After months of waiting for a call that just wouldn’t come, Marcus Thomas eventually told his agent not to ring his phone unless he was notifying him about a job opportunity.

That call came earlier this month. Thomas answered it. He did not say hello.

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“Where am I going?” the veteran defensive tackle, who was training in Florida, immediately asked.

To East Rutherford, where the Giants were suddenly enduring a run of injury issues in the middle of their defensive line. Thomas arrived here last week, impressed the team in a workout, passed a physical and signed a one-year deal for the veteran-minimum salary of $700,000.

All in all, signing a six-year veteran was a great mid-August get for the Giants.

“We’re anxious to see him play,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said of Thomas, who appeared in all 16 regular-season games for the Broncos from 2007-10 before playing in 12 last season. “But that’s kind of a very, very interesting story.”

Asked what he finds so interesting about Thomas, Coughlin replied, “That he was available. They’re not easy to find. So to have a guy like that that’s available to come into your camp and also to be medically okay (is a rarity).”

The 26-year-old Thomas was available because he desired a lucrative, multi-year deal as a free agent this spring, but the Broncos were offering only a one-year contract.

But a funny thing happens to asking prices in August — they go down. By a lot.

“I had a real reality shock,” Thomas said, “because I’d seen players I know — good players — out of the league all of a sudden. I was thinking to myself I might be one of those guys that can still go and nobody picks you up. ... I’m glad (the Giants) called and gave me a chance to come here. I’m just going to not ever take it for granted, just enjoy this opportunity to work hard and hopefully I can contribute to this team.”

Not taking it for granted was a phrase echoed by Rocky Bernard, who is the starter next to Linval Joseph because Chris Canty remains sidelined. (Shaun Rogers has a blood clot, and Marvin Austin has a back issue, leaving the Giants thin otherwise at defensive tackle.)

Bernard was released by the Giants last summer when he declined to take a pay cut and then re-signed by the team. This offseason, he went unsigned for three months before once again joining the Giants during veteran minicamp in June.

“Anytime you’re out, especially during the lockout, you miss being around it,” Bernard said when asked about the difference in mentality upon returning.

“Just make the best of your opportunity because you never know when this thing is going to end. You just try to enjoy it as much as you can while it’s here.”

Thomas admitted he’s “behind the eight ball” at this point because he has only two preseason games and a handful of practices to make his case for sticking on the final 53-man roster next Friday when final cuts are made.

Then again, perhaps few are better suited to get acclimated to a new defense so quickly.

“Yeah, changing systems is nothing new to me. I’ve had five D-coordinators or whatever,” Thomas, who struggled in Denver’s 3-4 alignment two years ago before bouncing back in a 4-3 last year, said with a laugh.

“It’s just something I’m accustomed getting adjusted to. But hopefully this will be the last time and I can make the team and they see it in me I can play ball and play for the New York Giants.”

Mike Garafolo: mgarafolo@starledger.com; twitter.com/MikeGarafolo