Josh Mauro couldn't even return a text message from a Giants teammate during September.
The rules of a suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy require complete isolation. Mauro had no contact with his teammates or coaches from the day after the preseason finale until Monday, when he returned from a four-game suspension.
"We all have something to prove, but, yes, I do have something to prove," Mauro told NJ Advance Media. "To myself, to the league and to my teammates. I'm excited to be back. All I want to do is work and grind and do what I love to do — and that's play football.