Giants' Thomas steps it up vs. Redskins

Devin Thomas doesn't necessarily miss wearing Redskins colors. But he would like to add just a touch of his old maroon and gold to his Giants uniform. Whether the Giants kick off or receive, Thomas is expected to be on the field for the inaugural special teams play of the 2011 season this afternoon, and he knows what he wants to accomplish.

"First play, I'm going to get some paint on my helmet," he said.

Thomas was a second-round pick of the Redskins in 2008, and last year at this time, he was playing for them. But the team did not see the kind of development they had hoped for and released him early in the season. He wound up with Carolina for a short stint before he was released from the Panthers, as well. Finally, desperate for depth at wide receiver, the Giants picked him up.

Thomas, who has developed into a solid kickoff returner this preseason, said he is excited for his return to FedEx Field. He even fanned the flames of the rivalry a few weeks back by referring to his former team as the "Deadskins." But he also wants to see Mike Shanahan, the man who cut him.

Who knows? He might even say "thank you."

"I still have a lot of respect for him. I still take heed to the things I learned from him," Thomas said. "It's funny, he was a coach I always dreamed of playing for. Unfortunately, the situation happened. But I picked up everything I learned from him and I apply it now and I think it's helping me a lot."

Shanahan recalled his conversation with Thomas when he cut him.

"I just told Devin that if he wants to stay in this league, he is going to have to be a pro," the Redskins coach said. "It is going to be a full-time job for you. It can't be a part-time job. I talked about his ability and what he had to do to stay in this league and obviously, he is doing it . . . I thought if he ever wanted to be a true pro, he had all the athletic ability in the world and just for him to make the Giants team shows you he is doing things the right way."

Thomas flashed some on special teams last year when he blocked a punt against the Redskins. "More to come," he said of those kinds of impact plays.

The Giants are hoping he can contribute against other teams, as well, not just the Redskins. But it's clear that his time with Washington, though it may have been a disappointment to coaches and fans there, is helping to shape him in his second act in New York."Trust me," he said, "anything I do, I remember where I started at."

Notes & quotes: DE Justin Tuck, listed as questionable, made the trip to Washington Saturday. Tuck had been battling lingering symptoms from a neck stinger he suffered nearly two weeks ago and did not practice Thursday. He was limited in practice Friday but is expected to play Sunday . . . The Giants placed LB Jonathan Goff (knee) on injured reserve. They added DE Justin Trattou from the practice squad, and he becomes the 11th rookie and fourth undrafted rookie on the team . . . CB Prince Amukamara (foot) and DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) were the only Giants who did not travel with the team.