NY Giants GM Jerry Reese: We Must Prepare if Victor Cruz Cannot Return in 2015

With the season over, the New York Giants are now focused on preparations for 2015. During the year-end press conference, General Manager Jerry Reese, who will return next year, stated that the team cannot rely heavily on the assumption that wide receiver Victor Cruz will be healthy next season. Instead, the team must prepare for the worst.

"That was a significant injury, just like David Wilson had a significant injury," Reese said. "You've got to prepare as if, 'what if Victor Cruz doesn't come back?' That is always in the back of your head. If you are a personnel guy, or a General Manager, that is always in the back of your head. What if this guy doesn't come back and be the player that we think he is?"

Reese added, "It is a significant injury that he has. You never know how he is going to come back from that. We are hoping that he is definitely going to come back and be the Victor Cruz that we know. You never know with the significant injury he had. We are hopeful that he will come back and be the Victor Cruz that we like, but you never know."

Cruz suffered a season ending injury during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Cruz was tackled in the end zone and sustained a torn patellar tendon. Roughly one week ago, the 28-year-old was optimistic about his recovery, stating that the doctors were surprised at how fast he was healing. Cruz believes that he will be back to 100 percent by the beginning of the 2015 regular season.

"I want to make sure I am 100% with no ailments, no pain or anything when I am running," Cruz said according to Giants 101. "Personally, I'd like to be back for training camp so I can get back with the guys and get that work in that I need before the preseason and the regular season starts up again. ... There's no doubt in my mind that I'll return to form and I'll return to the type of player that I was in years past."

Reese could be looking for wide receivers in free agency and in the 2015 NFL Draft.

In other Giants news, co-owner John Mara has stated that he would like to see quarterback Eli Manning remain a Giant for the rest of his career.

Mara said, according to the New York Daily News, "Yeah, we would like him to retire as a Giant. That is where he should be. We still think we can win a championship with him and he is playing at a high level. Of course, we would like to keep him."

Manning has led the Giants to two Super Bowls. He will be entering the final year of his contract and will earn $17 million during the 2015 season. Although the Giants have not started talks to extend Manning's contract, Mara hinted that they would address this during the offseason.

Manning finished the season passing for 4,140 yards. He recorded 30 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.