Perhaps the Jets’ Darrelle Revis was telling the truth when he confessed after the Giants’ 31-14 win over his Jets that he didn’t know Victor Cruz. But you can bet one of the elite, if not the best cornerback in the NFL now knows Cruz and everything he would want to know about the glue-handed, smallish receiver out of the University of Massachusetts.
Eli Manning, whom you can bet knows Cruz, tossed a short outlet pass to him from the Giants’ one-yard line. Catching the throw in full stride, Cruz hurdled a pair of Cowboys defenders and, never looking back, sped 99 yards to the other end of the MetsLife Stadium field. It was among the top quarterback-to-wide receiver plays of the season.
And there’s the promise of more to come, as the Giants, the No. 4 seed in the NFC Wildcard round of play, stay home to host the No. 5 seed Atlanta Falcons in a one and done contest kicking off at 1 p.m. on Sunday. A Giants win will set up a clash with the 13-3, No. 2-seeded San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Jan. 14.
Cruz, now in his second season with Big Blue, has become an overnight celebrity after his eye-opening, third and 10, 99-yard touchdown romp. He was at the Garden Monday this week on “Celebrity Row” and he couldn’t stop smiling.
The Paterson, N.J., homeboy was greeted with a standing ovation when his face lit up the overhead scoreboard. He willingly obliged when asked to show off his salsa moves, which has now become his trademark celebration after scoring a touchdown. His shake of the hips and rhythmic stepping soon had everyone in the building imitating him, especially the kids.
“The Salsa King,” Cruz has joined the likes of former Giants legend Amani Toomer in the team’s record book. His 99-yard hookup with Manning is the longest play in Giants history. So perhaps Revis now knows Victor Cruz. Everyone else does.