Giants Give Victor Cruz Ultimatum: Pay Cut Or Be Cut

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz has not played an NFL game since October 12, 2014 at Philadelphia, when he tore his patellar tendon.

Because of his injury history and $9.9 million cap number in 2016, ESPN’s Ed Werder reported that the Giants have informed Cruz that if the two are unable to reach a new deal to lower his salary, he will be released before Wednesday, when the new league year begins.

After seeing his 2014 season cut short, Cruz’s 2015 season was stopped before it even got started. He missed the first nine weeks of the season with a left calf injury and was later required to undergo season ending surgery, despite originally being cleared for Week 10.

Cruz signed with the Giants in 2010 after not being selected in the NFL Draft and became on of the top receivers in the game during the 2011-13 seasons, totaling 241 receptions for 3,626 yards and 23 touchdowns.

If Cruz is released, he should draw interest from teams like the Lions, who are dealing with the sudden retirement of Calvin Johnson and the Falcons, who recently cut Roddy White.