Defending champs Giants play with targets on their backs

The Giants will be wearing blue jerseys with white numbers on the back Wednesday night against the Cowboys, but they know in that game -- and throughout the season -- they'll also have a target on their backs.

"You feel it, you sense it, you hear it," linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said of being targeted by opposing teams after winning the Super Bowl. "People talk about it when they're out there on the field."

The Giants have been through that experience from both sides. They were the defending champions in 2008, and last year they played the defending champion Packers.

"You want to measure yourself up against the best, and it doesn't matter where you're at in terms of wins and losses in the season," Kiwanuka said. "If you get a chance at the defending champs, you're going to give it your best shot."

Pass the salsa

Victor Cruz had a self-imposed salsa-dancing ban in training camp because he didn't want to show up teammates. And in the preseason he did not catch a touchdown pass, so he never had a chance to flash his signature move. But the regular season is beginning, and that means the salsa is back in play.

"I guess that comes along with the Victor Cruz territory right now," the receiver said, "so I guess I have no choice but to do that. The ban has been lifted."

Cruz played coy when asked about Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr's offseason statements that he would not allow any salsa dancing on his watch.

"I didn't know he said that," Cruz said with a grin.

But Cruz answers to a higher authority than Carr. The salsa dance, he has said, is a tribute to his grandmother.

"I've got to keep it going," Cruz said. "I can't have Grandma on my bad side."