Terrell Thomas of the New York Giants could be a perfect candidate for the new provision negotiated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement allowing teams to activate one player from the Injured Reserve list per season. Except that the rule is not yet in effect because though owners have approved the IR exemption, the NFL Players Association has yet to sign off on it.

"The NFLPA is strongly in favor of adding flexibility to the Injured Reserve designation," said George Atallah, assistant executive director of external affairs.

Approval of the rule by the players is apparently tied to other issues.

Thomas, of course, is trying to return after a second torn ACL in his right knee cost him all of last season. The cornerback aggravated the ACL on the third day of training camp and has just begun a rehabilitation program. Thomas said Wednesday that there is no timetable for his return.

"It's something that it could be three weeks, it could be eight weeks," Thomas said. "I'm not going to jeopardize my career."

If it were to take Thomas eight weeks to be physically able to return to practice that, of course, would put him well into the regular season. Under current rules that would force the Giants to decide whether or not they wish to hold a roster spot for him.