Victor Cruz says Hakeem Nicks ‘wants to prove people wrong’

Hakeem Nicks had a tumultuous 2013 season that ended in the New York Giants letting him walk for free agency. In another season hampered by injury, Nicks managed only 56 catches for 896 with zero touchdowns, which brought heat on him from fans and media alike. Now former teammate Victor Cruz says Nicks has a chip on his shoulder and will be out to prove the doubters wrong. His first big chance to do so? A preseason game between the Giants and Nicks’ new team, the Indianapolis Colts.

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“Anytime people say things like that and try to discuss your character, I think it takes a toll on anyone,” Cruz said to ESPN New York. “I think it did for him, and I think it’s something where he wants to prove people wrong. He wants to show that he’s a team guy, show that he gives his all and everything for his teammates. And I think the fresh start for him in Indy is gonna be just that, so we’ll see how it goes for him.”

Nicks addressed Cruz’s remarks by mostly concurring with them. “I think that Cruz witnessed what I went through firsthand so I can see why he would say that,” he said. “There was a lot of criticism I was taking when people didn’t really realize what I was going through.”

It starts in the preseason, but beyond that we will get to see if Hakeem Nicks can put his injury woes behind him and advance his career beyond the one-year deal he received from the Colts.