It’s a common referendum any time an NFL team brings on a veteran looking for a fresh start with already young players at his position seeking to make the “leap.” This veteran is of course, going to teach these players “how to play” with nuance. He’s being brought on as an adviser and anything related to his own actual play is merely gravy.
This is a straightforward narrative to fall back on for many players, not just the 30-year-old, seasoned Victor Cruz, who signed last Tuesday with the Chicago Bears. Cruz, who is still getting used to his new digs with Chicago, has already made sure to mention at last week’s Bears OTA media availability day, how he understands he’s immediately seen as more of a leader given his past play with the New York Giants.