To all the Giants fans out there, I don’t know about you, but we have been spoiled. Before this week, the Giants had taken us on an incredible journey over the previous five weeks, beginning after their ugly 23-10 loss at Met Life Stadium at the hands of the Washington Redskins, who at the time were just 4-9. That loss was the Giants’ fifth in six games and all hopes for a post season appearance were fading faster than a Victor Cruz touchdown!!
#80 Victor Cruz at the end of his 99 yard touchdown reception vs the the N.Y. Jets; December 18,2012. Photo credit: David Pokress/ Newsday.com
And then on Saturday, December 24th, the Giants’ second season began with a 15 point win against the N.Y. Jets, 29-14. A game that was to feature one of Cruz’s best performances in a regular season game. Late in the 2nd quarter with the Giants down 7-3 and the ball on the 1 yard line, Eli Manning took the snap from five yards deep in the endzone and threw a short pass to Cruz on his right. The catch and run that followed was indeed a thing of beauty and 99 yards, a touchdown, and a little salsa later, the Giants took the lead 10-7; a lead they never relinquished for the remainder of the game.
Over the next four games, all Giants wins against the Cowboys, Falcons, Packers and 49ers, Cruz, including his 164 yard day vs the Jets, grabbed an incredible 586 receiving yards to go along with two touchdowns. He broke a franchise record with 1536 total receiving yards held by Amani Toomer and collected 9 touchdowns. He, along with Hakeem Nicks, have arguably become two of the most exciting wide receivers in the league and are instant threats to any defense they face.
At just 25 years of age, Victor Cruz has become the greatest $405,000 investment that the Mara’s (Giants owners) have ever made. I can’t imagine the kind of salary the undrafted former University of Massachusetts star will demand when his contract expires… What I can tell you, is that he’ll be worth every penny if he brings just half of the excitement that he brought to the Giants and all their fans this year and so far in the post season. And who knows, maybe on February 5th, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, we all just might witness his most exciting day in a Giant uniform…
Salsa anyone?
#80 Victor Cruz...could his next stop be "Dancing with the Stars?" Photo: nypost.com
FANTASY FURNACE 