Giants OL Diehl speaks with commissioner after DUI

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

By TOM CANAVAN

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York Giants starting right tackle David Diehl has met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell since being arraigned in New York City on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Diehl said the commissioner gave him no indication that he would be suspended after being charged with two counts of impaired driving in June after a car he was driving struck several parked cars in Queens.

"No. No," Diehl said when asked if the incident might result in him missing any games.

Projected starting cornerback Terrell Thomas missed most of the first practice at the University at Albany after his back tightened up. Thomas walked off the field for about 20 minutes after his back tightened and then returned and watch the workout from the sideline.

A starter in 2009 and 2010, Thomas missed last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a preseason game. He was penciled in as the starting cornerback opposite Corey Webster after Aaron Ross was signed as a free agent by Jacksonville.

"It's God's plan," Thomas said. "And I'm not worrying about it. It's not like I have a back spasm or messed up anything. It just really locked up on me."

During lunch, Thomas sounded just as confident about his comeback.

"To come back with everybody doubting you it being my second ACL, that's always been my motive," Thomas said. "I've been through injuries, overcame all of them and came back better than people expected so I'm excited for the challenge and to be part of a great group of guys, the defending Super Bowl champs, and help them in any which way I can."

Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch were both at training camp after missing the welcoming picnic on Thursday. A television and movie producer in addition to being the chairman and executive vice president of the Giants, Tisch was touting his new movie "Hope Springs" to reporters. It will be released in August and includes Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, and Steve Carell.

When a reporter noted that Streep can act, Tisch said: "She's pretty good. With a couple more years of lessons she'll be all right."

Third-year defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul believes that he has reached only 50 percent of his potential. That's interesting considering he had 16 1/2 sacks last season.

"I'm still improving," Pierre-Paul said. "Trust me, I don't know it all. I still got a lot to learn about the game of football. I'm doing quite a good job of it, but I still got a lot to learn."

The Giants first-round draft pick in 2010, Pierre-Paul was selected to his first Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro last year.

EXTRA POINTS: WR Victor Cruz, who set a Giants record for yards receiving last season, made the top play of the day, catching an Eli Manning pass early in the team drills after having his feet slide out from under him on a slippery field. The crowd responded with cries of "Cruuuuuz." ... CB Prince Amukamara intercepted a David Carr pass deep down the right sideline. ... LB Michael Boley picked off a Manning pass intended for Cruz, and rookie Jake Muasau intercepted Ryan Perrilloux on a tipped ball at the end of practice. ... S Antrel Rolle came to camp with a design on the side of his head, courtesy of his barber. "I just told my barber to do something different," he said. "This time we wanted to do something that glows in the dark so this is what you got."

Updated July 27, 2012