Your cheat sheet to the stars and parties of New York City’s NFL Kickoff, starting Thursday
GIANT GOSSIP
Big Blue’s ownership, fan base and style of play have always been conservative, with more substance than flash (with the exception of wide receiver Victor Cruz’s salsa moves). After an unlikely championship run, they’re poised and pretty healthy, with a lot of their stars returning in blue.
Victor Cruz: The Paterson, NJ, native’s story is now NFL lore. He emerged from obscurity to become a Super Bowl hero and salsa-dancing touchdown machine. In the off-season, Cruz, 25, wrote the book “Out of the Blue” and earned a spot on Vanity Fair’s international best-dressed list. On the field, Cruz continues to share a palpably thrilling partnership with his quarterback, Eli Manning.
Eli Manning: The notoriously reserved two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback tackled a new challenge in the off-season: hosting “Saturday Night Live.” In one hilarious sketch, 31-year-old Manning — whose big brother Peyton helms the Denver Broncos — played a goofy serial sexter accused of murder, and fearlessly compared his manhood to a banana. Oh, and he played a weepy drag queen.
Jason Pierre-Paul: Defensive end JPP inspired a remake of Naughty by Nature’s “OPP,” replaced with his own initials, last year. This preseason, the 23-year-old took some heat for a viral video in which he dunked teammate Prince Amukamara in a tub. The 6-foot-6 sack-making sensation — who once logged 14 back flips in a row — was forced to skip some of the preseason due to back spasms, but he sacked Mark Sanchez twice in last week’s exhibition game against the Jets.
COWBOY BABBLE
DeMarcus Ware: The Alabama native will face his old Troy University teammate Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora next week. Considered one of the best linebackers in the league, the 30-year-old Ware is married to his high-school sweetheart, and has appeared with his mother in Campbell’s Chunky soup commercials.
Miles Austin: Next Wednesday will be a homecoming for the Cowboys’ star wide receiver. The 28-year-old grew up in Garfield, NJ, and played at Monmouth University. He briefly dated Kim Kardashian in 2010, after she split with Dolphins running back Reggie Bush. Austin has been sitting out the preseason with a hamstring injury, but he’s slated to take the field against the Giants on Sept. 5.
Tony Romo: While he seems to land more headlines in Us Weekly than in the sports pages these days, Romo, 32, remains the Cowboys’ starting quarterback. Famous for dating Jessica Simpson, Romo married Candice Crawford, sister of “Gossip Girl” star Chace Crawford, in May 2011. The pair had their first child, Hawkins Romo, in April.
FOOTBALL FETES
The Giants won last year’s Super Bowl, earning the privilege of hosting this season’s prime-time kickoff game — and the pigskin parties that comes with it.
Thursday
The NFL and the New York Road Runners will host the first “Back to Football” 4-mile run in Central Park. Runners can meet Giants Mathias Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre-Paul at 6 p.m. Former Giant Amani Toomer will auction off the chance to warm up and run beside him during the race. Admission is $35 on nyrr.com; bidding available on nfl.com/auction.
Saturday
In Midtown from 1 to 3:30 p.m., Old Navy (150 W. 34th St.) will host a tailgate blowout with games and appearances by the Brooklyn Steppers marching band. Fans will receive free eye-black for looking tough during pickup games.
Tuesday
Gridiron devotees can pay homage to the holy grail of pigskin — the Lombardi Trophy — in the lobby of the Manhattan Mall (100 W. 33rd St.). Duffy Square (from 45th Street to 48th Street, between Seventh Avenue and Broadway) will play host to the Kickoff Village, where fans can grab free grub, tinker with their fantasy football roster and snag autographs from NFL legends.
Wednesday
At least 32 league alums will attend a star-studded pregame concert at Rockefeller Plaza headlined by Mariah Carey and No Doubt that starts at 7:30 p.m.