Earlier this week we told you that wide receiver Domenik Hixon hoped to return to the Giants after playing just two games in 2011 because of a torn ACL in his right knee.
Hixon’s wish was granted on Friday afternoon. The Giants announced that they have agreed on a contract with Hixon for next season after he came to New York for a visit to the doctor to check out his knee. It was the second straight year with a torn ACL for Hixon and he said the Giants’ loyalty to him while rehabbing was a big reason why he wanted to stay in town.
“It’s one of those things, they gave me an opportunity when I got released from Denver,” Hixon said in a release from the team. “And then these past two years with knee injuries they stuck with me. They could have cut me and let me be on my way and be done with me. But they didn’t do that. They treated me the same and I really appreciate that. I know a lot of times in the NFL loyalty isn’t that big. But in this situation I really felt like I wanted to be here. They helped me out time and time again. I wanted to stay here and repay that.”
Hixon’s injury wasn’t all bad news for the Giants. When he went down, Victor Cruz stepped up into his spot and set a team record for receiving yards while playing a huge role for the Super Bowl champions. With Mario Manningham expected to leave the team as a free agent, Hixon should have another chance at gaining the third receiver spot and he should be in the mix for kick return work as well.
The terms of the deal are undisclosed, but Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports that it is a one-year deal. The minimum salary for a player with Hixon’s experience is $825,000 and it doesn’t seem likely that Hixon will make too much more than that.
