ThePostGame recently caught up with the New York Giants star, who discussed his unique style, his partnership with Roc Nation and his new Pepsi #FanEnough NFL Station on iTunes Radio.
ThePostGame: You've got a Pepsi #FanEnough NFL Station on iTunes Radio. For people who are unfamiliar, what is that campaign about?
VICTOR CRUZ: The campaign is all about putting fans closer to the game and keeping them as involved as possible through our new campaign. It’s just giving fans another outlet to getting close to the game through guys like myself.
The songs I have on the channel are songs like J. Cole's "Illuminati." Songs like Jay-Z's "Tom Ford" and things of that nature. Just some of the stuff that I listen to on a daily basis that the fans can kind of get a look in and see that I listen to it and they can listen to it as well.
ThePostGame: Drake's new album, "Nothing Was The Same," dropped the week. How excited are you for that CD?
CRUZ: I’m pretty excited about the album. He's one of my favorite artists and his album definitely lived up to all the hype.
ThePostGame: This was a big summer for you from a fashion standpoint. You attended Paris Fashion Week and you were voted Most Stylish Athlete of the Year at the Style Awards. How much fun were you having?
CRUZ: A lot of fun, as you can probably see from some of the pictures with the big smile on my face. It's a dream come true to go to places like Paris. Not even just professionally, but in general a guy like myself from a small town in New Jersey to be in Paris was something I would never have dreamed of. To do that and to not only go but sit front row at shows and be awarded the most Stylish Athlete of the Year award ... I couldn't put into words how much that meant to me. I just want to continue being a positive light and a positive influence for all kids and all people that admire football and admire myself.
ThePostGame: What have you learned about the fashion industry after becoming so involved over the past few years?
CRUZ: Everything comes and goes. It’s truly seasonal. Certain trends come in and certain trends go out as quickly as they came in.
What I learned is that everyone is unique. There's no set standard for a lot of the way people dress. It’s all about how you feel and your unique personal style. As long as it matches you and your personality, and you feel comfortable in what you're wearing, that’s considered fashion.
ThePostGame: How has your personal style changed since you entered the NFL?
CRUZ: It’s changed a lot. I went from being a guy that would wear bigger clothes and things that I thought were cooler at the time to wearing stuff that’s more form-fitting, fits properly, fits the right way. Getting into suits more and things of that nature.
I’ve had to change pretty drastically, but it was good for me, good for my brand and it’s fun. Now I enjoy getting dressed up.
ThePostGame: Are there any athletes that you try to emulate with your style?
CRUZ: Honestly, no. There’s guys that give me inspiration like LeBron James, like Dwyane Wade at times, Larry Fitzgerald. There’s a bunch of different guys that give me inspiration, but no one that I necessarily want to emulate.
ThePostGame: You were one of the first athletes to sign with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in the spring. What has the Roc Nation experience been like for you?
CRUZ: It’s been fun so far. It’s still a work in progress. Everyone over there has treated me like family, and moreso CAA who does my on-the-field contract and things like that. They have embraced me like family over there as well. It’s been fun. It's been a unique experience for me. Not a lot of athletes can say they have strong ties to Roc Nation and Jay-Z and things of that nature. It’s been an interesting ride so far and I’m excited to be a part of it.
ThePostGame: What makes the agency unique?
CRUZ: They don't have a lot of players and they’re doing a good job of having players that fit their brand and fit their model of how they have their recording artists as well as their athletes. I think they’re doing a good job of selecting the right people that fit the brand and are excited about what they’re doing from an agency standpoint. So I think that’s what makes them different.
Their attention to detail and to every artist and to every athlete has been unique as well.
