Osi Umenyiora May Return to the Practice Field Soon?

Osi Umenyiora May Return to the Practice Field Soon?: According to The Daily News, disgruntled DE Osi Umenyiora may return to the practice field soon. Umenyiora is scheduled to visit to see a specialist today in Atlanta to seek a second opinion on his sore left knee. The paper is reporting that if Umenyiora is given a clean bill of health by the doctor, Umenyiora will rejoin his teammates on the practice field as soon as next week.

“I think so,” said Umenyiora’s agent. “He’ll visit the doctor in Atlanta, and he’ll consult with (the Giants’ team physician) and (Giants’ Vice President of Medical Services) Ronnie Barnes and they’ll all decide what the best course of action is. Hopefully, if all goes well, this will lead to him being back on the field.”

“We don’t want it to become a constant irritant,” said the agent. “We don’t want him to go through what he went through with his hip last year. But the object of this is to get him back on the field.”

“It’s time,” said the agent. “In the end, it’s always better for the player to be back on the field.”

Umenyiora has not practiced with the team at all since the lockout ended. He held out the first day of training camp and has sat on the sidelines every day since then. Umenyiora is seeking a new contract that would give him significantly more money than the $7.1 million he is still due on the remaining two years of  his current contract. Umenyiora’s original contract was a 6-year, $41 million deal.

According to various press reports, the Giants have offered to bump up Umenyiora’s contract with incentives. The Daily News says Umenyiora would have agreed to accept the incentives if the Giants cut off the final year his contract in order for Umenyiora to become an unrestricted free agent in 2012. The Giants apparently refused.

Giant and Smith Working on a Deal?: According to The New York Post, the Giants and unrestricted free agent WR Steve Smith are working to finalize a new contract. Smith had his knee checked out by team doctors yesterday. Smith underwent microfracture surgery in December to repair articular cartilage damage in the knee. The Post is reporting that Smith will not be able to practice before the season starts and will miss the beginning of the regular season.

More Cap Room for the Giants: According to press reports, CB Corey Webster and S Antrel Rolle have restructured their contracts to provide the Giants will more immediate salary cap room. Webster was due to make $8 million in salary in 2011 and will now receive $3 million of that in bonus money (which is spread over the length of the contract). Rolle was due to make $5.25 million and will have $4 million now turned into bonus money.

As reportedly previously, HB Brandon Jacobs also agreed to a restructured contract. He was set to make $4.65 million. His base salary will now be $2.9 million. And instead of bonus money, Jacobs will have to earn the difference by reaching certain incentives.

The New York Post is reporting that the Giants are now about $3.5 million under the $120 million cap.

Injury Report – Brewer Reportedly OK: According to press reports, OT James Brewer, who was carted off of the practice field on Monday night, only has a bone bruise. Brewer is only expected miss a couple of days at most.

Article on FB Henry Hynoski: Giants Fullback Harry Hynoski Getting Attention at an Overlooked Position by Zach Berman of The Star-Ledger