Carlos Rogers calls for truce in salsa war with Victor Cruz

It sounds like Carlos Rogers' has changed his tune and will leave his salsa-dancing days behind.  All the hip shaking will be up to Victor Cruz — but not if Rogers can prevent it.

The San Francisco 49ers cornerback had been yapping all week about how he would steal Cruz's popular celebratory touchdown dance and shake it in the New York Giants receiver's face one more time when they meet again in Sunday's rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game.

Now, the San Francisco 49ers cornerback says that if he ends up making a big play, he will find another way to celebrate because he now knows how much the dance means to Cruz this season.

"I'm not gonna do it," Rogers told The New York Daily News Thursday once he heard how much it means to Cruz.  "That's a tribute to his grandmother.  Once (I heard) that, I threw that out the door.

"It's definitely out."

Rogers called for a truce after a few days of back-and-forth taunting between the two opponents.

"I really can't do it as good as him," admitted Rogers as recently as Tuesday. "But if I make a play or an interception on him (Cruz), in my mind, just do his dance."

At first, Cruz said he "could care less" about Rogers mocking his dance.  But later he told reporters, "I obviously won't be OK with that."

Cruz made it clear that he dedicates the dance to his grandmother, Lucy Molina, who taught him the moves and encouraged him to use it in his end zone celebrations.  It's become even more important to the Giants receiver since his grandmother passed away last month.

An angry Cruz said that "it wouldn't sit well if he [Rogers] did it again."

Rogers said at first he had no idea the dance was tribute to his grandmother.  And when he mockingly  imitated the dance in the 49ers' 27-20 win over the Giants last November, Rogers claims he was clueless to its significance.  Now it has an even deeper meaning to Cruz.

"At the time, I didn't know," said Rogers.  "It was just fun and games.

"It's his dance, but I enjoyed the dance.  But now that he's saying it's more than that to him, I just threw that out the window."

Rogers wasn't sure if he was sorry enough to apologize to Cruz for insulting him.  But did say, "If we talk during the game, I may say something."

Good.  Now can we just play football and leave the dance competition to the C-list celebrities on "Dancing With The Stars."