Bump N’ Run w/ KT: Victor Cruz May Have To Take Pay Cut And Peyton Manning Retires From NFL

Victor Cruz (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The time has come for Bump N’ Run to return. It has been a relaxing few weeks for your football friend KT but the football watching hasn’t stopped and there is a ton to discuss since the last BNR. A legendary player just announced he’s hanging it up and we just had the football nerd’s dream weekend in the NFL Scouting Combine. But let’s start with the two major local football stories this week so far.

Victor Cruz: Former Giant?

It was reported on Monday that the New York Giants informed Victor Cruz that if he is unwilling to renegotiate his contract for the 2016 season, he would be released from the team. Cruz is scheduled to make $7.9 million this upcoming season and would count as a $9.9 million cap hit for the team. Even with the Giants having upwards of $58 million in cap space for free agency, I do not blame them for wanting Cruz to redo his contract. He hasn’t played in a NFL game in over a year and a half and is coming off major injuries to his knee and calf, which could be a career changer for a wide receiver.

Even if Cruz were to take a hard line against the Giants and get released, any other team he signs with will require him to sign an incentive laden contract to prove that he is the Victor Cruz from before his injuries. It may be best for Cruz if he stays with the franchise that took a chance on him. If he returns to the form he showed before, he will get that money back in no time. Let’s be smart Victor.

Could Ryan Fitzpatrick Leave The Jets After One Season?

The Jets mistakenly walked into a great situation at the quarterback position last season after the injury to starter Geno Smith. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was signed to be Smith’s backup, took over the starting job and went on to set the New York Jets record for passing touchdowns in a season with 31. Although he no-showed in the finale against the Buffalo Bills, Fitzpatrick led the Jets to a 10-6 record and now the quarterback that saved the franchise’s season could be leaving the team.

Reports have Fitzpatrick testing the free agent market this week while he and the Jets are playing a game of chicken with one another. For Fitzpatrick, the market for quarterbacks is not that deep and one with experience starting in the NFL could net a good contract. For the Jets the situation is a tad direr. If Fitzpatrick were to leave, that leaves Geno Smith in the drivers seat to be the starting quarterback for the Jets, which makes most Jet fans queasy. Bryce Petty is also an option but the second-year player is no where close to being ready for to start in the NFL. With not much cap room and not many options, the decision is easy for the New York Jets…

KEEP FITZPATRICK.

Moving The Chains

• I mentioned in my last BNR that I thought Peyton Manning should retire from the NFL after winning the Super Bowl. Well Number 18 decided to ride off into the sunset as Manning officially retired from the league on Monday. Peyton had a hell of a career and while many will dock him points for his career in the postseason and only two Super Bowl rings, games where he didn’t play his best, Manning is still one of the best quarterbacks ever. He would be a candidate to be one of the faces on the Mount Rushmore of quarterbacks in my opinion.

• The NFL Scouting Combine was over a week ago and honestly there were not many players that jumped out and wowed me. I was more interested in seeing Rich Eisen improve his 40-yard dash time from last year. The only player that impressed me a little was running back Ezekiel Elliott from Ohio State and that is not saying a lot in a down year for offensive players. Defensively there were a couple who made a good showing such as defensive back Jalen Ramsey and cornerback Vernon Hargreaves but overall, it may be a lackluster NFL Draft this year.