EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Victor Cruz wants a new contract by the season's end but he will not do anything drastic to make that happen.

Cruz said he would "never" consider a holdout during the season to not risk injury or do something hostile in an attempt to force the Giants' hand.

Ross Tucker, an ESPN.com football writer/analyst, suggested on Twitter that Cruz should consider sitting out until he receives a new contract rather than risk injury.

"I should hold out, right? Never happen," Cruz said. "Because if I'm going to do that I might as well do it in the beginning of the season, and not wait when I'm doing so well, and just hold out. I want to continue to help my team win. ... I want to win championships, I want to win football games.

"The team's going to panic if I hold out. That's not me. I just want to go out and play football and continue to be myself."

Cruz said this offseason that he would not consider a holdout during camp. On WFAN radio on Tuesday, the receiver said that he would like to receive a new deal by the end of this season. The Giants' playmaking receiver is in the final season of his contract worth $540,000. He will be a restricted free agent after the season.

"It's not on my mind," he said of his contract. "I have no clue when its going to get done. I'm just playing football right now. I just want to continue to play football and worry about that later."

Cruz understands he is one of the most underpaid playmakers in the NFL, if not the most underpaid one.

"I just kind of block it out," Cruz said. "I'm just out here enjoying the moment, enjoying times. I still feel like I'm out here as a [undrafted] free agent just still trying to work hard every time I'm on the practice field, every time on game day. I'm just continuing to be my same person, just continuing to keep my family close, and I think that's really helped me."