L+T: Would you trade the controversial play in Arizona? Many declared the play to be controversial, based upon whether you were down or not before you fumbled. It’s now referred to as the “Victor Cruz rule.” What’s your perspective on the play?
VC: First of all, I feel like when Eli started to scramble, I made a good play and tried to scramble back to him just so he can have somewhere to throw the ball. I felt like once I saw the two guys coming at me, I went down and I thought one of them tapped me down, but I wasn’t. The rule is once you declare yourself down, once you’re down, the play is dead. So I guess that’s what the ref called. But, I went down and thought somebody tapped or hit me and I got up to go to the huddle for the next play.

L+T: Last season was your first in the NFL. You were undrafted coming in but you ended up leading the preseason in receiving yards. What impact did you want to make as a rookie?
VC: I just wanted to show the world that although I come from a small school and I may not have had all the accolades that a lot of these other big time athletes have, but I can play some football. I just wanted to prove myself and I did it all through training camp. I understood that it took a lot to play in this league. I feel like I did everything right. I got into that play book, I took care of my conditioning and I was able to prove myself on that first game [against the Jets]. I was able to do some pretty incredible things and I was just glad I was in a position to do so.

L+T: What was your reaction when you discovered that LeBron James shouted you out on Twitter?
VC: That was pretty crazy! I watch ‘Bron every day. He’s my favorite player and to have him talk about me in that preseason game…it was just unreal to know that he was watching the game. And he respected my talent and my game. It was great just to see him acknowledge me on Twitter for everyone to see. I’ll be sure, when I get to meet and talk to him one day, to thank him.

L+T: You had a great preseason and then was sidelined due to a hamstring injury your rookie season. Mentally that must have been tough. How did you persevere through that period?
VC: Once they put me on injured reserve for the rest of the season, I knew that I had a great family and great support team. They just told me to ‘stay focused and be ready, because your number is going to be called on, you just have to be sure you’re ready when it is called upon.’ They just told me to keep my head up and just understand that there’s a long season and plenty of opportunities for me to make plays and be on that field. It hurt a little bit at first but my family kept my head up. I was just working out and working hard to get my hamstring back together and here I am a year later.

L+T: How were you able to rehabilitate your injury?
VC: First, I just got a lot of rest on it. I didn’t really do much but let it heal and took some time. Then I did a lot of strengthen it. I went down to a place called Velocity Sports, with my trainer Shawn, and we just did a lot of calf raise to get that whole back leg strong, so it would be able to last an entire season and take those hits throughout the games. Also, I did a lot of cold tub, hot tub and other things to get my body ready for next season.

L+T: What did you do during the offseason?
VC: In the offseason I continued to work out three to four times a week just to stay in shape. But with the lockout, it was tough financially being that I only played one year, so me and my partner Nick Collins, he plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, decided to come out with a clothing line called Young Whales. We just started, but it’s picking up some steam. That was something we did financially pending the whole lock out, which was tough on us.

L+T: What’s the significance behind the name of the clothing line?
VC: It’s kind of a play on words with casino whales with our logo being a cool looking whale.

L+T: What was your mentality going into training camp this year as opposed to your rookie season?
VC: Last year, I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect. I was looking around the locker room and seeing guys like Justin Tuck and Eli for the first time and you’re kind of a bit in awe. But once that ball got tossed out there and we started playing, I got a little more comfortable and then I got injured. This year, I understood the play book and I looked more comfortable out there. I was watching a lot of film, and not just running routes, but understanding defenses and understanding what we wanted to get done as a team. That was the biggest part for me. I mentally understood what I had to do to reach that next level and reach that next goal, which was to get out on that field and get some significant playing time.

L+T: Your moves on the field are reminiscent of street football. How have you brought that aspect of the game to the NFL?
VC: My boy was just telling me something like that. It’s funny because I played a lot of basketball coming up so I was kind of one of those guys that was quick left to right and things like that. I think that translates over to football, so whenever I get the chance to get in the open field and I can make somebody miss or make somebody look crazy, I try to do it because that’s my basketball roots coming out. A lot of the guys compare my game to basketball. I grew up playing street football and I kind of translate that to the game. That’s how I like to play.

L+T: Who were your favorite receivers coming up?
VC: I was a big Jerry Rice and big Michael Irving fan. Just watching those two dudes, they were the mold of what a receiver should be. What a receiver should do. Two totally different personalities, but when they stepped on that field; they put on a show, and they showed us what it was like to play that position. I learned a lot from them and I still watch their highlights every time before the game and just kind of build off their charisma. I try to play like them when I’m out there. They’re definitely my inspiration.

L+T: Your family seems to be a huge support system in your life. And your mother in particular who is your number one fan. Do you speak to her after every game?
VC: Oh yea, I speak to her after every game, I speak to her at least…it’s gotten to the point that if a day goes by and it’s like five, six, seven o’clock and I haven’t spoken to her it feels weird. I have to call her to see how her day going and just to see how she’s doing. I speak to my mom every single day. When things are going bad she always tells me ‘God is with you and keep your head up and there will be more things to come, there will be a breakthrough for you.’ I love her to death! She’s my biggest fan and my biggest supporter.

L+T: Your father passed away recently. He was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan. What will it mean to you to play against them in Week 14?
VC: It means a lot, man! Going there for the first time this year, knowing how much my Dad idolized that team, and just me growing up being a fan of [Dallas], now with me in the opposite jersey, stepping into that stadium and seeing that star, that’s going to be a pretty surreal feeling for me. But I’m going to go in there and try to play my best for him because I know that’s the way he would have want it. And that’s the way it should be. So, I’m a go in there and play my best and hopefully we can come out with the victory.

L+T: Do you feel his presence on the field?
VC: Yea, all the time! Before the game starts I always go to the end zone and I say quick prayer to him and I talk to him a little bit, just so he knows I’m thinking about him. And to let him know that every time I touch the field it’s for him, because he taught me the game. It just feels good to be out there playing the game that he taught me and that he loved so much.

L+T: After each touchdown you’ve showcased your flare to salsa dance. Are we going to see you representing the Latino community on the field more often?
VC: Yeah, I mean I’m half-Puerto Rican. My mother is Puerto-Rican, so I think I might keep the salsa, man. [Laughs] A lot of people like it, so I think I might make that my staple touchdown dance- especially for the Latin community.