Cruz: Meeting Pinto family was "toughest by far"

Victor Cruz paid tribute to Jack Pinto two days after the Sandy Hook tragedy.

Tami Chappell/Reuters

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Victor Cruz hopes meeting with the family of a 6-year-old boy killed in the Connecticut school shootings has helped them cope with the tragedy.

The New York Giants receiver on Wednesday somberly recounted his hour-long visit with Jack Pinto's family a day earlier, and says he was most affected when asked about their decision to bury their son in his No. 80 jersey.

Cruz stopped for a moment, his eyes becoming watery: "You never go through some circumstances like this. This was definitely the toughest by far."

Pinto's family said Cruz was their son's favorite player. Cruz was one of 20 20 first-graders and six adults killed in the shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Cruz wrote Jack Pinto's name on his cleats and gloves before the Giants' 34-0 loss to the Falcons. He presented them to the family Tuesday.

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