's performance with 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cruz was selected to this year's Pro Bowl team.
Cruz is set to become a free agent and could be a top priority for teams in need of his playing abilities. He made $540,000 in 2012 and wants to be making $10 million per season. The Giants are $4.2 million over the salary cap with 22 players becoming free agents this off season. This could hinder the Giants' ability to hold on to Cruz due to them having little room to be able to offer him a raise.
It seems only natural that Cruz will test the market to see if there is a team that is willing to pay him more money. The Giants have the rights to negotiate with him first and things could get pricey. Mara is hopeful that a deal will end up getting done before next season.
"We certainly want him back, but like with any player, there's a limit to where we're willing to go. He's done a lot for our team, but there is a limit," Mara said.
Mara believes that Cruz might be asking for too much money but also thinks it is in the receiver's best interest to remain with the team.
The Giants failed to make the playoffs this year and losing Cruz could seriously harm their chances of making a good run next season as well. The Giants could place a franchise tag on him, but that seems unlikely. If a deal is unable to be reached, Cruz could hold out at the start of the season.