The Giants and the Jets are gearing up to play each other in each team’s third preseason game Saturday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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“It felt like old times”, Cruz said, via the New York Post. “Obviously it’s been a long time coming”. Cruz admitted earlier in the week that this wasn’t just a normal preseason game; given his journey and struggles, it meant much more.
Give me the Jets and the points, even though I’m not sure we’ll need them. It’s bigger than just you, in my opinion.
It’s a battle for NY on Saturday night, as the Giants and Jets meet for their preseason “dress rehearsal”.
Head coach Ben McAdoo said he is “very optimistic” that Cruz will suit up against the Jets on Saturday.
McAdoo said Cruz got through a three-hour practice on Wednesday in good shape.
That’s good news not just for Cruz but for the Giants, who have visions of a three-headed receiving tandem of Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Sterling Shepard creating matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. “He had a really nice release on a slant, which reminded me of the Houston game a few years ago, so it is encouraging”. Cruz saw 26 snaps in the first half and had one target. Now that he has that opportunity, he can’t help but be a little giddy. There will be butterflies, there will be anxiety.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color”, Kaepernick said. “He made a decision to sit down and that is his prerogative, but on a personal standpoint, I think you have to stand up there with your team and understand that this game and what’s going on around this country are bigger than you”, Cruz said.
Whatever he gets, Cruz is looking to build on what he started on the practice field.
Cruz said this is more than a preseason game to him, and there is some truth to that.
After getting shut out against the Buffalo Bills last week, the Giants could not move the ball against the Jets. Thompson, whose status has been defined as “week-to-week”, will likely miss the rest of the preseason.
Cruz, however, wants to play in what could be considered his final tuneup before the season opener at Dallas. “We expect Will to play better”, McAdoo said.
The Giants are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games while the over is 4-0 in their last 4 overall and 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
With good reason. For the third week in a row, the Giants’ starting offensive line – left tackle Ereck Flowers, center Weston Richburg, right guard John Jerry, right tackle Marshall Newhouse and left guard Bobby Hart who was playing for the injured Justin Pugh – did not perform well in either run blocking or pass protection. “We can have 50,000 people on our Wi-Fi system at the same time, no problem”, says Jets Senior Vice President of Marketing and Fan Experience Seth Rabinowitz.
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McAdoo said it’s not just the line that created the moonwalking offense.
