We learned Tuesday that San Francisco 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers hopes to bust out his imitation salsa dance on Sunday against the New York Giants, whether Victor Cruz liked it or not.
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Rogers imitated Cruz's signature end-zone dance after one of his two interceptions during the teams' regular-season meeting last November. Cruz wrote about his displeasure with Rogers in a book released earlier this year, and he restated his position Wednesday.
"It's something I do for my grandmother and something that's sacred to me," Cruz said, via the Bay Area News Group. "Due to her passing, and even before, it's why I do it. She taught me how to do it. Knowing that, it's a little slap in the face."
Cruz's grandmother, Lucy Molina, passed away last month at the age of 77. It's unknown if Rogers was aware how she factored into Cruz's dance, or if knowing that information would alter his plans for Sunday's big matchup.
"I obviously won't be OK with that," Cruz said of Rogers' potential salsa. "It is what it is. He'll choose what he wants to do. I won't retaliate or do something crazy. But it won't sit well with me."
This is all obviously ridiculous, but we do look forward to seeing how the 49ers plan to deal with Cruz. Rogers struggled to stay with the wideout in man coverage in the NFC Championship Game as Cruz piled up eight catches for 125 yards in the first half alone. Cruz was less explosive after the 49ers shifted to more zone coverage in the second half.
"From what I'm seeing on film, there's man coverage out there, some zone as well," Cruz said. "Hopefully I expect the same as last year: a lot of Carlos Rogers on me, the usual things, so I can do the same as I did last year."
You already were going to watch this game. Now there's even more to look forward to.
UPDATE: Rogers told the Bay Area News Group later Wednesday that he didn't know the dance was in honor of Cruz's deceased grandmother, saying the information "definitely" changes his view.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.
