Victor Cruz is still being asked about the Giants’ infamous boat picture, which was snapped a week before New York’s last playoff game nearly four years ago.
So, the former wide receiver went on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Friday to give a rundown of what led up to the picture that showed himself, Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and Roger Lewis on a boat in Miami with celebrities like Trey Songz on the day after New Year’s Day.
“After a game, after a huge game, we finally made the playoffs for the first time since 2011, we’re in,” Cruz said. “Coach relinquishes us, tells us we’re off on Monday…we’re off Monday, there’s zero obligations.
“We as a team, or as our conglomerate receivers, we’re in the back of the bus and we’re like ‘What are we gonna do, it’s New Year’s Day?’ So we’re like, ‘Let’s go to Miami.’”
That decision, justified or not, altered the perception of the last Giants team to reach the postseason, and is still talked about today.
“At first, I’m not gonna lie, I was apprehensive,” Cruz said. “‘Odell, do you wanna do this?’ ‘Sterling, are you sure?’ They look at me, salivating: ‘Let’s go to Miami.’”
Cruz and the New York receiving core went out to a Miami club on New Year’s Day, hours after the Giants took down Washington 19-10 in the regular season finale, and ran into high-profile musicians like Justin Biever, Young Jeezy and Trey Songz. As the night turned into morning, the party moved over to a boat.
“We get on the boat, and we’re hanging out on the boat touring through Miami, having a great time, the playoff game is eight days away, to be clear,” Cruz said. “Still our day off, we’re having a blast…we’re coming from a game on the east coast, which is why we’re wearing winter clothing…we just decided to go to Miami on a whim.
“Someone yells out, I’m not gonna say who, because I’m not a snitch, someone yells out ‘Let’s take a photo.’ Of course. We got out there, we take a photo, we have a good time.”
The photo quickly began making its rounds on social media, and it didn’t take long to get back to the players.
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“By the time we leave the boat…we’re waiting for our plane, all of a sudden, our phones…everyone’s phone is going crazy,” Cruz said. “People are sending us the photo. At first you’re like ‘Oh, so a couple people saw the photo, it’s cool.’ The following minute, we’re like ‘Oh, this is snowballing.’ My mom called me like ‘Are you on a boat with a beanie on?’
“I check the twitter, I check the socials, and it’s everywhere.”
The team was asked about the photo all week leading up to an eventual 38-13 drubbing at the hands of the Packers, which resulted in Beckham punching a hole in the wall in frustration. The photo was dunked on repeatedly, some taking issue with the decision to live it up before the biggest game of the season, while many others couldn’t get past the look of jeans and Timberland boots on a boat. But Cruz, who not long ago said the decision to party in Miami would haunt him for life, seems to be at peace with it now.
Meanwhile, the Giants franchise is 18-49 since the boat photo was snapped into existence.
“Yes, we lost the game, but did it matter or was the fact we were in Miami on a boat that caused us to lose? Absolutely not,” Cruz said. “I have zero regrets. I would go back to Miami tomorrow and hang out with Justin Bieber, Young Jeezy and Trey Songz again.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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