Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz don special cleats for 9/11
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2016. Credit: Brad Penner
As players, Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz often wear their hearts on their sleeves. On Sunday, they’ll be wearing them on their feet.
The two Giants receivers will be donning custom-designed cleats that honor the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Both players have a pair of pregame and in-game cleats with patriotic themes. Beckham’s in-game cleats feature a bald eagle with an American flag motif. Cruz’s in-game cleats also follow the stars and stripes design. Cruz’s pregame cleats are mostly red with the FDNY logo.
Besides the two receivers’ footwear, Under Armour also provided some Giants players with American flag-colored gloves for the game that include the phrase “9/11 We Will Never Forget” on the wristband. Giants coaches and staff will wear 9/11 lapel pins and a special 9/11 decal will be on all of the players’ helmets throughout the league.
Before each of the 13 games on Sunday, video messages from President Barack Obama and George W. Bush will be shown. Bush will toss the coin at midfield before the Giants-Cowboys game, accompanied by his wife Laura Bush and two NYPD officers who responded to the attacks.
The Giants have played on Sept. 11 only once since the terrorist attacks of 2001. That was on the 10th anniversary in 2011 when they faced Washington in an opening-day game. The Giants lost that emotionally-charged contest, 28-14.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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