The last time Victor Cruz played in a game, Ben McAdoo was the new offensive coordinator for the Giants, Derek Jeter was two weeks removed from his final game, Terry Collins still hadn’t had a winning season with the Mets and Derek Fisher was getting ready for his first regular season as Knicks coach.
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Oh sure, it’s just a meaningless preseason game against the neighboring New York Jets, but for Cruz, the game formally known as the MetLife Bowl is much more than who earns the right to gain possession of the Snoopy Trophy that’s given to the victor. Cruz now looks ready to take the field, and it is something that has been many months in the making.
“I kind of hate that it’s a preseason game”, the Giants defensive tackle said on Thursday. This one is crossing so many hurdles, so many barriers… “I’m ready. This is more than just a game for me”. Instead, it’s all about Cruz easing his way back into the action after such a long hiatus.
Cruz will finally get on the field Saturday night against the Jets, in the third preseason game of the year. McAdoo was happy with what he has seen from Cruz this week.
Cruz said he proved to himself he was fine on the practice field. “You can’t write it any better than this”, Cruz said. It’s the way my professional career has gone. Cruz was gone for the rest of the season but looked to return in 2015 before aggravating his calf. “You know, last week was kinda fun for me to dress up, and obviously not play, but to warm up with my team and to put that jersey on again, and to feel like an athlete again”. “Yesterday he got through a three-hour practice in good shape”. He can put his foot in the ground. He had a really nice release on a slant, which reminded me of the Houston game a few of years ago (when Cruz caught five passes for 107 yards, including a 61-yarder, in 2014).
“I think this one is more of just the game”.
Cruz had his welcome-to-the-NFL moment during the 2010 preseason against the Jets.
The Giants are adjusting to life without Tom Coughlin at the helm and are looking to get back into the NFC East picture this year. “Although it’s just a preseason game, for me, mentally and emotionally, physically, it’s more than just a football game”.
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“There was the suddenness, the explosiveness, the things that I have in my mind, visions of 2011 in terms of that type of quickness”, Sullivan said. “Everything is going in the right direction, I just want to continue to stack and build on that”.
