ThePostGame recently caught up with the Giants receiver.
ThePostGame: You're coming off a fantastic Pro Bowl performance with 10 catches, 96 yards and a touchdown. There's been a lot of talk about getting rid of the game. What do you think?
VICTOR CRUZ: I think there should absolutely continue to be a Pro Bowl. Not only for the players who treat it as such an honor to be selected and to head down to Hawaii, but for the fans down there -- you can tell that they anticipate our arrival each and every year. I think we gotta keep that thing going, keep the tradition going for a long time.
TPG: Let me ask you that question in a different way: Would you watch the Pro Bowl if you weren't in it?
CRUZ: I would definitely watch it. I watched it every year since when I was about 14, 15 years old. I was always a big fan and it was always a dream for me to go to the Pro Bowl.
TPG: What are your thoughts about Deer Antler Spray, which became a big story again during the week of the Super Bowl?
CRUZ: Oh, I kind of just brushed it off, man. I don’t think it's something that should be overlapping the Super Bowl. So yeah, I have no comment on it.
TPG: How about everything with concussions and CTE?
CRUZ: I do think we need to advance technology as far as concussions are concerned, and continue to do research and think of ways to enhance helmets -- anything we can do to prevent concussions and things like that.
TPG: What about Bernard Pollard saying the NFL won't exist in 30 years?
CRUZ: I don’t think the NFL is going anywhere, man. It's a sport that's one of the top earners in revenue for every team as far as TV and all of that is concerned. And at the end of the day, people just love football. But I do think we need to continue to advance research in things like concussion tests and helmets, anything to make the league safer for players.
TPG: In your opinion is the NFL currently doing enough in that regard?
CRUZ: I think so. I think they're doing all the research they can every year, doing tests and finding out ways to advance in the protection of the players.
TPG: You go way back with another big time New York athlete, the Knicks' J.R. Smith. You guys have been buddies since you played AAU ball. Tell me a little about that friendship.
CRUZ: Oh man. You know, we're best friends man. We basically grew up together. I met him when I was around 14 or 15 years old and we just continued to grow and play basketball together. We traveled all over the world together. It's really a unique friendship, and one that continues to this day. It's just crazy that we're both at professional levels and doing a good job for our respective teams, man. And we're both in New York. It’s been a really good time.
TPG: What’s a typical J.R. Smith/Victor Cruz night out on the town like?
CRUZ: Oh man, when we do go out, which is few and far between, we'll go out to have dinner at a local restaurant in Manhattan, and after that we might just go grab a drink somewhere -- just hang out and chill with some close family or friends, things like that. We kinda keep it low key. I think he knows with me, we like to keep it as low key as possible, so that's what we've kinda been up to.
TPG: How often do people come up to you on the street talking about fantasy football?
CRUZ: Oh all day, every day. At least once or twice a day I get people coming up to me saying how much I did work on their fantasy team, how they're gonna draft me again first or second round next year.
TPG: And how often do people come up to you and just do the salsa?
CRUZ: I get that more than the fantasy talk, man. I get people who come up to me and just do the salsa and not even say hello and just keep on walking.
TPG: Are you pretty shocked at how gigantic the salsa has become?
CRUZ: Yeah, it's definitely taken on a life of its own. It's fun though, man. It's fun to have something that the fans can connect you with, and it’s something fun they can do when they see me. It’s a good way to connect with the fans.
TPG: On your first touchdown next year you should do a different dance just to mess with everyone. The tango or something. Imagine the press!
CRUZ: (laughs) I don't think that's happening, but yeah, it would definitely be a big deal.
TPG: Back to fantasy football real quick. Do you play?
CRUZ: Unfortunately I do not. I used to when I was in college, but once I entered the NFL it got a little more difficult timing-wise.
TPG: Where would you pick yourself in a fantasy football draft?
CRUZ: I'd pick myself maybe second or third round. You know you gotta go quarterback/running back first and then receivers.
TPG: Tell me about this Pepsi Super Bowl commercial you were in, and the whole interactive campaign.
CRUZ: It's just fun, man. My relationship with Pepsi is great. We've done a couple things together now, and it’s just another great way to get in touch with fans. This whole campaign is very interactive, and the grand prize is a trip to the Super Bowl in New York next year.
