He vanished on Monday, with much less excitement. The Giants cut Victor Cruz, without so much as a last dance.
We’ll have time to dissect what this means for the roster in the coming weeks. How will it affect our strategies in the draft and free agency? Time will tell. Today, let’s remember the good times with VC.

Victor was destined for stardom with the Giants from the jump. A hometown boy from Paterson, NJ. The quintessential underdog, who was easy to root for, and complemented Eli Manning so effortlessly, yet so perfectly. We watched Victor discover himself, we watched him grow up. Each touchdown, accompanied by a celebratory salsa, cemented his place in our hearts.

The salsa was Cruz’s way of showing us he could handle life as a star athlete in the largest media market in the nation. The salsa was flavorful, yet understated. A connection between the fans and their hero that was somehow both personal, and larger than life.

The first time we saw the salsa it was in Philadelphia. An introduction to Victor’s calling card: game-breaking speed. The ability to create separation, expand it, and capitalize on it. Living in Philadelphia I was sold. I loved Big Blue’s newest star, and opposing teams grew to hate him, because try as they might, the salsa could not be stopped.
An amazing 2011 season that saw VC compile 1,536 yards on 82 receptions, still only had the Gmen with a 7-7 record halfway through week 16 against the Jets. A 10-yard out from the slot. A jump-cut. 99-yards. Salsa. The Giants stood at 8-7 headed into a showdown with the Cowboys for the NFC East Title.

After 16 weeks of heroics, there’s no way a division rival would allow Cruz to beat them, right? Think again. 6 catches. 178 yards. A 74-yard tone-setting touchdown on 3rd and 1 with 5 minutes to go in the first quarter. The Giants headed toward another Super Bowl run, and they had Cruz to thank.

Fittingly, Cruz would impact that game as well, scoring the Giants first touchdown of Super Bowl XLVI on a slant that saw Cruz slither into the tiniest of spaces, and find room to salsa.

For 3 seasons, it seemed as if whenever the Giants needed a clutch play, #80 found a way to make it. No moment too big to conquer, no mountain too large to climb. Remember the 77-yard seem route on 3rd and 2 against the Redskins in week 7 of 2012? Cruz. Salsa. The extraordinary had become routine yet glorious!

The 2014 season had great promise. We had drafted a young speedster in Odell Beckham Jr. Being able to pair him with Cruz would be dynamite. Beckham would spend the first 5 weeks of the season recovering from a hamstring. Week 6. Philadelphia. The birthplace of the salsa. Cruz would make what looked to be a routine touchdown grab in the far corner of the endzone. On the way down, he’d grab his knee. We all knew. The nausea was instantaneous. As they carted him off the field that night, he sobbed, demonstrating the heart we had all grown to love most about him. Victor was an elite player, with a monstrous heart. He was a player who never took anything for granted, because on the way up to the top of the sport, nothing had been promised to him.

In 2016, after two years battling injury, Victor returned to us. His game-changing speed had been sapped from his body. Fans everywhere could do nothing but wonder what could have been, had OBJ and VC been allowed to join forces while Cruz was still in his prime. His slot position now filled by a promising rookie named Shepard, Victor moved to the outside. Cruz’s game took on a new look. Without his signature speed, VC’s game centered upon a rapport with Eli Manning. The trust the two had in each other allowed Eli to put the ball in the exact spot where only Cruz could catch it. The salsa returned to New York against Dallas in week 1, as #80 scored the go-ahead touchdown. Week 2 followed with the clinching reception against the Saints on a bomb down the sideline, that Cruz hauled in at its highest point.

As the season progressed, Victor’s inability to create separation became apparent. There were games without targets, and routes jumped by CBs that directly lead to interceptions. Party boats in Miami, regular references to himself as the “OG” of the Giants receiving corps, and a growing sense that a $9.5 million cap number for 2017 would bring an end to his tenure in The Big Apple. His fans understood what was happening. Father Time has a sterling record.

We still appreciate Victor, and we will always love him. The memories of his dominant run will never be far away. He will forever be a Giant, even if 2017 sees him in a different colored jersey. He captured the imagination of a fanbase, making a connection with each of us. I choose to remember that today. I choose to appreciate the greatness. Wherever he plays out his career, a piece of me will always root for him, as I did with Bavaro, Collins, Shockey, and Tuck. You’ll always have a place in the Big Blue Nation. Thank you for connecting with us, exciting us, and giving us reason to cheer. Thank you, Victor. Come home soon.

The post Thank you, Victor! first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Moments after releasing wideout Victor Cruz, the Giants also alerted leading rusher Rashad Jennings of his release. Confirmation and press release link from the New York Giants.

The Giants today began their offseason roster restructuring by releasing two accomplished offensive players, wide receiver Victor Cruz and running back Rashad Jennings, their leading rusher in 2016.

Naturally the Giants will look to add to these skill positions in free agency and the upcoming draft. Best of luck to Rashad.

The post Giants Release Leading Rusher Rashad Jennings first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

The New York Giants have alerted Victor Cruz their plans to part ways according to Giants beat writer  Art Stapleton.

BREAKING: I’m told #Giants are releasing WR Victor Cruz@TheRecordSports

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) February 13, 2017

Cruz, a fan favorite, will now hit the free agent market in hopes to land a with a new team. Best of luck and health to Victor.

The post The New York Giants Release Victor Cruz first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

After a long struggle with an MRSA infection of the ankle, treatments including multiple surgeries and IV antibiotics to clear the infection, TE Daniel Fells announced his retirement on Instagram last night.

This picture of me and my baby girl was taken a little over a year ago at Quest Diagnostic. I wish I was heading into battle with my brothers as Training Camp starts up this week but I also believe that everything happens for a reason. Although playing the game is no longer in the cards for me I’m grateful for the 10 year career that I was blessed to experience. Thank you all for the phone calls, text messages, emails and well wishes that I’ve gotten over the last few months. I’m working hard to accept my physical limitations and the mental struggles that go along with them. I know that I’m lucky to be alive so I’m determined to make the most of everyday that I have. Looking forward to cheering for my G-men and all of my former teammates on different teams around the nation this year #onceagiantalwaysagiant

Let’s all wish Daniel the best of Luck and Health and prosperity.

Once a Giant… Always a Giant!!

The post Daniel Fells announces his retirement first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

“It was a blessing. It was a blessing to be drafted in the first round. It was a blessing to win a Super Bowl and end up in New York. The fan base up there is crazy. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every season of it. Unfortunately injuries are a part of the game. It took a toll.

I’d love to still be playing right now, but physically I can’t so I just keep my mind off of it and do the next best thing, which is be around it as much as I can. Not even coaching, I just enjoy being around it.”

Phillips played 5 years with Big Blue including an amazing Super Bowl run. Struggling to recapture playing form, injuries to a toll on the University of Miami alumni.

His goal now remains complete his degree, having returned to The University of Miami as a sports administration major.

Best of luck in your future endeavors Super Bowl Champ!

Once A Giant Always A Giant

The post Former New York Giants Safety Kenny Phillips Retires. first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.