EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Devin Thomas was so anxious to get back, the wide receiver showed up at the New York Giants headquarters about five minutes before the NFL’s deadline to resume football operations.
No one seemed to care.
A security guard greeted Thomas at the door and he went inside and stayed for about four hours, lifting weights, meeting with coach Tom Coughlin and receivers coach Sean Ryan. He later watched a little videotape.
“I was geeked, I had to get back,” Thomas said Friday as he was about to leave the facility.
Thomas was among many Giants who worked out as the NFL allowed teams to start football operations in the wake of a U.S. District Judge’s ruling lifting the owners’ lockout.
“I just visited with people,” kicker Lawrence Tynes said, “and said ’Hi’.”
Tynes also said he hopes he see everyone again on Monday. Indeed, Monday was the big question mark for all the players who arrived.
The NFL has asked the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis to restore the lockout as soon as possible. If that happens, everything is back to square one in terms of the lockout.
“There is a little uncertainty because we know we can get started and they can pull the plug on us,” Thomas said. “So that’s the part that is upsetting. We’re going to do what we have to do.”
If nothing happens in the courts, the Giants have told the players that they will start their offseason workouts on Monday. But Tynes said the coaches were so busy with the draft they had no finalized workout plans for that day.
However, the veteran was grateful to have use of the trainers room after having surgeries for a hernia, and for minor cleanups to his right heel and left ankle.
“Home is fun, but four months at home is … you’d like to come to work,” Tynes said. “I missed it.”
Tynes certainly enjoyed his free team lunch on Friday.
“I definitely missed it,” he said.
Other players who also came to the team headquarters on Friday were offensive linemen Shaun O’Hara, Kareem McKenzie and Adam Koets, receivers Victor Cruz and Ramses Barden; defensive back Brian Jackson, running backs Brandon Jacobs and D.J. Ware, and defensive linemen Rocky Bernard and Mathias Kiwanuka.
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