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Dottino: Umenyiora, Giants Take Positive Approach To Surgery

By Paul Dottino
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EAST RUTHERFORD - Osi Umenyiora was optimistic and so were the Giants.

The plan was to limit his work schedule so he'd be able to make it through the season without undergoing surgery to remove the loose particles in his sore knee. But this blue print got torn up Friday morning, when the lineman had an arthroscopic procedure that the team said will sideline him for three to four weeks. It's also not unusual for the timetable to be up to six weeks, although coach Tom Coughlin said he won't rule out the veteran's return for the Sept. 11 opener in Washington.

No, this was not a ploy by the lineman to get back at the Giants because of a contract dispute. Rather the surgery is expected to alleviate the swelling in his knee that results from practicing and playing on it - and thus, should allow him to play out the season once he returns, Coughlin said.

Indeed, the Giants and Umenyiora (who received a second opinion that concurred with the team) took a positive approach to his knee problem, aware that they could not definitively avoid surgery until after seeing how his knee reacted to consecutive days of work. If he were to pass this test, the plan was to manage - or limit - his practice load throughout the season. Umenyiora tested the knee with three good days of practice this past week but his knee swelled up to the point where the parties realized surgery was unavoidable.

NOTES: Coughlin said he will leave Mathias Kiwanuka as a run-down linebacker and give more snaps to Dave Tollefson at end in Umenyiora's absence. ... Lawrence Tynes (quad) said he's not worried about losing his job and hopes to kick against the Jets in the third game of the preseason. ... Sage Rosenfels admitted he was in the hospital for three days with a strep throat that became an infection, requiring antibiotics. He took some practice reps but added the doctors told him he may feel the effects of his illness for up to two weeks. David Carr will take a large segment of the snaps Monday against the Bears. ... Michael Boley (back) also returned to practice. Corey Webster (death in the family) and wide receiver Darius Reynaud (hamstring) did not work. ... Former Giants LG Rich Seubert (knee) received the 2010 Hope D. Johnson BBI Giants Player of the Year Award presented by the fans at Big Blue Interactive.com. He said he continues to rehab and hopes to be able to play again in midseason, should a team call him.

For more updates, follow us on Twitter @GiantsWFAN.

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