Giants 'green' receiver Cruz blossoms
Victor Cruz of the New York Giants reacts after making a catch against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Jan. 1, 2012) Credit: Getty/Al Bello
The year is 2010 and Victor Cruz, an undrafted wide receiver from the University of Massachusetts, makes a statement with three touchdown catches in a preseason game against the Jets. He spends the rest of the year on injured reserve, with the whispered promise that he'd remain in the Giants' thoughts.
The year is 2011, and Cruz, the beneficiary of Steve Smith's defection to the Eagles and injuries at wide receiver, amasses 76 catches for 1,358 yards in the first 15 games. Four of his eight touchdown receptions are for more than 65 yards.
It was a brand-spanking-new 2012 Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, and in the Giants' biggest game of the season, Cruz had six more catches for 178 yards, including a 74-yard TD -- a happy new year, indeed. This after many wondered aloud whether the Giants' green receivers could even be postseason-ready.
Late in the first quarter, he corralled Eli Manning's pass on a quick out route, victimized an overmatched Terence Newman in coverage and zipped down the left sideline for a 74-yard score (a week after zipping down the right sideline for a 99-yard TD against the Jets). He capped it with the salsa-themed touchdown dance that he soon might have to trademark.
"It's a God-given ability," said Cruz, who finished with nine catches of at least 30 yards. "When I get the ball in my hands, I try to do the most I can."
It was enough to propel Sunday night's 31-14 win over the Cowboys, a game in which he added fourth-quarter catches of 44 and 20 yards to help set up Lawrence Tynes' 28-yard field goal. His efforts were a bit better than those of (relative) veteran Hakeem Nicks, who had five catches for 76 yards and a TD.
"[For me], a realistic goal was to just get a catch . . . in a game that mattered," Cruz said. "To progress from that . . . has been an amazing ride."
If the Giants are to make a legitimate run, it will have to be with major contributions from some of their youngest players. Cruz and Nicks have a combined pro tenure of four years.
"Even though we're young, we're very confident," Cruz said. "We have old souls."
