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Victor Cruz won’t be taking his salsa dance to prime time.
The Giants wide receiver said yesterday he passed on an offer to be on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” explaining he is consumed by football — not the Foxtrot.
Cruz celebrates his touchdowns by salsa dancing in the end zone, but said no thanks to the hit show.
“Because I just want to be focused on football and focused on what’s to come,” he said. “And I’m just not at the point in my career where I feel like I need to do that.”
Asked about Cruz yesterday, a show rep said, “We never comment on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ casting rumors.”
Cruz said there’s more to his repertoire than salsa dancing.
“Got a little bit of rhythm,” he said. “I don’t know how good I’d be at the tango or something like that, but I think if I was to do it, I think I’d be all right.”
Former Giants receiver David Tyree, whose famed helmet catch made him a star in the Giants’ Super Bowl XLII victory, marveled at Cruz’s breakout season during a visit to the Timex Performance Center yesterday.
“I [was asked] a lot of questions [about Cruz], and they’ve tried to draw parallels,” Tyree said. “If anything, I’ve said he’s like me on steroids. Obviously you’ve got the Jersey native, not known at all prior to this season. I think I was talking with Amani Toomer just randomly, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a season like this before for a receiver in NFL history — just from the anonymous detail of his life to coming in and [ranking third in] the NFL in receiving.”
* Tight end Jake Ballard (knee) practiced in a limited capacity, and said he is set to play in tomorrow’s NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Falcons. He has missed the prior two games.
“Absolutely. No doubt,” he said. “I feel great. I’m not 100 percent, but good enough to be effective and help out.”
Coach Tom Coughlin said, “He seemed to have ended [the week] on an up note. He moved well [yesterday], so I am very optimistic about that, too.”
* Jason Pierre-Paul was one of the two defensive ends picked for the Associated Press All-Pro Team. … LB Mark Herzlich (ankle) is the only Giant out for tomorrow. RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), CB Corey Webster (hamstring), DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee), RB Da’Rel Scott (knee) and OL Tony Ugoh (ankle) were limited in practice, but all are listed as probable.
* Falcons Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes was listed as questionable on the injury report, but practiced for the first time and is expected to play. Grimes missed all but one game the final month of the season because of a knee injury and was held out of practice the first two days this week in order to “rest him up for Sunday,” coach Mike Smith said.
Grimes’ availability is important because the Falcons don’t want to be forced to use what amounts to their fourth-string corner to cover Cruz. The only Falcon listed as doubtful was LB Stephen Nicholas, who did not practice all week due to a toe injury.
—Additional reporting by George Willis