Osi Umenyiora to miss 3-4 weeks with injury



The Osi Umenyiora saga continues to get even more bizarre.

First Umenyiora wanted a new contract or else a trade to a team that would pay him. The Giants granted him permission to seek a trade, then pulled it away from him.

When Umenyiora returned to practice, he didn't play much because of a supposed knee injury.

That injury will now sideline Umenyiora for a month; he underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove debris from the knee, and it will take Umenyiora 4-6 weeks to completely recover and return to the field.

This means he is guaranteed to miss the first three weeks of the regular season.

The Giants say that it was Umenyiora's decision to get the knee scoped, which makes one wonder if this was a way of protest by the lineman who feels he's underpaid. Fact is Umenyiora is making $7.1 million this season.

Injuries are nothing knew for Osi. He missed the entire 2008 season after injuring his leg in a pre-season game against the Jets.

Now with Umenyiora out, the Giants will lean heavily on second year man Jason Pierre-Paul, who recorded two sacks last week in Carolina. Pierre-Paul is a highly touted lineman, with a great motor, and power. This is his chance to step up.

The surgery is also a negotiating tool for the Giants; if Umenyiora complains about his contract again, the Giants can point to the injuries and won't have to overpay him in the near future.

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