Sometimes it all comes down to a single moment.
On Christmas Eve last year, the New York Giants suited up for a game that would decide the fate of their season. With a win, they’d be in the playoff hunt (and have a chance to win the division), while a loss would mean missing the postseason for the third straight year.
They were facing their crosstown rivals, the NY Jets, a team that was also fighting for its playoff life. With the first half winding down, the Giants were down 7-3 and were pinned deep in their own territory. All fans could hope for was a play that would put them in a better position to punt.
What they got was a whole lot more.
Eli Manning completed a pass to Victor Cruz, who sprinted the distance of the field to give the Giants a 10-7 lead and a much-needed jolt of energy. The Giants cruised to a 29-14 victory that “reinvigorated” the team, according to owner John Mara, sending it on a trajectory that would culminate in its second Super Bowl victory in five years. Although there were a number of factors that influenced the outcome of the game, the biggest by far was Cruz’s play. Months after the game, Jets players still cited it as the difference-maker in the game — and perhaps, their season.
During the Giants’ ensuing playoff run, Cruz continued to play a pivotal role. In the win against Dallas the following week, he had six catches for 178 yards and another key touchdown as the Giants clinched the division.
What made his performance — both in the decisive Jets game and throughout the season — so notable is the fact that Cruz wasn’t even drafted out of college. But he didn’t let that stop him. After getting signed by the Giants as a walk-on, he turned in a performance during an otherwise meaningless preseason game that turned quite a few heads. He saw an opportunity, and he grabbed it.
So in a way, the fact that he was undrafted gave Cruz an advantage, because it made him hungry. He had to find ways to get noticed — something that the hyped-up, Heisman Trophy candidates never have to worry about. A player who is hungry has something to prove, which often means he’ll work harder, run more sprints, lift more weights, and spend hours watching film while the top draft picks are hitting the party circuit.
Cruz had that hunger. He was so determined to move up the Giants’ depth chart that he jumped at the chance to work with QB Eli Manning during the NFL lockout. He was among just a handful of players to show up, but during those voluntary practice sessions, he developed a chemistry with Manning that would earn him a starting spot with the Giants, along with a Super Bowl ring, and an offer to appear on Dancing with the Stars (which he turned down so he could “focus on football,” he said).
It’s that work ethic that separates Cruz from other players, and it’s that hunger that drives him to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. His story is the stuff that sports movies are made of — only it’s real. Players like Cruz know they have to work harder to get noticed, so that’s what they do.
And it’s why you should never overlook the underdog. The person who has a long list of attributes and is highly-touted might seem like the obvious choice, but sometimes it’s the runner-up who has more to offer, because he has more to prove. There’s perhaps no greater motivation than a chip on your shoulder. And for those who are willing to take a chance on the dark horse, the reward can be pretty sweet.
By the way, the defensive player whose tackle Victor Cruz escaped on the 99-yard touchdown reception? Antonio Cromartie, a first-round draft pick.
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