Victor Cruz will return to the New York Giants' team facility on Friday after telling ESPN.com he will sign his first-round restricted free-agent tender. The agreement is worth $2.879 million.
"I'm going to sign my tender today and will continue talks for a long-term deal before camp starts," Cruz said Friday morning.
If Cruz didn't sign on Friday, the Giants would have the right to reduce the amount to just above $600,000.
Both sides are still working to negotiate a long-term deal that will keep the receiver in New York. The franchise hopes that having the receiver in camp will extend the window for negotiations on an extension.
The two sides have been locked in a stalemate when trying to reach an extension. This forced Cruz to participate in a holdout away from the team's offseason workouts and camps.
The former undrafted player out of Massachussetts joined the Giants in 2010 and has emerged as a superstar since 2011. His role increased after the team lost Steve Smith to free agency and both Mario Manningham and Domenik Hixon experienced injuries.
Cruz is coming off back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons in which he caught 82 passes or more. Cruz finished the 2012 season with 1,092 yards, 10 touchdowns and 86 receptions to follow up his breakout season of 1,536 yards, nine touchdowns and 82 receptions in 2011.
During his breakthrough campaign, Cruz played a major role in leading the Giants back to the Super Bowl as he led all receivers in yards, receptions and touchdowns en route to catching a touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLII.
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