5.5 points and 9.6 rebounds in 2014 | Forum

EAST RUTHERFORD, N. Wholesale Rangers Jerseys .J. -- Playing the Philadelphia Eagles always had a special meaning for Victor Cruz. This year, even more so.The last time Cruz faced the Eagles was Oct. 12, 2014, and it almost cost the New York Giants receiver his career.During the third quarter of the sixth game of that season, Cruz jumped in the end zone to catch a pass and tore the patellar tendon in his right knee. It was ugly and Cruz knew it right away. He cried.Surgery and rehabilitation followed, and so did disappointment. The popular former free agent from nearby Paterson, New Jersey missed the following season with a calf injury that also required surgery.Many doubted Cruz would make it back this year, especially when he had a groin problem in training camp. The 29-year-old beat the odds: He has played in every game, catching 24 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown, the winner in the season opener against Dallas, the Cowboys only loss.Cruz gave a coy smile when asked if this game against Philadelphia meant more than a meeting of two teams with 4-3 records trying to get to the playoffs.In the back of my mind I think about it, Cruz said Wednesday after practice. Its a different circumstance, a different year. But definitely, Id be lying if I didnt say it is in my mind.Cruz is more willing to talk about this season.I feel really good about where I am right now, he said. I feel good about what I have done so far within this year, and I just want to continue to build on that. I need to go upward and not the other way around.Cruz is no longer the Giants main target. Odell Beckham Jr., who didnt get a chance to play with No. 80 until this season, remains Eli Mannings primary target. He is the big play threat with 40 catches for 630 yards (15.8 yards) and three touchdowns.Rookie Sterling Shepard also has more catches than Cruz with 31 for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Cruz (13.8) is averaging more yards than Shepard (10.8)Cruz thinks there is room for him to improve.I have not had a 100-yard game yet, Cruz said. I have not had a seven-or-eight catch game yet. I just want to continue and take what is there for me. But I definitely feel like there is some play out there for me to have.Cruz even thinks fans will be able to see the play-making version of the receiver who used to excite fans with his salsas after touchdowns catches.Hes still there, Cruz said, referring to himself in the third person. Its a matter of getting him in space and getting him the ball for him to be himself. I think we are going to do that in these upcoming weeks.The first thing for the Giants though, is to find a way to beat the Eagles, who have won five of the last six and 13 of 17 since 2008.Coming off the bye, Cruz said the Giants cant afford to be sluggish.Its a division game so we understand the level of execution, but against Philadelphia, its always going to be physical, he said. It is always going to be a game where you are going to leave that football game exhausted mentally, physically, emotionally. You are just going to be spent. You want to make sure when that clock strikes zero you are on the winning end. This rivalry, this game is always one that takes it all out of you.Game notes Backup QB Ryan Nassib was on the injury report with an elbow problem. He said its something that has developed over time. He expects to be available Sunday. ... Beckham said his hip bothered him so much in warmups in London on Oct. 23, he almost didnt play in the win over the Rams. ... S Nat Berhe has been in the concussion protocol since Sept. 25. He could not have contract in practice Wednesday. ... Every Giant practiced to some extent Wednesday. ... DE Olivier Vernon (wrist) was finally taken off the injury report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Juan Gonzalez Rangers Jersey . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Elvis Andrus Rangers Jersey . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. https:///...-jersey-rangers.html . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Having at least one transfer on a roster is common for most Division I programs.And for many schools, one isnt enough.The number of transfers has risen to such an extent that many schools are relying on multiple players who came from other Division I programs. Heres a look at some programs that feature at least two Division I transfers who begin playing for their new teams this season:GONZAGAGonzaga has added a pair of former Pac-12 guards in Jordan Mathews (California) and Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington) and also brought in forward Johnathan Williams from Missouri. Mathews, a 6-foot-4 graduate transfer, has scored at least 13.5 points per game each of the last two seasons. He made a team-high 89 3-pointers for Cal last year. Williams-Goss sat out last season after averaging 15.6 points and 5.9 assists for Washington in 2014-15. Williams also didnt play last season, but the 6-9 forward had 11.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in 2014-15 to lead Missouri in both categories.MARQUETTEMarquettes newcomers include former UNLV and Southern California guard Katin Reinhardt and former UNC Asheville guard Andrew Rowsey. Reinhardt, a 6-6 graduate transfer, began his college career at UNLV and averaged 11.4 points for Southern California last season. Rowsey, who sat out last season, led the Big South with 20.3 points per game in 2013-14 and finished third in the conference with 19.2 points per game in 2014-15. Rowsey, who is 5-10, ranked third among all Division I players in free-throw percentage (.921) and sank 102 3-pointers in 2014-15.MISSISSIPPIThe Rebels backcourt features Deandre Burnett from Miami and Cullen Neal from New Mexico. Burnett, who sat out last season, averaged 7 points per game in a reserve role for Miami in 2014-15. Neal, a graduate transfer, had 12.3 points and 3.7 assists per game last season while playing for his fatheer. David Clyde Rangers Jersey. . Neal is the son of New Mexico coach Craig Neal. Burnett is 6-2 and Neal is 6-4.SYRACUSESyracuses roster includes former Arkansas-Little Rock and Colorado State guard John Gillon as well as former Kansas and Nebraska guard Andrew White III. Both are graduate transfers. Gillon, who is 6 foot, had 13.2 points and 3.8 assists per game for Colorado State last season. He spent two years at Colorado State after playing one season at Arkansas-Little Rock. White, who is 6-7, averaged 16.6 points and 5.9 rebounds for Nebraska last season after spending two years at Kansas.TEXAS TECHTexas Tech has three graduate transfers with forward Thomas Brandsma coming over from Arkansas-Little Rock, forward Anthony Livingston arriving from Arkansas State and guard Giovanni McLean coming from Quinnipiac. Livingston ranked seventh in the Sun Belt in scoring (15.5) and second in rebounds (9.4) last season. McLean averaged 12.7 points and 3.3 assists for Quinnipiac in 2015-16. Brandsma redshirted last season at Arkansas-Little Rock, where he played for new Texas Tech coach Chris Beard.XAVIERXavier has added forward RaShid Gaston from Norfolk State and guard Malcolm Bernard from Florida A&M. Gaston, who is 6-9, sat out last season after averaging 15.5 points and 9.6 rebounds in 2014-15. His rebounding average ranked second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Bernard, a 6-6 graduate transfer, had 2.3 steals per game last season to rank 10th among all Division I players. He also ranked 14th in the MEAC in scoring (14.4), second in assists (4.3) and sixth in rebounds (7.1). Bernard played two seasons at Charleston Southern before coming to Florida A&M.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '