IRVING, Texas — Sarah Thomas shared hugs and idle chatter at her first preseason clinic since the NFL made her the first full-time female on-field official.
All of her colleagues were doing the same thing Friday in what amounts to the unofficial end of their offseason. The pharmaceutical representative and mother of three was just another one of the guys, which is how she hopes coaches and players see her when the regular season starts in two months.
"I know it may be new for some, but I think being a part of the developmental program and going that way, maybe they'll see me just as an official," Thomas said.