Head coach Tom Coughlin admits he is uneasy about the contract status of standout receiver Victor Cruz, but New York Giants CEO John Mara remains confident a deal will get done.
“I’m pretty confident that we’ll end up reaching a deal,” Mara said in an interview Tuesday on NFL Network. “This is not that atypical a situation. Player contracts, particularly with star players like Victor, can tend to drag on from time to time. I think we’ll get it done.”
Cruz has been seeking a long-term contract with the Giants and turned down a deal at the outset of the offseason worth a reported $7 million per season. He did not participate in the Giants’ voluntary offseason workouts this week and hasn’t signed the $2.879 million tender.
“This is the right place for him to play,” Mara said. “He’s a star in the area, he’s an important part of our team, and I think we’ll eventually get a deal done. But it’s just a process that you have to go through. And we’re going through it right now.”
The Giants used a first-round tender on Cruz only after he turned down a very “substantial offer.” Quarterback Eli Manning said before the NFL draft in April that he was willing to restructure his own contract if it meant making enough room to sign Cruz.
Cruz has averaged 84 catches for 1,314 yards and 9.5 touchdowns during the past two years.