Veteran defensive tackle Marcus Thomas had his blinders on when the Giants suffered a barrage of injuries at the position over the last week of training camp. The former Denver Bronco and Florida Gator was trying to stay in football shape down in Orlando, and he told his agent to call him when an NFL team showed some interest.
That team was the Giants, who were in desperate need of big body after Shaun Rogers suffered a blood clot, and now both parties are considering themselves lucky.
The odds of finding a legitimate defensive tackle on such short notice weren’t good. Most guys who can play the position were already signed to 90-man rosters, and those that were left unsigned were likely out of “football shape.”
But because Thomas expected to be back with the Broncos in 2012, he never let himself slide. After all, he had never missed a game before suffering a pectoral injury in the early part of the 2011 season, and Thomas still rebounded to make a career-high 43 tackles. He even had eight tackles against the Chargers in October and a nine-tackle performance against the Patriots in December.
Surely Denver would want Thomas back, right?
“I didn’t understand it either,” Thomas told CBSSports.com, adding that it ultimately came down to his desire for a multi-year deal and the Broncos’ reluctance to comply. “There was nothing really there for me.”
Luckily for him -- and the Giants -- Thomas never lost his desire to play a seventh NFL season, so he was ready when he got the phone call.
“At that point time I had stopped looking at it,” Thomas said. “I was just semi-frustrated, but at the same time I knew I had to stay in shape just in case I got a phone call.”
Coach Tom Coughlin was nearly as surprised as Thomas was.
“It’s a very interesting story for a guy that started and played 11 games (actually 12) last year,” Coughlin said.
Coughlin said the simple fact that Thomas was “available” is what makes the story so interesting.
Now Thomas is scrambling to learn the defense -- a scheme he says is similar to the one he left in Denver -- and if he can “knock some of this rust off,” there’s a legitimate chance he can make the 53-man roster.
Rogers’ medical limbo (he may be able to return this season) obviously affects Thomas, but a good showing against the Bears could have an even greater effect. The Giants need bodies along the line, and if Rogers can’t go at the beginning of the season, Thomas is a pretty good alternative.
“We’re anxious to see him play a little bit,” Coughlin said.
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