Remember Terrell Thomas? He hasn’t played for the Giants since 2010 and may never play for them again, but he intends to return to the NFL and wants to make his comeback with the Giants.
Tuesday, Thomas wrote on his blog, “I am returning to football in 2013 … hopefully with the Giants, but my contract is up this year. Most likely and hopefully I will be re-signing with the Giants.’’
The talented, injury-riddled cornerback is currently in limbo. He is coming off his third reconstructive surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, making him a medical risk. He signed a four-year, $28 million deal to stay with the Giants last March, but virtually all of the money was contingent on him staying healthy. He missed the entire 2011 season coming off ACL surgery and aggravated the ACL last summer in training camp, suffering a partial tear. He tried the rest-and-rehab route before being put on injured reserve in August and undergoing another surgery in September.
As a result, he received his $1 million signing bonus — and that’s it. He has a $6 million option payable in March, and the Giants surely will not pick that up, making him a free agent.
“I haven’t talked to Terrell Thomas lately,’’ general manager Jerry Reese said after the season. “I know he had this surgery, but as of late, I have not spoken to him. We’ll investigate that and see where he is and see what we can do with respect to him as well.’’
Thomas, who is 28 and played three seasons with the Giants, wrote he has resumed his workout regime and for the next month or two he will be training in Pensacola, Fla., at Andrews Institute. Noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews performed Thomas’ third ACL surgery in September. It was the first time Andrews operated on Thomas. He established himself as a rising star but he hasn’t been on the field since 2010.
“Now the 2012 season is over, it is my time to rehab and get back on the field,’’ Thomas wrote. “I want to prove to guys that I will return the same player I was when I was healthy.’’
* Dave Gettleman was introduced Tuesday as the new general manager of the Panthers after 25 years in the NFL, the bulk of the previous 15 years running the Giants’ pro personnel department. He said he told coach Ron Rivera, “If we do this right, you and I are holding up the trophy with Mr. Richardson,’’ referring to Carolina owner Jerry Richardson.
Gettleman, 61, admitted, “I’m not an idiot, I thought maybe this would be my last shot’’ when he was interviewed for the GM job. His candidacy was helped along by Ernie Accorsi, the former Giants GM who was hired by Richardson as a consultant in filling the position.
“It’s about the person doing the hiring and I just needed someone who was looking for an older, mature guy,” Gettleman said. “That’s really what it came down to. Our culture is the next young whiz-bang is the next great thing. That’s just where we’re at as a culture. It was one of those deals where ‘He’s an old dinosaur, he’s probably cranky’ and this and that. The bottom line is it’s all about the person doing the hiring … It’s all about the fit. They say good things come to those who wait, and this is absolutely the perfect fit for me.”