Victor Cruz still believes in Eli Manning.

Well, to a degree.

The former Giants wide receiver admitted he sees the "age thing" happening to the 37-year-old quarterback who led him to a Super Bowl in 2011, but Cruz still thinks Manning has something left.

"I don't think he's finished," Cruz told the Post on Friday. "My thing with Eli has always been if you're able to keep his jersey clean and not have him worry about guys coming to take his head off every time he's droppingback to pass he has the opportunity to do some really good things. I've been there for that."

It is no secret Manning's offensive line is a mess this season. He has been sacked 24 times through seven games.

However, Manning has not been able to take advantage of the times he does get protection, often checking down or missing his receivers.

He has just seven touchdown passes and has the Giants in last place in the NFC East at 1-6.

"I see some of the age thing, the arm strength in some of the throws and the errant throws," Cruz said of Manning. "I see some of that. But I do still see him commanding that team and being the leader we all know he is and getting the ball out quickly at times, doing some of those good things. Obviously hasn't contributed to a lot of winning and a lot of plays down the field."

While Cruz is still optmistic about the remainder of Manning's career, he recognizes that the Giants are likely to move on from him next season.

"I think they go get a quarterback," Cruz said. "I think they have to go get a quarterback. They kinda missed on a pretty good draft of quarterbacks this past year, but they have to get themselves a quarterback and they have to go get themselves a bonafide right tackle that can protect that side of the football, protect whoever that next quarterback is going to be."

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