Giants release Victor Cruz and Rashad Jennings; team frees up $10 million in cap space
The New York Giants released wide receiver Victor Cruz and running back Rashad Jennings Monday.
Cruz, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Massachusetts and a native of Patterson, N.J., had nothing but good things to say about his seven seasons with the Giants.
“I pretty much grew up in front of the eyes of this entire organization,” Cruz, 30, said in a statement. “The Giants fan base, the community, my hometown, my family. I grew up there. It’s very much a family atmosphere and it’s very much like leaving your family. That’s what this feels like. I did some great things there.”
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Cruz missed the final 10 games of the 2014 season and all of the 2015 season because of surgery. He would have counted $9.4 million against the cap in 2017. The Giants free up $7.5 million in cap space with his release.
Cruz began his Giants tenure on injured reserve. He followed this with breakout seasons in 2011 and 2012. He caught a touchdown in the Giants’ victory in Super Bowl XLVI. Cruz tore his patellar tendon against the Philadelphia Eagles in October, 2014 and never regained the form he showed in 2011 and 2012.
Cruz was made expendable after the rise of Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. He took a pay cut to remain with the team in 2016 and wanted to remain a Giant.
“He came in here and earned everything that he’s gotten,” general manager Jerry Reese said in the statement. “It has been amazing to see him grow from undrafted free agent to a Pro Bowl player and one of our go-to-guys during the Super Bowl XLVI run. He will always be one of the great Giants.”
Jennings, 31, would have counted $3,062,500 against the cap in 2017. Releasing him frees up $2.5 million in cap space. He averaged just 3.3 yards on 181 carries, the second lowest average for any player with at least 150 touches, after rushing for a career-high 863 yards in 2015.
“It’s an honor to play here, playing for a team that has so much history, a team that falls under great leadership and high character,” Jennings said in a statement. “In the mecca of everything, the relationships I’ve built are priceless. The people, the fans, teammates, ownership, I’ve been blessed to play with the Giants and see that side of the NFL. I have nothing but good things to say.”
– Curtis Rawls is a Managing Editor for cover32 and covers the NFL and New York Giants, like and follow on Facebook and Twitter. Curtis can be followed on Twitter @TheArmchrAnlyst.
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