Backups Hagan, Thomas step up for Giants
Derek Hagan #85 of the New York Giants eludes a tackle from Phillip Buchanon #31 of the Washington Redskins. Buchanon was suspended for the first four games of the season. (Dec. 5, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
Derek Hagan and Devin Thomas were two of the unlikeliest impact players Sunday, given that three weeks ago, Hagan was on his couch in California watching NFL games and Thomas was a regular inactive for the Panthers.
With the Giants' corps of wide receivers depleted for another game, Hagan stepped in with seven catches for 65 yards, his best receiving day in three years. Thomas, a former second-round pick of the Redskins who was dumped by Mike Shanahan early this season and picked up by the Giants last week, partially blocked a punt and made a nifty slide to down one.
It's possible that neither will get another chance to duplicate his efforts, as Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks might return Sunday at Minnesota or the following Sunday against the Eagles. That means Hagan and Thomas could go from making plays to trying to beat each other out for an active roster spot - but yesterday's contributions certainly were a boost in a 31-7 win.
"I knew once I got back [to the Giants], Eli had the confidence in me," said Hagan, who had six catches by halftime working in mostly single coverage against cornerback Philip Buchanon, who was benched at the half.
"Whenever we're single-covered, we're supposed to win, no matter what,'' Hagan said. "If you get single-press, you're expected to win every time. And we went out and won today."
Thomas may have wanted to slide into the offense to exact revenge on his old club, but he made plenty of noise on special teams, where the Giants have been lacking a big-play gunner since David Tyree was cut two years ago.
Thomas' partial block in the fourth quarter gave the Giants the ball at the Redskins' 13, leading to a field goal in a game that already had been decided, but Thomas may have opened some eyes with his work.
"To do it against them, [you want] to make them look at the film and say, 'Why'd we let him go?' That's something I was definitely looking forward to doing," Thomas said. "It was a little new, but nothing I shied from."
Thomas also said he didn't shy away from seeking out Shanahan after the game. "I still got love for those guys. Those are my brothers, I was there three years," he said of the Redskins. "Maybe there's a little problem with the head coach. He didn't want to say nothing to me. I tried to find him."
Hagan, who had eight catches for the Dolphins on Dec. 9, 2007, knows what will happen to his opportunities on offense once Smith and Nicks return, but he thinks he's shown enough in three games not to be dismissed again once the receiving corps is at full strength.
"I know this coaching staff knows what I can do. Whatever they need me to do, I'm ready to do," Hagan said. "Steve and Hakeem are coming back, but that's no problem. I know I can play on special teams, on offense. I'm willing to do whatever they need me to do."
