The New York Giants and star wide receiver Victor Cruz are still hoping for an agreement to be reached concerning a new contract for the 26-year-old and despite the fact that efforts seemed to be moving in a forward direction, the two sides remain far apart on a new deal as mandatory training camp for the 2011 World Champions is underway.
Opening their mandatory workout camp earlier this week, the minicamp is supposed to be a time where Giants quarterback Eli Manning and his offensive weapons can begin to develop cohesiveness while learning the playbook designed by head coach Tom Coughlin and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. While Manning recently welcomed Hakeem Nicks back into the fold after the star wideout unexpectedly missed voluntary OTA practices, the two-time Super Bowl MVP is still without Cruz.
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As NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported earlier this week, the Paterson, New Jersey native does not plan to attend minicamp without a contract. Considering contractual talks between the organization and receiver have reportedly slowed, Giant fans have reason to be concerned with Cruz's future in blue.
Initially offering Cruz a deal that would have paid him between $10 and $11 million per season with guarantees nearing $20 million back in March, Giants GM Jerry Reese and the organization sweetened the contract offer in April. That new deal, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, included a base salary of $8 million along with a comfortable $15 to $18 million in additional guaranteed money.
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While Eli Manning clearly wants the situation to come to an end so he can begin working with one of his favorite targets, the star quarterback doesn't have an inclination as to where the contract talks are headed. All Eli wants is to get some real reps in against actual defensive backs, not just with tackling dummies and non-contact throwing.
"Victor has to get his business handled so he can get back to work," Manning said to ESPN New York. This is stuff where we're getting to go against cornerbacks. You get to work your technique. I don't know what he'll do. We'll have to see. We have three practices left, so for me just keep going out there and the guys who are there participating, continue to get them to learn the offense and see if we can make some strides in getting better. Training camp is when we will have time to work on a lot of things."
In two seasons with the Giants, Cruz has recorded over 160 receptions for 2,600-plus yards and 19 touchdowns. Targeted 131 times in 2011 and another 143 times in 2012, the former University of Massachusetts standout is clearly a major target of Eli Manning as the duo continues to be among the most productive quarterback-receiver combinations in all of football.
For now though, Giants fans will have to wait and see what becomes of the relationship between Victor Cruz and the organization since it does not appear the star wideout will be showing up to minicamp until he inks a new deal.
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