Behind every great man there's a great woman, the old adage goes, and one person who won't disagree with that statement is Victor Cruz. The New York Giants receiver has reached a new level of stardom thanks to the support of his girlfriend Elaina Watley.

Watley is successful in her own right, starting her own publicist company while raising the couple's daughter. That's enough responsibility for three people as it is, but she also helps Cruz survive the daily grind of an NFL season as well.

Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News passed along a quote from Cruz, who doesn't mince words about how important she's been to his life and career:

“She’s meant a lot to me,” says Cruz. “She’s been a real supporter of my career, and really the backbone of my life. She’s just been awesome, man, and I couldn’t ask for a better person to be in my life.”

Nydn_crop_340x234 Courtesy: New York Daily News

Being an NFL player isn't an easy job. For five months, there are very few–if any–off days, which takes a toll both physically and mentality. That makes it vital for players to have a strong support system to keep them on track, and Cruz certainly has that in Watley.

The last few years have been a roller-coaster ride for Cruz. He wasn't drafted despite back-to-back strong seasons to finish his collegiate career at UMass, leaving him to take an undrafted free agent deal with the Giants.

Following an impressive training camp and preseason performance against the crosstown rival New York Jets, a serious hamstring ailment forced him to injured reserve.

For many tryout players, that setback would have signaled the end of the line, but Watley wouldn't let Cruz give up. She pushed him to come back better than ever.

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And he did.

Cruz finished the season with 82 catches for more than 1,500 yards and nine touchdowns. His dynamic playmaking ability was one of the major reasons the Giants were even able to make the playoffs, let alone advance to the Super Bowl.

Cruz will have to play a huge role if the Giants upset the Patriots for a second time in four years on Sunday. If he does just that, he'll have one person to thank more than anybody else: his girlfriend.