By STEPHEN WHYNO<\/p>\n
John Harbaugh likened the start of his first offseason program as coach of the New York Giants to the first day of school, so he kept introducing himself to players along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m like, \u2018Hi, John Harbaugh,\u2019\u201d he said with a chuckle. \u201cMost guys will say, hey and give me their name. Some guys don\u2019t give me their name and I\u2019m like, \u2018Dude, I\u2019m not really sure who you are.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Harbaugh knows who Dexter Lawrence is but did not get the chance to say hello Tuesday. The three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle was one of three players not present, following word that Lawrence had asked for a trade<\/a>.<\/p>\n Attendance is voluntary at this stage, and Harbaugh cited good conversations with agent Joel Segal while acknowledging he was not surprised by Lawrence\u2019s absence. Still, though, Harbaugh estimated \u201cthe prospects are going to be high\u201d for Lawrence to stick around.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking for the Giants, we want Dexter here. I believe Dexter wants to be here. That\u2019s a good formula,\u201d Harbaugh said on a video call with reporters. \u201cBut there\u2019s business involved. It\u2019s a business proposition. We know it\u2019s pro football. These things happen every year pretty much on every team.\u201d<\/p>\n Harbaugh spent the past 18 season with the Baltimore Ravens, coached them to a Super Bowl, and three years ago dealt with a trade request from quarterback Lamar Jackson<\/a>, which got resolved. Familiarity helped that situation, though Harbaugh said this also calls for a patient approach.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to work out,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cIt\u2019s high-level business, high-level football. I\u2019m sure it will be handled in a real high-level way like that. I\u2019m not worried about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Lawrence, 28, has two years left on his contract, set to earn $20 million and $19.5 million, respectively. He\u2019s coming off a tumultuous 17 games in which he finished with a career-low 31 tackles and a half-sack.<\/p>\n Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy called New York\u2019s front the best he and the Kansas City Chiefs saw last season, and Lawrence is a significant part of that, even if the stats are not there.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a beast,\u201d Nagy said. \u201cHe\u2019s been doing it a while and a lot of respect for him. I just know that when we played him last year, we had to know where he was on every play.\u201d<\/p>\n Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson reached out after getting the job on Harbaugh\u2019s new staff to open a line of communication and sensed Lawrence was in a good place.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully everything works out in our favor, but, hey, I love Dexter and we have a good relationship,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cFor me personally, and from an organization standpoint, we understand the value of Dex. We love him, and we understand the business side, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Cornerback Paulson Adebo also did not attend<\/p>\n Cornerback Paulson Adebo made it two defensive starters not in attendance for the start of the spring program, Harbaugh said, adding he was not sure of the reason.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s his right,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cGuys come or not come according to their choosing: voluntary time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n Harbaugh said the third player who did not take part was defensive tackle Sam Roberts, who had a procedure that did not allow him to travel to the practice facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey.<\/p>\n Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo have different injury return timelines<\/p>\n Top receiver Malik Nabers is coming off a torn ACL in his right knee<\/a> from a home game on Sept. 28, and running back Cam Skattebo is working back from a dislocated right ankle<\/a> and additional damage incurred Oct. 26 at Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Each player was at the facility, Harbaugh said, with Skattebo ahead of Nabers, who is expected back either during training camp or closer to the season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be fair for me to give you days or dates,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cI have a vague idea. It\u2019s not that important today.\u201d<\/p>\n Kayvon Thibodeaux remains with the Giants<\/p>\n After edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux\u2019s name surfaced in trade buzz in recent weeks, Harbaugh said \u201ceverybody\u2019s tradeable.\u201d But Thibodeaux was in attendance and has not been traded yet, if he is at all.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a great player,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cI\u2019m excited about him. I was fired up to see him today. He looks great, he\u2019s in great shape. I\u2019m thinking about him on the field, getting him plugged into our defense and getting him rolling.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n