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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Victor Cruz was just a guy when the Giants signed him the day after the 2010 NFL draft. That's the best way to describe what he was - an irrelevant name on a list of undrafted free agents with little chance to make the roster, and almost no chance to make an impact.

He could've been anybody. He was just a guy.

Former Giants WR Victor Cruz is officially hanging up his cleats, announcing on Tuesday he is retiring from the NFL. 

Cruz announced his retirement in an UNINTERRUPTED video, where he briefly recalled his highs and lows over his seven-year career. 

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE RETIREMENT VIDEO

After a disastrous 9-for-22, 70-yard performance in the Giants' preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, quarterback Davis Webb rebounded by going 14-for-20 for 140 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 30-17 win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

"It was the Davis Webb I'm used to seeing," Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said, according to NJ Advance Media's Ryan Dunleavy.

Webb led a 17-play, 79-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass to running back Wayne Gallman that gave New York a 7-3 lead in the second quarter and also led a five-play, 43-yard drive that ended with an Aldrick Rosas 55-yard field goal before the half.

Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley may not have seen the field in Detroit, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been impressing the Lions already. 

Fellow RB LeGarrette Blount showed his appreciation for Barkley's game during one of the Giants' joint practices with the Lions last week, calling himself a fan. 

"I'm a big fan of Saquon," Blount told NJ.com's Matt Lombardo. "A huge fan."

On the past two unofficial depth charts the Giants released, the center position has said Jon Halapio was on the first team. But, for Halapio, he's just happy to be on the roster in the first place. 

To know why, you have to go back a few years after he was drafted in the sixth round by the Patriots in 2014. Halapio, who came out of the University of Florida, was seeing an NFL dream come true. That is until he was cut in September. 

With no other teams calling, Halapio had to settle with a job in the Fall Experimental Football League, which was a league hoping to act as the minor leagues for the NFL. As you could imagine, it definitely was a step down...

Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley (hamstring) was working on his own without pads again at practice Monday.

It has been a week since Barkley suffered a mild hamstring strain at practice before the Giants traveled to Detroit for their sessions with the Lions. The rest of the team practiced in full pads today, but barkley ran his own individual drills on the side. 

According to ESPN's Jordan Raanan, Barkley looked to be running well during those drills. 

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Pat Shurmur was standing just a few feet away from Teddy Bridgewater back in the summer of 2016 when the quarterback suffered his horrific knee injury. And he was there in Minnesota to watch how hard Bridgewater fought to get back.

So he knows as well as anyone why it would be a mistake to count Bridgewater out.

"The only thing I would say is, 'Don't sleep on Teddy,'" the current Giants coach said. "Because he's got it in him."

The new "helmet rule" hasn't been received well by everyone in the NFL, and after Friday's game against the Lions, head coach Pat Shurmur can be added to that list. 

Giants LB Mark Herzlich was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which was a result of a play referees believed violated the new rule. Shurmur completely disagreed, but held himself back when addressing the situation after the game. 

"I don't think it's necessary to get fined in the preseason," Shurmur told 247Sports' Dan Schneier on Saturday. 

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One week after it looked like the Giants made a huge mistake in not drafting their quarterback of the future, Davis Webb reminded everyone why it might have been a little ridiculous to write him off after one preseason game.

Don't overreact to this one either, but the 23-year-old Webb looked like a completely different quarterback on Friday night in Detroit when he started in place of resting veteran Eli Manning. He looked calm, comfortable and poised -- a stark contrast to the wild, amped thrower he was a week ago. And he completed 14 of 20 passes for 140 yards in the Giants' 30-17 win over the Lions.

Saquon Barkley is among the Giants' most precious commodities, and after not practicing all week against the Lions, they certainly won't risk him in the preseason game in Detroit on Friday night.

The truth is, they shouldn't risk him in the rest of the preseason at all.

There simply is no point, not with a player as important as Barkley, and not with a body part as tricky as a hamstring. The Giants are calling his injury a "mild strain" and even privately they seem convinced that it's not at all serious. But hamstring injuries have a way of lingering and recurring as soon as they're pushed.

Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. is still waiting for a contract extension, and reiterated Thursday that he's confident it will happen.

"I definitely think it's gonna work itself out," Beckham told reporters. "You know, when is it gonna happen, you don't know. That's the business side that is new, is still new to me in a sense, it's the first time I've ever had to deal with this or go through any of those things. I believe that it's gonna work itself out. It's a matter of time, just like anything in life, it's timing."

It's the second time during camp that Beckham has talked about his potential new deal -- something Giants co-owner John Mara expressed optimism about in July.

Giants QB Eli Manning fired back at Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey in the most Eli Manning-way possible on Wednesday.

When told of Ramsey's criticism, where Ramsey said "I won't say Eli's good," Manning first said "no" about responding before quipping, "who?" 

In an interview with GQ Magazine, Ramsey began talking about quarterbacks that he believed were great around the league, with Deshaun Watson, Kirk Cousins, and Derek Carr among them. However, he quickly took a shot in the middle of the question at Manning, saying he isn't up to par with the rest. 

In its latest Power Rankings, ESPN ranked the Giants 23rd out of the 32 teams. 

This version of their rankings comes after analyzing each team's draft picks, and the Giants rose a few spots. They were at No. 26, but after drafting players like RB Saquon Barkley and G Will Hernandez, they rose up the ranks. 

ESPN Giants reporter Jordan Raanan also gave his veteran player that could be in jeopardy of losing their roster spot at the end of camp. It was LB Mark Herzlich that Raanan chose, as he believes younger backers like Calvin Munson and Tae Davis could beat him out. 

Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said rookie RB Saquon Barkley is day-to-day after suffering a mild hamstring strain on Monday.

Barkley was a non-participant at joint practice with the Lions on Tuesday, though he was seen dressed without pads during the session. This was the expected move for the rookie after Shurmur noted the team was going to be smart with him moving forward.

"Running back Saquon Barkley left practice early after stretching out for a long reception," Shurmur said in his statement. "His left leg was wrapped the remainder of practice. Saquon has a mild strain, and we'll be smart with him as we move along here."

The Giants kicked off their first of three joint practice sessions with the Detroit Lions on Tuesday, and star WR Odell Beckham Jr. was out in full pads ready to go. 

But before he took the field, he walked over to a spectating section, where he gave one fan a special gift. 

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE VIDEO

Giants RB Saquon Barkley left practice Monday with a mild hamstring strain, head coach Pat Shurmur said this afternoon. 

After making a great catch on a wheel route (in the play below), Barkley pulled up gingerly as he walked off the field. Trainers checked him out and his leg was wrapped.

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE PLAY

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - On the first play of practice, Will Hernandez, the Giants' feisty rookie guard, ended up grabbing the facemask of a linebacker, and they looked ready to fight until teammates and coaches rushed in to break it up.

That was Monday. The linebacker was his teammate, B.J. Goodson. And the practice was being run at half speed.

So imagine what could happen when the Giants and Lions begin three days of intense joint-practices in Allen Park, Mich., on Tuesday morning.

Giants WR Sterling Shepard and his wife, model Chanel Iman, welcomed their baby girl -- Cali Clay Shepard -- into the world on August 10. 

Both Shepard and Iman posted pictures at the hospital on Sunday to make the announcement.

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE PICTURE

Giants backup quarterback Davis Webb looks to rebound from his rough preseason opener when New York faces the Detroit Lions on the road Friday night.

The 23-year-old Webb threw for 70 yards on 9-of-22 passing with no touchdowns or interceptions, accumulating a 49.4 passer rating in the Giants' 20-10 preseason-opening loss to the Cleveland Browns last Thursday.

Though he took most of the snaps ahead of starter Eli Manning and rookie Kyle Lauletta, Webb said he felt he needed to calm down on his throws and be more accurate with his targets.

With the Giants' first preseason game on Thursday, head coach Pat Shurmur still hasn't said who will and will not be playing against the Browns. 

"Every player will receive the consideration necessary with regard to the play time," he said after practice on Tuesday. "They're all at different stages of being ready to play in Week 1. We'lljust try to balance it and make good decisions."

The obvious player that every Giants fan has an opinion on when it comes to playing in preseason games is star WR Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham's tumultuous 2017 season started to take a downfall in Week 2 of the preseason last year against the same Cleveland opponent. He suffered an ankle sprain that held him out of the season opener, and was the preempitve injury to his eventual fractured ankle in Week 5 of the regular season. 

Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley delivered in his very first NFL touch Thursday night, breaking out for a 39-yard run that electrified MetLife Stadium. It was stirred up a storm on Twitter. 

Many reacted to the 21-year-old's dazzling run, and these are just a few who did so. The first comes from his alma mater, who was watching closely to their former star's first NFL game. 

CLICK BELOW TO CHECK OUT THE TWEETS

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Leave it to Eli Manning, the savvy veteran and picture of calmness, to add the perspective to what Saquon Barkley did on Thursday night. Barkley's debut run was dazzling, a 39-yard showcase of patience, smarts, elusiveness, burst and speed. It was everything everyone was expecting from the Giants' super-hyped rookie.

Right?

Giants RB Saquon Barkley sent the football world in a frenzy by taking his first NFL preseason rush for a 39-yard gain.

That run was all it took. He looked like everything that has been promised since the Giants made him the No. 2 overall pick at the 2018 NFL Draft.

"It felt weird, the feelings are hard to describe,'' Barkley said after the game.

The man who some believe is the apparent heir to Eli Manning's throne in New York got off to a rough preseason start.

Davis Webb handled the majority of the Giants' snaps in their 20-10 preseason week one loss to the Browns and was unable to impress. The 23-year-old completed just 9 of his 22 passes for 70 yards, with overthrows and missed targets aplenty.

"I just got to calm down and play, the guys know I can do it, there's no doubt about that," Webb said after the game. "I showed signs of it tonight."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Saquon Barkley just might be the most hyped rookie in Giants history, and the first time he touched the ball in a Giants uniform he certainly lived up to it all.

It may have only been one moment, but it was a great moment - a 39-yard run by the second overall pick on the first play from scrimmage. Yeah, so he only had four yards on his other four carries in the Giants SCORE loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. But that one run was enough to delight the sparse crowd - especially the many (and there were a lot of them) who showed up wearing his No. 26 jersey.

Browns QB Baker Mayfield threw his first preseason touhdown against the Giants, a dart to TE David Njoku, and the tight end celebrated at MetLife Stadium by tossing the ball to a lucky fan in the crowd.

Well, lucky depending on who you ask. The fan, presumably rooting for the Giants, was none too interested. WIthin a few seconds of catching, they threw it back on the field.

It's early, and it's one preseason rush, but, it would appear that Giants RB Saquon Barkley is ready for the NFL.

Barkley's first rush went for 39-yards. It was the kind that would have resulted in a loss of yards in years past-- But not with No. 26 in the backfield.

WATCH BELOW.

Since April, Giants fans have been itching to see their No. 2 overall pick don the Big Blue jersey, and light up MetLife Stadium. Finally, that time is here. 

The Giants are set to take on the Browns for their first preseason matchup on Thursday night, and Barkley is expected to be out on the field. As for how long, it is uncertain what head coach Pat Shurmur wants to do with the high-profile rusher, but the educated guess would say not too many reps. 

Those limited reps -- a teaser if you will -- should give a glimpse at how the Giants want to use Barkley this season. So far at camp, he has been lining up as a regular running back, standing in an I-formation behind QB Eli Manning. But the Giants have also thrown him on the outside to line up as a receiver. 

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The easiest decision Pat Shurmur will have to make this preseason is to sit his all-world wide receiver in the preseason opener on Thursday night. Why would they even dream of risking their best player while he's still technically recovering from ankle surgery in this completely meaningless game?

They almost certainly won't. And that knowledge is enough to make almost everyone change the channel or keep the TV off entirely while the Giants play the Cleveland Browns. But it might be worth rethinking if that is, indeed, your plan. Because there are a few compelling reasons for you to watch this game even though No. 13 likely won't play...

The Giants' new regime took a chance. They trusted that QB Davis Webb had the skills necessary to be Eli Manning's backup, and a potential quarterback of the future despite watching zero game tape. 

Now, Thursday night's bout against the Browns in the first preseason matchup is Webb's chance to prove Gettleman and Co. they were right. 

Webb has been doing well at training camp so far, but what the Giants really want to see first-hand is how he plays against real opponents. He has been stuck practicing for over a year now, which is why there's no surprise he's ready to finally take the MetLife Stadium field for real again...

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Over the next month (or months) there will be a lot of talk about Odell Beckham's contract. There will be leaks about the negotiations. There will be debates about his value. And there will be confusion, because sometimes "talks" don't mean they're talking, and "value" might depend on how you do the math.

So how will you survive the seemingly endless news cycle until Beckham gets the money he is so sure he deserves? And how can you possibly join (and win) the debate when there's so much seemingly conflicting news?

Here's how: Our guide to separating fact from fiction when it comes to the Odell Beckham contract … a.k.a. How to sound smart when arguing about Odell's inevitable (and lucrative) deal:

Giants rookie DT B.J. Hill has impressed early on at training camp. But the real first test comes on Thursday night when the Browns come to to town.

Hill couldn't be more excited to put his Giants helmet on officially for the first time. 

"Oh yeah," he said after practice Monday when asked if he looked at this preseason bout as his NFL debut. "It's going to be my first game in the NFL and I'm just excited to get out there and compete with the best."

If not for the fan uproar surrounding Eli Manning's benching last season -- leading to his return as the starter -- it seems the Giants were about to give Davis Webb a three-game look as the starter.

Webb said Tuesday during an appearance on WFAN on Carlin, Maggie, and Bart that then-head coach Ben McAdoo had informed him that the plan was for Webb to start the final three games of the season in place of Manning.

Instead, Geno Smith started one game with Manning as the backup. That situation went down after Manning had been brought to tears earlier in the week -- a scene that led most of the Giants fanbase to lose their collective minds...

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: Everybody relax.

The first round of talks between the Giants and Odell Beckham Jr.'s agent didn't produce a deal, which is absolutely no surprise to anyone who understands anything about how contract talks work. It's also not surprising that the Giants' initial offer was low -- or at least lower than they know they'll eventually have to pay. And it's also probably not a surprise that Beckham's camp has leaked details, apparently in the hope that it will pressure the Giants to immediately up their offer (Spoiler alert: It won't).

Try to ignore the noise, though, and see the bigger picture. The Giants are intent on signing Beckham to a long-term deal and according to a team source they understand it will likely make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL when it's done. They hope they can get a deal done by Opening Day, or at the latest early in the season. That position hasn't changed...

The Giants' offensive line is once again an area of concern this season. Yes, upgrades were made, but there are still pieces that are a cause for concern given the past few seasons. 

One of those glaring questions is whether or not Ereck Flowers will turn his career around after making the shift from left to right tackle. Flowers wasn't a big fan of the move after the acquisition of veteran LT Nate Solder pushed him over. But now he claims he doesn't mind the transition.

Flowers has been working hard this offseason on re-working his technique and footwork to play on the right side. He has been seeing improvement everyday. 

The Giants released their unofficial depth chart on Monday, and though it isn't set in stone, there are a few things worth noting. 

Here are the five biggest takeaways from how this roster looks early on in training camp...

1) No surprise Saquon Barkley is lead running back

On Sunday, the Browns struck a deal with the Bills to trade WR Corey Coleman. With that, the Browns now have a spot open on their roster. 

So, what does this matter for the Giants? Well, Browns WR Jarvis Landry still has hopes of playing with his former college teammate Odell Beckham Jr. 

Landry lobbyed for the Browns to trade for the Pro-Bowl wideout in the past, and the same can be said now with a roster spot open in Cleveland. Also, Beckham has yet to sign a contact extension with the Giants, and the start of talks between his agent and the front office haven't been productive so far.

Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. is known to be one of the most interesting personalities off the football field as well as on it. From his fashionable wardrobe to his star-studded friend group, Beckham is a clear standout in the NFL. 

But, he decided to stand out even more with his latest fashion statement. 

Beckham decided to implant a diamond cross into his teeth (yes, you're reading that correctly). TMZ filmed the surgery, which cost $5,000, that Dr. Lee Gause performed. 

Giants CB Teddy Williams has requested his release from the team in light of a family health issue, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano confirmed on Monday. 

Williams has been away from the team for a few days dealing with the issue, and he has decided now is the time to separate himself from the game to become fully attentive to it. 

Williams' agent, David Canter, took to Twitter to thank the Giants and GM Dave Gettleman for their compassion during this time. 

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Odell Beckham finally spoke to the media on Saturday, taking questions (with the exception of a brief, two-question interview in June) for the first time in 10 months. So for the first time we gained insight into how he feels about his ankle, his contract, and those wild trade rumors from back in March.

Here are some of the biggest and most important quotes from the Giants' biggest and perhaps most important star:

On how his surgically repaired ankle feels: "I don't really feel it. I don't really feel it, I don't think about it much. Well, I try not to. It's still always there, but I'm getting back as close to 100 [percent] as I can for right now. So it's been a long process. I can say that."

Giants CB Eli Apple left Saturday's practice with an apparent knee injury, reports Tom Rock of Newsday.

Apple needed help hobbling to the sideline after he tangled with WR Hunter Sharp and fell. Apple, who remained at practice and stood on the sideline, was eventually able to jog.

Earlier in practice, Apple was involved in a scuffle with TE Engram Evans. On a play when Engram hauled in a short catch, Apple shoved Engram and Engram threw the football at him. 

Giants WR Odell Beckham is still searching for a new contract, but unlike fellow superstars Julio Jones and Le'Veon Bell, he's never threatened a holdout. 

When speaking about his contract, Beckham has proven to be publicly reasonable, nuanced and reserved. He hasn't put his name to any outlandish claims nor demands. What goes on with his agent behind the scenes, of course, isn't public knowledge.

"Who doesn't to get more money?" Beckham said, via Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com."Everybody does. You just have to be realistic with yourself. You see what happened over the offseason. You can't really worry about anybody else. Just let them figure it out."

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Eight newly minted Pro Football Hall of Famers will officially take their place in Canton on Saturday night, and it's easy to envision Eli Manning doing the same sometime around 2025.

The truth, though, is his road to Canton may not be so easy after all.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The NFL is doing its best to prevent players from dangerously banging their heads into each other this season. But the result of their effort is going to be a lot of people banging their heads against a wall.

That's because not even the players are completely clear about what is and isn't a penalty under the NFL's new helmet rule - a rule that makes "lowering the head and initiating contact" with any part of an opponent's body, not just the head, a 15-yard penalty at least.

The Giants are signing veteran CB Leonard Johnson, who played for Dave Gettleman's Panthers in 2016 and started seven games for the Buffalo Bills last season, a source confirmed to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.

The Giants had a big workout today as part of their search for cornerback help after they lost Sam Beal for the season to shoulder surgery.

Johnson, 28, had 52 combined tackles and one forced fumble in 15 games last season for the Bills.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Urban Meyer, one of the most successful college football coaches of this generation, is suddenly under fire at Ohio State, where he's been accused of ignoring and covering up allegations of domestic abuse against one of his assistant coaches. He's been placed on paid leave, while the university investigates his behavior.

Meanwhile, his reputation among his former players remains strong.

Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins became the latest to express that loyalty on Friday, when he hailed Meyer as "a great coach" and "nice guy" despite the allegations against him.

Former Giants interim head coach and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo thinks his former team will bounce back after a 3-13 season in which the Giants defense gave up the second-most yards and fifth-most points.

"I think they're gonna bounce back and be fine," Spagnuolo said, according to the New York Post's Steve Serby.

The Giants cleaned house last season, firing head coach Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese midway through the season. New York's 2018 staff includes Dave Gettleman as GM, Pat Shurmur as head coach, Mike Shula as offensive coordinator and James Bettcher as defensive coordinator.

"Pat's a good teacher," Spagnuolo said. "He's a good man."

Current Giants and former Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple said he didn't know if a report that said head coach Urban Meyer knew of domestic violence allegations a member of his staff was facing and failed to act on them was true, but called the situation "very surprising."

"It's a crazy, unfortunate situation," Apple said Thursday, according to NJ Advance Media's Matt Lombardo. "I just hope it gets worked out." 

College football reporter Brett McMurphy reported earlier this week that Meyer, who has coached the Buckeyes since 2012, knew of 2015 allegations of domestic violence that Courtney Smith brought against her husband, assistant coach Zach Smith.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Giants have always wanted to strike a long-term deal with Odell Beckham, and they've always understood the cost will be incredibly expensive. There's no way around that with the man who almost certainly will be the highest-paid receiver in the league.

But can the Giants really afford to give Beckham a five-year deal worth $90 million or more, with perhaps as much as $60 million guaranteed? And how much will that hurt them under the salary cap, both now and in future years?

"It could be a little complicated, but it's definitely workable," one NFL agent told SNY. "Teams can always find room under the salary cap if they really want to. And the salary cap is always going up."