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Victor Cruz doc digs into rehab process, rise to stardom

Published: Oct 30, 2015 at 06:27 AM

Though Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is still battling a lingering calf injury and has yet to take the field this season, his spirit has not wavered.

This much comes through in an emotional sneak preview of I Am Giant: Victor Cruz, which airs Friday night at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.

The feature-length documentary, produced by LeBron James and directed by Gotham Cophra, follows Cruz through a grueling rehab process. The Pro Bowler tore his patellar tendon a year ago against the Eagles, an injury that can significantly sideline players who rely on speed and quickness.

But more than that, the documentary digs into a truly incredible football life. Cruz was raised in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of a single mother who eventually got to know his father through the game of football. His relationship with his father ultimately ends in tragedy, though Cruz hopes his NFL story has a much happier ending. A deeper dive into his time at UMass and as a hungry undrafted free agent rounds out a narrative we sometimes ignore before hearing the startling details.

If nothing else, it will help many appreciate how resilient Cruz has been so far and how fiercely he'll battle to get back on the field.

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