Last season was rough for Hakeem Nicks. In a contract year with the New York Giants, the wide receiver failed to score a touchdown as injuries once again shadowed over him. Statistics did not speak in his favor as he had just 56 catches on his 102 targets. The result was not getting a long-term contract offer from the New York Giants or any other team for that matter. However, former teammate Victor Cruz believes all of that will motivate Nicks for an impressive 2014.

Nicks was hoping to have an impressive 2013 season and earn a big pay day. He held out during last year's organized team activities to send a message that he wanted a contract similar to Cruz's. However, Nicks did not have an impressive season and the result was a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts where he must now prove himself to be a top wide receiver everyone once thought he was. Cruz is confident that last season was a result of media issues and Nicks would bounce back just fine.

"I mean, anytime people say things like that and try to discuss your character, I think it takes a toll on anyone," Cruz said, via ESPN.com. "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. Obviously, he's a competitor and he wants to play and be able to do all of those things at a high level, and you could just see certain times throughout the game it just didn't look like he was himself. Whether it was off-the-field things or things that he was battling on the field with injuries and things like that, you could just sense something was off."

The Indianapolis Colts are in desperate need for Nicks to have a much better season than last year. Right now the team is dealing with a rehabbing Reggie Wayne while T.Y. Hilton leads the group. Quarterback Andrew Luck could make good use out of Nicks if he can bounce back.

Fantasy owners will be monitoring Nicks' preseason carefully as many have lost trust in the playmaker. Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has to be impressed with the wide receiver. He questioned the conditioning of Nicks despite the wide receiver claiming he was in the best shape of his career.

"I don't know if I can say that I've seen enough," Hamilton said, via SBNation.com. "I think he is still working to get himself in game shape. His talent is well documented and his ability to be a productive receiver in the league is without a doubt something that we are not questioning, he's a special talent. Hakeem and I had the same high school coach and I've been watching him for quite some time."

Nicks is in a contract year once again and must try and make this one better than the last. A lot could have contributed to his downfall in 2013, but if he fails to make a solid comeback, he will never get that big pay day.