The New York Giants officially ushered in the Jaxson Dart era by giving the rookie quarterback his first start in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. While his statistics may not leap off the page, Dart guided the Giants to their first victory of the season, infusing the team with a noticeably revitalized energy under center.

Former Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Victor Cruz — who has remained a prominent figure in the Giants community, frequently attending games — spoke with Giants Wire this week. He was asked about the swagger that Jaxson Dart brings to the team.

“I think by galvanizing the team and flatly winning games. In New York City, you understand that you have to win games in order to have that moxie and to be that guy or to be called that guy,” Cruz said. “You’ve gotta win football games in New York, and then you can have all the swag and all the moxie and all the things you need to have, but I love the kid, man. I think he provides a spark. I think he provides a different energy that we haven’t had in quite some time.

“I think he embodies what [Brian] Daboll likes in a quarterback and energy and gameplay in the way he galvanizes that squad and I think, even losing Malik Nabers last week, for him to still be able to pull that game through and put the team on his back and obviously that game was won predominantly on defense, I think defense really played lights out last week. But, he still had to manage the game, not turn the ball over, and do some things to ensure the win, especially down the stretch. As long as he’s winning games, man. He can have all the moxie and all the energy in the world.”

On the Giants’ opening drive, Dart scored on a 15-yard touchdown, promptly celebrating with an exuberant touchdown dance — a stark contrast to the understated fist pump that Eli Manning typically displayed during his Giants tenure, as Cruz often observed.

As Cruz emphasized, so long as Dart continues delivering victories, the infectious energy he brings to the Giants’ locker room will undoubtedly be embraced with open arms.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Victor Cruz a fan of Jaxson Dart’s swagger, but warns: ‘Win games’