INDIANAPOLIS – So many questions directed his way in the NFL scouting combination, which prompted the answer from Howard Cross III to be mostly confused and amused and pleased.
What NFL teams were rooted in growing up in Paramus, New Jersey?
“Giants, obviously,” Cross said. “I mean, like all my friends, you know, it's a jersey, a guy. It's like everything.”
How was it like choosing a soccer team that lives with your father, Howard Cross, who played 13 seasons for the Giants?
“Yeah, I'm in a Giants household and can't root in the Eagles,” said the Young Cross. “If I had said the word 'Jets' I would have been kicked out. But it's also a jersey. Jersey is a small area. It's either blue or green so I was in the blue realm and it was firmly belonging to the giant wherever I went. I was educated as a giant. ”
How about Paramus?
“We're not all angry Italians. Surprisingly,” he said.
What do you think is drafted by the Giants?
“So, obviously, you're absolutely blessed to have every opportunity, but that's just like a legacy,” Cross said. “I think it's a bit cool. I'm definitely going to crack jokes and stuff.”
Cross thought of all this and couldn't stop her smile.
He is a defensive tackle from Notre Dame and expects to hear his name be called as a slow round pick on the third day of the NFL Draft.
In 66 games (35 starts) for Fighting Ireland, he had 169 tackles, 11 bags and three forced fumbles.
“The first thing they say is, “Oh, who's this short guy?”, the team or someone around them is watching me,” Cross said. “When I get off the ball, yeah, I have a tip on my shoulder. I want everyone to know that I can play with and I'm competing.”
Cross was born in 2001. This is when his father was in the NFL last year and retired in a Giants uniform with a franchise record of 207 games.
Michael Strahan and Eli Manning surpassed him.
Howard Cross maintains his relationship with the Giants and works as a broadcaster on the team. He has become a regular at the team facility, Giants Stadium and, more recently, MetLife Stadium.
He regularly took his son and twin sister Isabella, and worked with him as a side job.
“They hang out with everyone you could think of,” Howard Cross, 57, told the Post. “You're part of the giant, you're part of a large family.”
Cross was blocking a massive tight end who won the Super Bowl with the Giants after the 1990 season. He was excited to provide his son with a scout report.
“He has great speed, really strong hands,” Cross said. “Given the one-on-one situation, it's a bit difficult to block him because he has leverage to people at 6-1. He has speed. He'll be a bit of a problem in the league. If you want his play, he's bigger than his height and weight, he can play anywhere.”
Considering that he was around the NFL for the rest of his life, it shouldn't be too big for a young cross.
“I didn't know much about soccer when I was younger,” Cross said. “It was like, 'Oh my god, Eli Manning.' I thought it was like the coolest person ever. Victor Cruz, do you know what I mean? Those people were like my idols growing up. ”
After the 2007 and 2011 seasons, he was asked if he remembered the Giants team that won the Super Bowl, and his face brightened.
“To be completely honest with you, this is just a surreal feeling,” Cross said. “I'm not going to lie to you. I remember sitting at home with my family. I was sixth grade or something like that. I saw the Giants beat Green Bay. [in the NFC Championship after the 2007 season] To go to the Super Bowl…and I just remember, like I couldn't imagine being here, and now I have a real chance to be here. This is a crazy feeling right now. ”
The father and son plan to watch the draft together in New Jersey.
“I think it's pretty cool,” said the old cross. “It was a long journey for him. I wanted him to do whatever sport he wanted to play. He was a pretty good baseball player and a pretty good lacrosse player. He's like, 'I want to play soccer.' “Really?” he kept all in as he began. It was like, “Let's have fun.” ”
