MUNICH — Victor Cruz was a terrific and charismatic wide receiver for the Giants and he is also a franchise icon, and only partly because of his famed and fabulous salsa touchdown celebration dance.
Cruz is a forever Giants legend because he was an integral contributor for a Super Bowl championship team.
And that is the main reason why he arrived in Bavaria’s capital as a goodwill ambassador for the only NFL team he ever suited up for and received a hero’s welcome at an event at Hofbrauhaus, a sprawling and historic pub that turned into a Giants fan hangout in the days leading up to Sunday’s game with the Panthers at Allianz Arena.
So, when Cruz speaks about the new kid on the block, rookie receiver Malik Nabers, the words carry weight from someone who excelled at the position and carved out a place for himself as one of the most popular former players the team has ever produced.
Cruz and Nabers have spoken “a handful of times,’’ Cruz said, and an impression has already been made.
“I think he’s a great kid, first and foremost,’’ Cruz told The Post. “I think he understands the gravity that’s put on his shoulders, kinda coming in and being wide receiver No. 1 almost immediately. That’s not easy for a young kid to come into that type of atmosphere, especially in New York City. So I think he’s handling that with grace and is doing that very well.’’
Nabers, 21, is struggling handling all the losing with grace. He is tied with Ja’Marr Chase for third in the league with 55 receptions, behind only Garrett Wilson (60) and tight end Brock Bowers (57).
Nabers, though, has played in only seven games — he missed two with a concussion — while the other three more prolific pass catchers all have played in nine games.
So, Nabers is, on a game-by-game basis, the most targeted and productive player of all the top guys.
The Giants are 2-7, though, and it is clearly weighing on Nabers. After last week’s 27-22 loss to the Commanders, Nabers admitted, “It’s as frustrating as it gets.’’
He then was not exactly supportive of head coach and play-caller Brian Daboll’s approach on offense, with a run-heavy first half before pivoting to the passing game after the Giants trailed 21-7 at halftime.
This could be treading on a slippery slope. Cruz, 37, understands what he believes is going on in Nabers’ head but he cautions against allowing it to take him down a dark path as far as how he views the offense, the coaching staff and the entire operation.
“I think it’s natural for him to get a little frustrated as a player, given the team and where we are right now at this point,’’ Cruz said. “Obviously, missing [two games], understanding his competitive nature, he wants to be out there, wants to compete, wants to be in games so he can go out there and win them and be part of the winning culture. But I think he has to understand it takes time, it takes time to gel, it takes timing for him to be around the right staff and the right team and the right situation and I think he is.
“I think this offense is geared around him, which is a blessing for him coming in and I think they need to figure out ways to get him the ball as many ways as possible without wearing him down and without fatiguing him too early, not only within the game but throughout the season. So I think he’s a young kid who’s ready for that challenge and it’s natural for him to get frustrated, but he’s just got to stay the course.’’
That is likely easier said than done.
Nabers seemed to be in fine spirits after the long flight. He said he has been buoyed after games earlier this season by supportive words from Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett and Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, likely a future Hall of Famer.
He said they told him he was a great player but he was rushing himself on the field.
“They felt like I was just tensed up,’’ Nabers said. “They said, ‘Just relax when you’re out there on the field and just be who you are.’ ’’
Nabers, with 557 receiving yards, will have to pick up the pace in a big way to get close to Cruz’s single-season franchise record, set in 2011, of 1,536 yards.
“I know I’ve been doing the right things out there on the field, but I still feel like I’ve got a lot left that needs to be handled,’’ Nabers said. “I’m not where I want to be right now. I’m not finished, I never even got started.’’
The Giants unretired Ray Flaherty’s No. 1 jersey for Nabers and he looks to be an immense talent, but that does not mean he is immune to some vexation as he continues his nascent NFL career.
