Victor Cruz, left, dances salsa with Michael Strahan before receiving a key to the city from Mayor Bloomberg today. (REUTERS)
4:01 p.m. — Ceremony comes to an end, capping off a daylong celebration for the Super Bowl champs.
3:58 p.m. — Papa introduces Naughty by Nature, “You down with N-Y-G!”
Antrel Rolle and JPP join Naughty By Nature on stage briefly before the stadium music cuts to the classic championship theme song, Queen’s “We Are The Champions.”
Cannons spray confetti onto the stage and the crowd sends off its Super Bowl Champion Giants team.
Some players file off, others stay on to touch the Lombardi trophy once more and relish in the moment with their families.
Other players take a lap around the field, high-fiving fans and signing a few autographs. Brandon Jacobs is even taking the Lombardi trophy around to let fans get a touch.
3:55 p.m. — Papa introduces Eli Manning.
“There truly is no place I’d rather be than right here, right now with the greatest fans in the world,” Manning says.
“We won six straight games and brought the Lombardi trophy back to New Jersey!” Manning says.
Manning thanks fans for cheering the Giants to a Super Bowl win.
3:52 p.m. — Justin Tuck takes the stage.
Tuck soaks in the crowd’s cheers.
“Y’all gonna make this easy for me!” Tuck says. “Do y’all love your Giants?”
Tuck says today is his son’s second birthday, asks crowd to say happy birthday.
“Happy Birthday Jace!” the crowd roars.
“It is an absolute honor to put on that blue jersey and come out here every Sunday and lay it on the line,” Tuck says.
“The last time we did this we were in Giants stadium,” “Now we’re in MetLife Stadium.”
Crowd boos
“No, no, it is MetLife stadium,” Tuck says “You can be sure of whose house it is.”
Crowd cheers, Tuck sits back down.
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3:50 p.m. — Papa rattles off Coughlin’s resume before introducing him.
“Thank you,” Coughlin says. “This is an incredible finish to an amazing season.”
“It puts us right back to the Super Bowl!” Coughlin says.
Coughlin says President Obama called the Giants team courageous and commended them on how they came together at the end of the season.
3:46 p.m. — “Awesome, what a season!” Bob Papa says.
John Mara takes the mic.
“There’s no place like home,” Mara says. “We are very proud to call New Jersey our home. We’re even more proud to say we have the greatest, most loyal fans in all of sports.”
“Two nights ago over 111 million people saw the New York Giants cancel the Brady Bunch,” Steve Tisch says.
Tisch repeats the “America’s dream” line from earlier.
“Thank you to the best team in the world,” Tisch says.
3:39 p.m. — The video boards begin a montage of the Giants’ Super Bowl season. Everyone’s eyes are fixated on the screens.
3:37 p.m. — Osi Umenyiora, JPP and Antrel Rolle get the loudest ovation for the defense.
Here come the captains, DeOssie, Tuck and Manning.
Manning has the Lombardi Trophy before handing it off to Tuck. DeOssie holds the Halas trophy.
3:33 p.m. — Giants owners and their families are introduced. Coaching staff introduced, they wave to crowd. Steve Weatherford and Lawrence Tynes come out followed by the offensive unit. Cruz and Manningham get big ovations.
The running backs, Bradshaw and Jacobs, along with Blackburn, Boley and Herzlich get the loudest cheers up to this point.
The Giants faithful cheer the two-time champions just a little louder than some of the other players.
3:32 p.m. — The ceremony starts as the crowd roars.
3:20 p.m. — Some people begin to emerge from the tunnel. The gates opened to the public just over an hour ago. The crowd is eagerly awaiting the players.
3:15 p.m. — Several people begin to gather on stage, including NJ Gov. Chris Christie, the Mara and Tisch families. Still no players.
3:05 p.m. — Naughty By Nature is getting the crowd pumped up, the stadium is filling up quickly. Most of the lower bowl is filled, also a good deal of the middle level.
1:56 p.m. — The party now moves across the Hudson River to New Jersey, where Big Blue and the fans will celebrate at a ceremony with Gov. Christie at MetLfe Stadium. Stay tuned.
1:46 p.m. — That’s it for now. Bloomberg thanks the staff and says they have the plans from four years ago and can use them again next year.
Sponsors get plugged by the mayor, as do the performers.
“Finish, finish, finish,” Strahan says.
“New York City let’s hear it for the 2012 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants!” Strahan says as confetti falls and music plays.
As the players leave the stage, some stop and touch the Lombardi Trophy one more time.
PHOTOS: GIANTS SUPER BOWL VICTORY PARADE
1:43 p.m. — Bloomberg introduces the “coolest” guy in town, Eli Manning.
“Make it tough, make it possible,” Manning says.
Manning says the Giants needed to make the road tough. Says the team wanted to lose four games straight this season and lose the lead in the Super Bowl, to make it tough on them.
Finish is another recurring theme here.
Eli thanks and congratulates the fans,
1:40 p.m. — Bloomberg introduces Justin Tuck.
“It’s so fitting that we bring the Lombardi Trophy back to New York City.” Lombardi is Fordham University’s most-famous alumni.
“We made it here by believing in each other,” Tuck says. “Why wouldn’t you not love to play for these Giants?”
“There’s 31 other teams that wished they could be in New York.”
Andre Brown has become the unofficial star here.
“We got a ring!” Brown starts a chant which turns into a team-wide song.
“Guess what? I’ve got two!” Tuck says before bowing out, literally.
1:34 p.m. — Mark Herzlich comes out, gets a nice cheer.
Ahmad Bradshaw comes out holding a football, Strahan calls him the “toughest guy pound-for-pound he has every played with.”
Bob Papa makes a joke about Andre Brown and the YouTube video posted yesterday “He’s got a ring.”
Strahan introduces Aaron Ross “aka Usher.”
Brandon Jacobs gestures to the crowd, attempts a salsa and collects his key.
Kenny Phillips comes out, he’s the player who batted down Brady’s hail mary pass.
Special teams hero Devin Thomas is the next player of note.
Steve Weatherford does a kick and Strahan takes a dig at him “I thought punters weren’t supposed to work out.” It’s been well documented that Weatherford is one of the most fit players on the team.
Coaches come out followed by the captains, DeOssie, Tuck and last but not least, Eli Manning. MVP chants start.
1:29 p.m. — Strahan takes dig at Kiwanuka for wearing shades says he’s “too cool.”
Strahan says “any time you have three names you know you are cool,” when introducing JPP.
Mario Manningham gets a great ovation, followed by Cruz chants and a Strahan salsa.
Strahan calls Osi Umenyiora his “little brother.”
Strahan says Kareem McKenzie and David Diehl beat up on him every day.
1:26 p.m. — Papa and Strahan to introduce players and officials as they collect keys to the city.
Mara family up first. Ann leads the way.
Tisch family next. Steve, Joan, John, Laurie.
GM Jerry Reese collects the next key before the coaches come up.
Strahan introduces the weight coach and coaches Pat Flaherty and Mike Sullivan.
Canty is the first of the players to get his key.
1:23 p.m. — Here comes Coach Coughlin. Players all stand.
“Thank you,” Coughlin says.
“Only can this happen in New York,” Coughlin says. “This is the greatest city in the world.”
Coughlin thanks fans for making players feel so welcome. Coughlin says he spoke with President Obama. Says Obama praised mental toughness, resiliency and “to remember that all things are possible for those who believe.”
Bloomber says Coughlin will end up in the Hall of Fame, “no doubt about it.”
1:19 p.m. — Bloomberg introduces team co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch.
Mara thanks officials and New Yorkers for “incredible” parade. Mara takes a dig at Terry Bradshaw and introduces Ann Mara.
“This is a team we are all very proud of,” Mara says. “Thank you giants fans for you unwavering support.”
Steve Tisch introduces his mother, Joan, and acknowledges his siblings.
“I think we should do this every Tuesday,” Tisch says.
Tisch takes swipe at Cowboys and calls this “America’s Dream.”
“Our fans mean the world to us,” Tisch says. “The team has all [of the fans] in their hearts every Sunday.”
1:17 p.m. — National Anthem time. NYPD’s Kerrence Darden sings beautifully.
1:12 p.m. — Canty, Bernard, JPP, Nicks, Ballard lead the way and greet Strahan.
Those aren’t boos! It’s Victor Cruuuuuzzzz.
Players continue to file into their seats. Herzlich, Boley, Bradshaw, Beckum (on crutches). Rolle, Jacobs, Webster, Ross.
Steve Weatherford’s smile cannot get any bigger right now.
The Tisch and Mara family come out, followed closely by Perry Fewell, Kevin Gilbride and Tom Coughlin.
And last but not least, the captains. Zak DeOssie, Justin Tuck (with the Halas Trophy) and of course, Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning and the Lombardi Trophy! Manning gets the largest ovation yet.
1:04 p.m. — Mayor Bloomberg and Michael Strahan take the podium. “It’s great to be back” Strahan says. Bloomberg asks if the city knows how to throw a parade, if anyone is ready to do some salsa dancing and if there has ever been a more exciting team than the 2012 Giants. Bloomberg declares the city the Big Blue Apple.
Strahan addresses the crowd. Strahan says it’s a pleasure to be back, says team “defied logic of a lot of experts.” “You cannot judge the heart of a G-Man!” Strahan says. Praises players, asks crowd to cheer loudly for players who haven’t won a Super Bowl before.
Bloomberg’s back, asks if Strahan is headed for the Hall of Fame. Believing in team and each other is a recurring theme, sticking it to the “experts.”
“What do the first three letters of Elite start with?” Bloomberg tries to start MVP chant and introduces radio voice of the Giants Bob Papa.
Papa asks for an “All In!” Then talks about how “Talk is cheap.”
Papa introcudes Bill De Blasio, John Liu and Christine Quinn, take seats.
Coaches, trainers, all staff introduced with Flo Rida playing in the background. Here come the players now.
12:59 p.m. — Cast of “Rock of Ages” is singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” before the Giants come out to receive their keys to the city.
12:10 p.m. — The cleanup begins. The players will head into City Hall to have lunch. After a quick bite to eat, the team will come out and receive keys to the city from Mayor Bloomberg and some players will give speeches. Stay tuned for more from NYPost.com.
12:06 p.m. — Punter Steve Weatherford is one of the most excited Giants players. Remember, Weatherford was with the Jets and Saints and made the Conference Championship game three times since 2006. He finally made it to the Super Bowl, and won, with the Giants.
11:50 a.m. — There’s a whole lot of blue and white, surprisingly enough, there isn’t an ounce of green. Also, I think things are a bit more lively in the city than in New England right now.
11:48 a.m. — Players are not only getting pelted with confetti, but also t-shirts and other items to get signed. They are doing their best to get everything back to the fans.
11:43 a.m. — JPP’s arms are so long, it looks like he could high-five the crowd from his float.
11:40 a.m. — Steve Tisch has the NFC Championship trophy now. The feistiest NFL Matriarch, Ann Mara is front and center with Eli, who is getting MVP chants. Where’s Terry Bradshaw?
11:38 a.m. — Osi and JPP anchor the float featuring the majority of the defensive linemen. The whole crowd is down with JPP!
11:35 a.m. — Players are catching footballs and throwing them back to fans after signing autographs. What a great gesture, even as the floats move along the parade route.
11:32 a.m. — Lawrence Tynes and Steve Weatherford make their first appearance. The special teams heroes played a major role in the Super Bowl run.
11:30 a.m. — The float with Manning briefly stopped for fans to get a better look at the Super Bowl MVP and the Lombardi Trophy.
11:27 a.m. — Those cheers aren’t for Gov. Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg, they are for Eli & Co. I bet Manning would win any election in this city right now.
11:25 a.m. — Dance troupe decked out in pink and black perform with pink flags in tow. With the parade fully underway, the amount of confetti and paper could be the closest the city comes to a full-fledged snow storm.
11:21 a.m. — There he is! Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning joins Justin Tuck and Coach Coughlin. Along with them is the real star, the Lombardi Trophy! (Oh, and the NFC Championship trophy).
11:20 a.m. — Confetti is really coming down. It isn’t just shredded paper, we’re getting full sheets here! Next float has the offensive line. David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie are aboard
11:17 a.m. — It seems that every player is recording this moment live. Phones, cameras and even iPads are capturing all of the action.
11:15 a.m. — Brandon Jacobs throws his fists into the air. Jacobs is one of the Giants players with two Super Bowl rings. Another two-time winner, Ahmad Bradshaw is also here. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is sharing the float with his two-headed running attack.
11:10 a.m. — TEs Bear Pascoe, Jake Ballard and backup QB David Carr are the highlights of the second float. Pascoe played in a big role in the Super Bowl after Ballard and Travis Beckum went down with injury.
11:05 a.m. — The first float appears. The dynamic WR duo of Hakeem Nicks, and Victor Cruz are among the Giants players on the first one. Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham is also aboard.
11:00 a.m. —The parade is underway. The NYPD is leading the parade route with flags in tow. The band is following closely behind.
10:45 a.m. — Workers in the office buildings that line the parade route begin watching from their windows and are throwing confetti. Fans are cheering non-stop with the parade’s start just about fifteen minutes away.
10:35 a.m. — The Giants begin funneling off of the buses and into a tunnel where they will board the floats and continue to make their way down the city.
10:25 a.m. — Thousands of fans have already started lining the streets of downtown Manhattan, eagerly awaiting the championship parade for the Giants.
Big Blue supporters are out in full-force early this morning, riding into the city on the subways, LIRR and Metro-North. Fans decked out in Giants jerseys, t-shirts and hats made the trek in, with some even drinking early this morning despite a ban on alcohol on the LIRR today.
The buses carrying the Super Bowl Champion Giants are just outside of Manhattan as they continue toward the parade route.
The conditions for today’s parade are perfect, with clear skies and temperatures that could reach as high as 50 degrees.
10:24 a.m. It’s time for a victory parade! New York officials expect the number of fans attending the parade to exceed the total from the last Super Bowl parade for the Giants in 2008.