Day 176

Fresh Start_176: Giants part ways with two good vets
With the news that the New York Giants have released both Rashad Jennings and Victor Cruz the football landscape has changed in New York. Cruz and Jennings were important pieces in what the G-Men did this season, but cuts like this have to be made in the NFL. I am not shocked that both of these guys were released. Making the salary cap decisions on important players are always difficult but that’s the business of the NFL.

Neither of these two players will be on the market for long given their talent and skill set. Cruz will most likely go to a team missing that 2nd outside receiver or the slot receiver. I could see the Patriots, Vikings, Texans, or Dolphins picking a guy like Cruz extremely fast. Cruz in his career with the Giants had 303 receptions for 4,549 and 25 touchdowns. Cruz didn’t have the best comeback season only having one touchdown reception after missing almost a year and a half. Although Cruz wasn’t targeted that much in the Giants system this year, so I guess upper management saw that they could move on.

 The Giants can replace a guy like Cruz in the draft somewhere and again that’s just the business. The Giants are moving on from a 30-year-old receiver to get younger. Cruz was also owed just over $13 Million over the next 2 seasons so I don’t blame the Giants for cutting ties.

For Jennings, his spot on the Giants roster was up for grabs for basically a year in a half. After the Giants signed him following the 2013 season, Jennings never really lived up 4 year $10 Million contract. Especially with the rising of Orleans Darkwa and Shane Vereen finally coming into his own. Jennings in 13 games this year had 593 rushing yards, 201 receiving yards, and 4 total touchdowns. Compare that to the combined stats of Darkwa and Vereen: 269 rushing yards, 106 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns. These two also played a combined 15 games (Vereen 5 and Darkwa 10).  

The Giants aren’t the Patriots; they don’t need three running backs in the back field. Darkwa and Vereen are a good combo in the back field for the Giants. Increase the snaps for the both of the backs assuming both are healthy; the Giants will have a decent back field in 2017.

For me Jennings will be one of the late camp signings were he comes on as the veteran that can make an impact as a backup back. I could see the Chargers, Browns, Packers, or Broncos picking up Jennings as a security blanket. The Giants have made a significant move to try to get younger on the offensive side of the ball, and that could be dangerous for the NFL with the NYPD (New York Pass Defense) coming off a great season. Don’t be sad Giant fans, this is a good sign for your team.
Sources:(nfl.com, spotrac.com, espn.com)

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