Cruz and Manningham Rock the Grammys

It's been quite a week for Victor Cruz.  Seven nights ago, the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis and it's been a a dance in the park for him ever since.

In the following days, Cruz finalized a new multi-million dollar contract, was in a Broadway ticker-tape parade and cut the ribbon at Lincoln Center to open Fashion Week.

Tonight, the Giants star receiver was rubbing elbows with the the music industry's top recording stars at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.  He even handed out the award for "Best Rock Performance" alongside his teammate Mario Manningham.

During the whirlwind of a week, the only constant for Cruz at all of the events was re-enacting his famous touchdown salsa dance.

Tonight, Cruz was asked to do the Latin dance once again.

Cruz and Manningham were joined on the Grammys stage with NCIS star Paula Perrette who introduced the two players to cheers and shouts of "Cruuuz" from the audience.

Perrette then told Cruz, "This is a music show.  So you need to give us a little salsa."

Cruz obliged and managed a few steps before he was cut off by the Super Bowl hero Manningham.

"OK, OK," interrupted his fellow receiver.  "Save it for the field."

The award went to the Foo Fighters for their rousing rock song "Walk."

It seemed fitting because both players walked the walk on their way to the Lombardi trophy.

Cruz and Strahan salsa together at ceremony honoring NY Giants

This morning, an estimated 1 million fans lined the sidewalks of lower Broadway during a ticker tape parade honoring the New York Giants come-from-behind Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.

Afterwards, at the Key to the City ceremony on the steps of City Hall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Giants player Michael Strahan stood at a podium and honored all of the Giants players and staff by handing them each a ceremonial key to the city.

One of the highlights of the fete was when wide receiver and favorite target of Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, stepped to the front of the stage with the crowd's cheers of "Cruuuz" filling the air and performed some of his patented salsa dance moves with Strahan.

Cruz made the hip-shaking dance popular by doing it every time he scored a touchdown this season.

Strahan may not have had as much practice as Cruz has shaking his booty lately— he did have a sack dance years ago— but did hold his own alongside the smiling Cruz under the bright blue skies.

The confident Strahan— wearing a "GMEN" sweatshirt— actually nudged Cruz and coaxed him into dancing.

Something tells me that it won't be the last time we'll see someone grab Cruz to do the Latin dance in New York this winter.

Victor Cruz Teaches NYC Kids How To Salsa

New York Giants wide-out Victor Cruz showed some his post-touchdown salsa moves that he hopes to bust out at the Super bowl to a group of fans inside a Times Square sporting goods store.

Yesterday, the game-breaking Cruz showed dozens of children how to gyrate their hips just like he does after scoring a touchdown.

Cruz— and his famous touchdown dance called the "Silk City" salsa— has his own T-shirt with simple dance instructions printed on the back.

A representative of the sporting store chain said the new Victor Cruz T-shirt has become wildly popular is the fastest selling shirt ever.

The record-breaking receiver from Paterson, N.J. said he "never took salsa lessons or a class" and credits the Puerto Rican side of his family for showing him how to shake it.

"My grandmother showed me the step," said Cruz, "and I pay her homage every time I get in the end zone."

The speedy 25-year old debuted his dance on Sept. 25 after catching a 74-yard touchdown from Eli Manning in a 29-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cruz went on to catch eight more TD's, set a Giants single-season record of 1,536 yards receiving and become a huge fan favorite.

Everytime he catches a ball, cheers of "Cruuuuz!" ring out inside MetLife Stadium and— sometimes— even on the road.

"It started as a joke," he said,  "I wanted to do something for me and the team."

Stricter rules against over-celebrating in high school and college kept Cruz's moves limited to his living room before he could actually cut a rug in the pros.

"I knew I could not do it in high school," he said.  "[So] I started doing it in the NFL."

Cruz recently turned down a chance to appear on TV's "Dancing with the Stars" but left open the possibility of appearing down the road.

"My first career is doing pretty well," he joked.

For now Cruz is concentrating on the Feb. 5 game against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

"As a kid, you dream about it.  Watching Super Bowls and game-winning kicks," Cruz said.  "Just to be a part of it this year has been amazing."

If the Giants win the Lombardi Trophy, expect to see a lot of shaking hips under a ticker-tape shower.

Victor Cruz Turns Down Offer From "Dancing With The Stars"

Victor Cruz, the New York Giants salsa dancing wide receiver, told reporters after Friday's practice that he received an offer through his agent to be a contestant on "Dancing with the Stars" and turned it down.

It was only a matter of time before the hit television show— which turned NFL players Jerry Rice and Hines Ward into Fred Astaires— contacted the nimble-footed Cruz and invited him to strut his stuff.

People have been suggesting it for weeks.

The subject came up by accident at his locker.  When asked if he was offered anything "weird or crazy" by anyone that caused him to do a "double-take" since his new found celebrity, Cruz laughed.

"Funny you should ask," he said.  "I just got an official offer from "Dancing with the Stars" this past week.  I knew it was coming.  That was the only one that turned my head."

Cruz was a little ambiguous about appearing and said the show is "probably a no, definitely a no" in his future and he only wants to focus on football.

Asked if he thinks he would be any good, the wideout shook his head and not his hips.

"I got a little bit of rhythm," he said.  "But I don't know how good I'd be at a tango."

Cruz said he told his mom about the offer and she "laughed about it and said, 'You had to know it was coming.'"

DWTS fans shouldn't give up hope. When pressed, Cruz said he'd give the show a look.

"Maybe in a couple of years down the line," he said.

FULL INTERVIEW

Giants Victor Cruz Shows Knicks Crowd His Salsa Moves

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz has been wowing fans with his game breaking catches and touchdown celebrations all season long.  Cruz's salsa steps done to a Latin beat have become the hit of MetLife Stadium.

On Monday night, Cruz was court side at The New York Knicks-Toronto Raptors game at Madison Square Garden and showed New York what all the excitement is all about out in New Jersey.

When Cruz was introduced to the crowd, he stood up and did his thing to the amusement of Knicks fans and, at half time, showed MSG reporter Jill Martin how to shake it herself.

The salsa is intended to be done with a partner, but when a dancer breaks off to do a solo— like Cruz does with his signature TD moves— they call it "shines" because it is your moment to shine and show off.

Cruz has been shining a lot this season and maybe it will catch on with the Knicks (2-3) who dropped the game, 90-85, to the lowly Raptors.

The 25-year-old  Paterson, N.J. native— who is part Puerto Rican— was asked by Martin what are the chances he might appear on "Dancing With The Stars."

"Slim and none," Cruz laughed.

While Cruz's dance moves have become a sensation with Giants fans, some opposing players claim he has two left feet.

Cowboys wide receiver Laurent Robinson mocked Cruz by imitating the Giant player's caliente salsa moves after the Dallas player caught a TD pass in Sunday's do-or-die game.

But Cruz had the last dance after he caught a couple of key passes that sent the Giants into the playoffs while the Cowboys two-stepped their way back to Texas.