ed to live up to the presea

EAST RUTHERFORD, N. Nike Air Max 270 Flyknit China .J. -- Victor Cruz believes there was a bit of a disconnect between Eli Manning and his receivers in this season where the New York Giants offence failed to live up to the preseason hype. Talking to the media for the first time since having surgery on his left knee Dec. 19, Cruz said that the lengthy negotiations that got him a new contract in July, and fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks decision to work out on his own went a long way in creating the gap between Manning and the receivers. "I think thats the one thing we lacked, was kind of that continuity from a receiver standpoint with our quarterback," Cruz said Friday. "And I want to build that earlier this year, whether he have to set some time apart with the receivers and Eli whenever hes ready and schedule it right so we can build not only on the field but off the field." Cruz, who stood without the aid of crutches, said his knee should be healthy in roughly two months. He intends to take the recovery slowly so he does not come back and play tentatively. The four-year veteran expects to take part in the Giants organized team activities, which started in April this past season. The important aspect this off-season will be working out more with Manning, who has thrown a career-high 26 interceptions. "We want to get to know each other more and stuff like that," said Cruz, who finished the season with 73 catches for 998 yards and four touchdowns. "I feel like there was a little bit of a disconnect there that we want to get back for this football team." Cruz, who was hurt against Seattle on Dec. 15, hopes that Nicks and offensive co-ordinator Kevin Gilbride will both return next season. Nicks, the Giants first-round draft pick in 2009, has had a disappointing fifth season. Heading into the season finale against Washington on Sunday, he has failed to catch a touchdown. He will be a free agent after this season. "Obviously I understand the business side of it, because I just went through that myself," said Cruz, who signed a five-year, $43 million contract extension this summer, causing him to miss this past seasons OTAs. "I understand what he is going through." If Nicks signs with another team, Cruz said he is ready to handle a bigger load. He admits he was disappointed being limited to four TD catches. Gilbride has come under fire because the offence, which has been slowed by multiple injuries on the offensive line, is ranked 30th of 32 in the league. Nicks plans to discuss his future with the Giants next week said. While he said he wants to stay, he added that money might not be the stumbling block in contract talks. "We arent talking money, its bigger than that in my eyes," Nicks said, indicating that he doesnt want to see changes in the offence. The Giants could put a franchise tag on Nicks and have him under contract for another year, but the question is would they do that for a player who did not produce in a walk year. "I understand the business," Nicks said. "There wont be no negative vibe or bad blood whatever they decide." Finishing 2 yards shy of 1,000 yards receiving did not cost him money, Cruz said. "I wish I could go back and get them, but things happen," Cruz said. "When I was on the flight to get my surgery, a fan came up to me and said: Dont worry about those two yards, you still got 1,000 in my book. That sealed the deal for me. I was like, I knew I didnt need them." NOTES: G Brandon Mosley (hand), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) and TE Adrien Robinson (knee) were declared out for Sundays game. ...Mosley was having surgery Friday on the hand he broke last weekend. Pierre-Paul missed the final five games. RBs Andre Brown and Peyton Hillis are probable after suffering concussions in the last two weeks. Air Max 270 All Black Mens . Charlottetown scored four times in the third period en route to a 5-2 win over the defending champion Halifax Mooseheads on Friday. Nike Air Max 270 Black And White . The stress, the waiting, the whispers about whether he doped during his stellar cycling career, all of it ended when - after nearly two years - federal prosecutors closed an investigation of him last week without bringing any charges.Most diminutive players are forced to take the long road to NHL arenas, if they get there at all. The Habs Brendan Gallagher waited until the fifth round to hear his name called at the 2010 draft. Teammate David Desharnais never heard his name called and needed to ply his trade in the ECHL before the Habs took notice and signed him as a free agent. Mike Weaver was similarly undrafted. Brian Gionta and Tomas Plekanec went in the third round of their respective drafts. St. Louis was passed over by midget teams, ironically, ignored by the QMJHL, undrafted, signed by the Flames but later bought out after being exposed and unselected during the 2000 expansion draft, signed by Tampa Bay, and then became a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer, Stanley Cup winner, and Olympic gold medalist. But too small to play in this mans NHL, for sure.(h/tNational Post)If smaller skaters are in tough against the closed-mindedness of hockeys front offices, then life is near impossible for wee goalies. If the hockey community had its way, Dustin Tokarski would be working the take-out window at a Tim Hortons in Saskatchewan. At 511, he is everything the scouts are not looking for in a goalie. He is not the prototype. He is not Carey Price. Tampa Bay scout Charlie Hodge (himself a small, 56, NHL goaltender who accomplished nothing in the league with his limited stature other than six Stanley Cups and two Vezinas) had to beg the Lightning to draft Tokarski in the fifth round. And while, despite Montreal folklores contention, the legend of Tokarski is still being written, his play in the Eastern Conference Final is argument for a less structured approach to the game in both drafting and roster building.In a league that clings desperately to intangibles like "grit", "sandpaper", and "hockey sense", its laughable that they ignore these very qualities in players simply because they couldnt look Chris Pronger in the eye if standding on a barstool. Nike Air Max 270 Just Do It Black. . And perhaps its the fact that they are ignored that makes them the players they are, products of adversity. More likely its a lack of ambition and creativity in front offices, which denies ambitious and creative players the opportunity to play in the league, and to better the game.The argument in favour of a broader notion of what makes an NHLer is on the ice this postseason, and in particular in the Rangers-Habs series and their respective runs to the Conference Final. Desharnais has been arguably Montreals best forward, if not their most consistent. Gallagher is proving that strength comes from within, and not gigantism. Tokarski has gone from relative obscurity to revelation. Weaver is more adept at blocking shots than Peter Budaj. Sixth-rounder Hagelin is proving to be perhaps the fastest skater in the league. Zucarello, affectionately nicknamed the Hobbit, is a force with his speed and creativity. And the grandfather of them all, St. Louis, is authoring a tale for the ages, the kind of postseason story that makes the playoffs so compelling.(h/t 5 Minutes For Fighting)Maurice Richard, Bobby Hull and son Brett were 510. Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr were measured at 6, but they were wearing their shoes. Guy Lafleur was also listed at 6, but at least two of those inches were hair. At some point during the 90s, when scouting staffs inflated and Eric Lindros arrived, the NHL experienced a sea change in philosophy. They became infatuated with size and believed they could manufacture skill and scoring through systems. The result was lower scoring, issues with concussions, and endless tinkering with rules in order to create the very scoring that they themselves had diluted. In witnessing one of the most entertaining and compelling postseasons in recent memory, one hopes that the NHL can again changes its ways, and value skill no matter what size the package it comes in. ' ' '