He again snapped for punts and covered punts and kickoffs.

The Giants, like other teams, have struggled to find suitable special teams players to cover punts and kickoffs.

In 2003, the Lions ranked fifth in the league in covering punts by allowing just a 6.6 yards per return average.

Whereupon Madden called Thompson the best player he had ever seen running down to cover punts.

But for Thompson, the real fun is covering punts.

Thompson, who covers punts and kickoffs so well, has missed five weeks because of a fractured right shoulder blade.

If the Giants add someone to cover punts and kickoffs, it would probably be Gravely, a rookie free agent.

"He's been giving us a chance to cover punts and he's been pinning them back."

"I can get our office staff to cover punts better," he said, which must have made his secretary uncomfortable.

Reyna Thompson, turning in another big game covering punts and kickoffs, dislocated his right thumb, but missed only a play or two on defense.