Victor Cruz says there's a 'disconnect' between Eli Manning, receivers

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz said that there was something of a 'disconnect' between quarterback Eli Manning and his receivers.

Cruz, who recently had season-ending knee surgery, attributed that to him missing time during his negotiations and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks missing offseason workouts.

Manning has thrown a career-high 26 interceptions.

"I think that's the one thing we lacked, was kind of that continuity from a receiver standpoint with our quarterback," Cruz said. "And I want to build that earlier this year, whether he have to set some time apart with the receivers and Eli whenever he's ready and schedule it right so we can build not only on the field but off the field. ..

"We want to get to know each other more and stuff like that. I feel like there was a little bit of a disconnect there that we want to get back for this football team."

Nicks has no touchdown catches and is heading to unrestricted free agency.

"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 in July. "I understand what he is going through."

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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.