Victor Cruz's patience has been tested as he continues to wait out the process of finding a team for the upcoming NFL season.
The former Giants wide receiver could be closer to landing a new destination _ and that could come with a reunion of the man to whom he gives a lot of credit for his success.
Cruz, 30, will meet with the Jacksonville Jaguars and his former Giants coach Tom Coughlin, now the franchise's executive vice president, in a visit that is currently scheduled for May 23, according to a source informed of the meeting.
Cruz also visited with the Panthers prior to the scouting combine shortly after his Feb. 13 release from the Giants.
The Jaguars have a lot of young talent at wide receiver with Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee. They also drafted former Oklahoma star Dede Westbrook, whose presence as a slot receiver would seem to be competition for Cruz.
There is also mutual interest between Cruz and the Baltimore Ravens, according to a league source. The sides are currently working on the details of a potential visit there as well.
While not the Jaguars' head coach (Doug Marrone), Coughlin is overseeing all aspects of the football operations.
Cruz had been a Giants fixture since August of 2010, when the undrafted rookie from UMass who grew up in the shadow of the Meadowlands stunned everyone with a breakthrough performance in a preseason game against the Jets. He rose to stardom with the Giants, celebrating his touchdowns with his trademark salsa dance and winning a Super Bowl in the 2011 season.
Only Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall had more 100-yard receiving games than Cruz from 2011 to Week 6 of the 2014 season when the latter tore the patellar tendon in his right knee during a game against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
Cruz returned this past season to play in 15 games after missing nearly two years due to knee and calf injuries, the former threatening to end his career. But with only 39 catches for 586 and one touchdown, Cruz's role had been diminished as a third option behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. His one touchdown was the game-winning score as the Giants beat the Cowboys in Week 1 in Arlington, Texas.
In his career, Cruz has 303 catches for 4,549 yards and 25 touchdowns. Both his receptions and yardage totals are 10th in Giants history, and his 25 touchdowns are 17th.
