Wes Welker stunned the NFL and quarterback Tom Brady by bolting to the Denver Broncos after the Patriots reportedly low-balled him on an offer and now the New York Giants are worried their star receiver could do the same.
The Giants have been locked in contract negotiations with Victor Cruz since last season and after the free agent signing period opened, the team placed the highest first round tender on him, meaning other teams will likely not sign him. It has been four years since a team has made such a move and Cruz is a restricted free agent.
Now that Welker has signed and the Patriots brought in Danny Amendola, chances are they will not try to sign Cruz, but Bill Belichick has done crazier things, like let Wes Welker sign with a rival team.
What the deal really does is affect Cruz and it could give the Giants an edge, as Welker signed for just $12 million over two years, while Mike Wallace signed a deal with the Dolphins that pays him around $13 million a year over five years. For any team to sign Cruz, they would have to give him a large contract and give up their first round pick, something many teams are unwilling to so.
Amendola signed a five-year deal worth $31 million and Welker's deal pays him $6 million and Cruz will want more than that since he is younger. With the Patriots out, ESPN.com reports that St. Louis and Minnesota could be in the running to target Cruz, but chances are they will not want to give up a first round pick.
ESPNNewYork.com also reports that crus is switching agents to Tom Condon, who happens to be quarterback Eli Manning's agent, giving the team an inside track on a deal. Cruz wants to remain a Giant, but he also wants to get paid. He had over 1,000 yards and over 82 catches in the past two seasons and had been a dynamic star in the offense that the team needs.
Welker leaving for that price and gives the Giants some leverage, as he had 118 catches for 1,354 yards and six touchdowns, becoming the first NFL player with 110 catches in five seasons. He has made a living in the slot position and will continue to do that in Denver with Peyton Manning, who adds him to a receiving corps with Demariyus Thomas, Eric Decker and Jacob Tamme.
Even though Welker is 33-years-old, he still has years in the tank and gives Manning another option in the slot, where he completed over 70 percent of his passes last season.
