LB Victor Butler Suspended by NFL; WR Victor Cruz Injury Update

Victor Butler – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Linebacker Victor Butler Suspended by NFL: The NFL has suspended New York Giants linebacker Victor Butler for four games for violating the League’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Butler can participate in Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices, training camp, and the preseason before sitting out the first four games of the year. That is, if he makes the team.

Butler was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Since then, he has spent time with the Cowboys (2009-12), Saints (2013), Cardinals (2014), and Colts (2014). Butler missed the 2013 season with a torn ACL knee injury that he suffered during training camp that year. The Giants signed Butler to a Reserve/Future contract in January 2015.

Butler has played in 65 games with two starts with a total of 91 tackles, 11 sacks, four pass defenses, and four forced fumbles.

Victor Cruz Injury Update: New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz was interviewed by by Complex.com and provided the following injury update:

“(The patella tendon knee injury suffered in October 2014 is) definitely is one of the most difficult things I’ve had to go through in my life,” said Cruz. “Still currently going through it. It’s not easy to come back from something like this and to work every day. I guess I’m in the parts right now when it’s more (physical). Physically getting it stronger, getting the muscle back. Literally when you have surgery on your knee, the muscles atrophy and just go (away). Your muscles just go (away). So physically is definitely the hardest part right now. I think the mental aspect was early and then it’ll be late. ‘Early’ meaning when it first happened, thinking you probably won’t be able to even run again; and ‘late’ when you are able to run and jump and mentally being able to connect to your knee, saying that you can do all these things and not being afraid to do it. I think that’s both sides of it.”

Cruz was asked if he has had to tell himself to slow down a bit on the rehab. “Yeah, I’m kinda there right now,” replied Cruz. “I’ve started to do some things and I’m starting to feel my knee getting better and responding better, but I understand there’s a long way to go and a process and I don’t wanna rush anything.”