As he looks closely, sometimes he sees the old Eli. Sometimes he sees an old Eli. As someone who caught 303 NFL passes from Eli Manning and broke out 26 salsa touchdown dance celebrations on the receiving end of Manning darts, Victor Cruz can notice every nuance in the form of his former quarterback, and he sees distressing signs.
“I don’t think he’s finished,’’ Cruz told The Post this week. “My thing with Eli has always been if you’re able to keep his jersey clean and not have him worry about guys coming to take his head off every time he’s dropping back to pass he has the opportunity to do some really good things. I’ve been there for that.’’
Oh yes, Cruz was with the Giants for some of Manning’s most magical times. Cruz concedes 2011 “was a long time ago’’ and with the Giants at 1-6 and trading away starting players for draft picks, they are looking toward the future. Cruz sees a new direction for that future.
“I think they go get a quarterback,’’ Cruz said. “I think they have to go get a quarterback. They kinda missed on a pretty good draft of quarterbacks this past year, but they have to get themselves a quarterback and they have to go get themselves a bonafide right tackle that can protect that side of the football, protect whoever that next quarterback is going to be.’’
Cruz, 31, announced his retirement from the NFL back in August and immediately signed on with ESPN as an analyst, no great surprise, considering his media savvy and accessibility during his playing days. He erupted onto the scene in 2011 and became Manning’s most lethal target, teaming with Hakeem Nicks to form a deadly receiving duo. Cruz got the very best of Manning. In year No. 15, some of the very worst of a 37-year old Manning is on display. Cruz sees what is clearly evident: It is hardly all Manning’s fault, but time is running out on the franchise icon.
“I see it’s hard to miss the lack of trust he has in the offensive line,’’ Cruz said. “With certain plays and certain play-action, when it’s predicated they’re gonna pass I can see some hesitation and him looking more east and west than north and south to his playmakers and his receivers downfield. They’ve had their struggles, it’s been well-documented.
“I see some of the age thing, the arm strength in some of the throws and the errant throws, I see some of that. But I do still see him commanding that team and being the leader we all know he is and getting the ball out quickly at times, doing some of those good things. Obviously hasn’t contributed to a lot of winning and a lot of plays down the field.’’
As for the “age thing,’’ Cruz can detect certain throws now that do not look like the throws Manning used to make.
“That’s where some of the age has kinda crept into Eli and some of the throws,’’ said Cruz, speaking at a Halloween costume event as new member of the “Captain’s Crew’’ for Captain Morgan’s rum. “Not necessarily throws that fail, it’s just the throws I’ve seen him make 100 times, whether it be practice or games, those type of throws aren’t connecting right now and that’s when you start to see ‘Ok, this is different than maybe a bad game or something like that.’ ’’
The offense has produced so many bad games the Giants are in sell-off mode, out of contention before mid-season.
“It’s not easy at all,’’ Cruz said. “You’re basically saying to your team we’re maybe not putting as much emphasis on this year, understanding this year is not necessarily their year and they’re going to rebuild and evaluate their talent week in and week out,’’ Cruz said. “Obviously, mentally and emotionally it’s a little bit weird, because as an athlete you mindset is to win every game.’’
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