Andrew Thomas ran around the house shouting for joy on Christmas morning.
What other reaction should a surprised preteen boy have to unravel a new PlayStation 3?
“Christmas for us didn’t always consist of presents, but we were lucky to have our family,” Thomas said. “I grew up in a two-parent home and my grandmother cooked all the big holidays. There were some Christmases that we might not have had presents for, but when I was 12 or 13 I didn’t expect much, and somehow, somehow, my parents got me the PS3. ”
A decade later, Thomas ‘virtual resemblance is part of one of the most popular video games, as the Giants’ $ 32 million rookie left “Madden NFL 21” – and is the one who created Christmas memories for children. .
From afar, and with the help of his parents and local businesses, Thomas partnered with the mayor of his hometown and local businesses in a unit that gave away 50 turkeys and provided off-the-shelf gifts. wishes for five selected families affected by the pandemic in Lithonia, Ga.
“We’ve put together some bags to make people feel a little better during that time,” Thomas said. “I want to help my community as much as I can, not just by giving, but I’m thinking about planning things about how to manage money and pay your bills. Having this contract to help others is important.”
Thomas recreated the Christmases of his childhood by flying to his parents, sister and girlfriend to fill his new home with the smell of soul-eating after Friday’s Giants practice. In this unusual season, he had all the visitors tested and eliminated from COVID-19 at the team’s facilities to make sure he is on the field on Sunday when the Giants visit the Ravens.
Points could be hard to come by for the Giants.
“His defensive front is crazy: a lot of good players turn around,” Thomas said. “Some two strong, strong gapers that allow their defenders to make a lot of plays and runs that go through past situations.”
Thomas’s rookie season has been a roller coaster ride: an encouraging debut, a nightmare over the next six games and a five-game stretch where he turned the corner. Or so it seemed.
The last two games are a veritable microcosm: Thomas was whipped by the relatively unknown Haason Reddick for seven-pressure NFL pressure and two sacks in Week 14, only to recover by quietly going unnoticed against the fierce Myles Garrett . How does that make sense?
“It’s a mindset thing,” Thomas said. “You understand that, every week, you have to be prepared. You can’t think of anyone in the NFL being able to do their job because they’re the best. Once the game is over, it’s in the past. There were a few things I put on the tape [against Garrett] I was proud, but there were plays I need to work on and I’ll take them next week. ”
The Giants offensive line was in a difficult spot two weeks ago because Daniel Jones was a seated duck playing with two leg injuries. Jones ’mobility looked better in practice this week, allowing Thomas a greater margin of error in protecting the blind side. He is likely to get strong doses of six-time Pro Bowler Calais Campbell and Pernell McPhee, with team sack leader Matthew Judon on the other side.
If anyone forgives Thomas’s ups and downs, it’s Jones, who passed her off as a rookie last season.
“I was very impressed with how he handled it,” Jones said. “This is a difficult position to intervene and play in the NFL. You are facing many of the best athletes on the field in those runners. Their learning process has been really attacked. His approach every day has been the same. I think he will be a great player.
In keeping with the NFL’s tradition of quarterbacks rewarding their offensive tackles for Christmas, Jones ordered everyone an arcade-sized Pac-Man. More video games to excite Thomas, who skipped the race by this time to save energy to make Jones ’life easier on Sunday.
“I wouldn’t say it takes more,” Thomas said. “With him injured, that’s what worries you. But even when he has 100 percent, we focus on not letting anyone touch the quarterback. “