The New York Giants have established the worth of Victor Cruz, but the jury is still out for Hakeem Nicks. The Giants and Nicks have not had the easiest of offseasons. Nicks was a no-show at organized team activities without so much as a phone to Tom Coughlin to explain why. He then missed a day of training camp due to a nagging groin. He is only fueling the concerns surrounding him. As Nicks prepares to enter a contract year, Cruz is speaking out on just how much the receiver means to the team.
"I think the No. 1 wideout is Hakeem Nicks," Cruz told NFL AM. "I mean, he's been here longer, he understands this offense. He's out big-play guy, he's the outside. So I definitely think he's our No. 1 receiver, there's no doubt about it."
Nicks will spend much of this season trying to prove why he deserves a big-money contract extension over the summer. A vote of support from Cruz will certainly help in that effort. In general, Cruz believes the wide receiver position is undervalued and underpaid by most teams. Cruz's contract will be small compared to the one Nicks receives because of where he lines up on the field. The receiver believes his position should get paid top-dollar no matter what.
"I do think we've been undervalued; I think it definitely signifies a change in the game," Cruz said. " ... I think the numbers are the numbers, and they have to be scaled according to the tops in the league, no matter where you line up on the field."
Meanwhile, there is another Giants wide receiver making noise not named Cruz or Nicks. Rueben Randle is ready to prove that he is one of the biggest x-factors for New York this season. The rotation played is ready for more responsibility after an up and down rookie year. He put up 288 yards on 19 receptions, but wants more this season.
"I just want to go out there and make more plays," Randle said. "I think we left a lot of them out there last season that could have at least gotten us into the playoffs and had a chance to go into the Super Bowl. So I feel like we could make up on that and come out this season and make a lot of more plays."
Coughlin is echoing those statements, praising the young player for his improvement over the offseason and how he came back in much better shape for training camp. Randle is not looking to be like Cruz or Nicks, he just wants to go out and be Eli Manning's next top target.
