Posted by Will Brinson

Osi Umenyiora should be back on the practice field with the Giants come Monday. But the soap opera between he and the team isn't quite over yet.

There are still contract discussions to handle but it appears, as our own Clark Judge suggested recently, that the Giants are going to wise up get him some cash for finally coming in.

Unfortunately for Osi, though, it doesn't appear that they're willing to give as much as Clark suggested. Per Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network, the Giants offered Osi a new incentive-laden deal on Friday that features "a range of $400,000 to $1 million in new money" dependent on production and incentives.

LaCanfora does note that Osi still prefers to be traded and has yet to accept any offers from the Giants. According to the report, Osi would need to finish in the top 10 of several defensive categories and time spent on the field.

Clearly, the requirements for those incentive clauses are going to primarily dictate whether or not Osi accepts the contract.

If he has to finish in the top 10 for sacks and forced fumbles while playing 10 games to unlock $1 million (and there aren't any poison-pill clauses in the deal), he might take it. Or at least consider taking it.

But unless it's good, don't be shocked if he passes and keeps pushing for a deal somewhere or a new, long-term deal. After all, there still plenty of teams that might be interested in Osi if the Giants actually drop their asking price. Meaning: the drama might not be over just quite yet.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

• Looks like Chargers LT Marcus McNeil will miss the first two preseason games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs from his knee. "It’s one of those things if you were working through May and June," Norv Turner said, "some of that gets out of the way earlier.”

• Assuming an Atlanta doctor clears him Thursday, Giants DE Osi Umenyiora could return to practice Monday. It’d be nice for him to get back on the field and to find a little bit of closure.

• In case you were wondering, yes, former Titans RB Eddie George believes Tennessee should pay current RB Chris Johnson and pay him well.

• Steelers rookie Baron Batch tore his ACL at practice Wednesday, and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette wonders if it occurred because the team practiced on artificial turf. Remember, Heinz Field is natural grass, because the Steelers believe it cuts down on injuries.

• As we’ve all been taught, pimping ain’t easy. Especially if you’re the guy who set up Lawrence Taylor with his prostitute.

• After being suspended for all of last year for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, former Falcons DB Jimmy Williams has been reinstated by the league.

• The Dolphins would prefer their fans NOT to post videos of practice online, thanks very much. You know, the whole competitive disadvantage thing.

• By bringing in WR Roy Williams to Chicago, where does that leave Bears WR Johnny Knox? Probably not in the starting lineup for the time being. “He just has to get better. He has to play better,” offensive coordinator Mike Martz said.

• 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh believes that his rookie QB Colin Kaepernick is the most game-ready of all the rookie QBs out there this year.

• Former Browns LB Matt Roth has signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Jaguars. Good signing for Jacksonville, which is in desperate need of pass rushers.

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Posted by Ryan Wilson

It's been a busy week for Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora and he hasn't yet practiced. Upset with the organization for not reworking his contract this offseason, Umenyiora contemplated a holdout before eventually reporting to training camp. Days later, the Giants gave him permission to seek a trade … except they were asking for a first-round pick, a steep price by most accounts.

By Wednesday, the organization informed Umenyiora that a trade was now off the table and, predictably, he wasn't psyched about the turn of events.

At the time, Giants defensive captain Justin Tuck thought Umenyiora was healthy enough to practice before adding that "I know where he is mentally, I know where he is physically. Only problem now is he's not happy with his contract."

Thursday night the soap opera continued.

Details via the Newark Star-Ledger:

The Giants informed reporters tonight Umenyiora has been sitting out because “he says he has a sore knee,” according to the team’s public relations staff. The key part there, of course, is the “he says” in that statement. Though the team says it has no reason to believe he isn’t in pain, it is clearly separating itself from the diagnosis.

A person familiar with Umenyiora’s status said he is dealing with a meniscus cartilage issue that, as The Wall Street Journal reported today, could require surgery. The person requested anonymity because the extent of the injury has not been made public.

This is the same knee that kept Umenyiora on the sidelines for all of the 2008 season. The Star-Ledger's Mike Garafolo writes that Umenyiora hasn't threatened to undergo surgery on the knee if his contract demands (or a trade) aren't met, and even if he did his recovery time wouldn't last the whole season.

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Posted by Ryan Wilson

CBSSports.com's Clark Judge reported Monday that the Giants were seeking a first-round pick for disgruntled defensive end Osi Umenyiora. Two days later, Umenyiora's price reportedly dropped to a second-rounder, and the Ravens appeared to be one of five teams interested in his services.

Judge wrote earlier Wednesday that a source denied the report that the Giants had lowered their asking price, and "According to the source, the Giants still are asking for a top pick, which hasn't produced interest to this point."

Now, according to the Newark Star-Ledger's Mike Garafolo, the Giants have told Umenyiora and his agent that they can no longer seek a trade.

"The team informed the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end today he and his agent are no longer allowed to seek a trade partner, according to someone informed of the conversation between the two camps today," Garafolo wrote Wednesday.

Umenyiora's agent, Tony Agnone, confirmed the report to Garafolo, who adds: "The team's decision to take the trade off the table is a sign they're looking to nip this distraction in the bud, though it might only serve to further escalate Umenyiora's anger over his claim the Giants promised to restructure his contract. If so, that might speed up the process here and bring a suspension for "conduct detrimental to the team" in play."

Right. We're not sure how this will do anything other than cause a distraction. Umenyiora hasn't been shy about voicing his displeasure with the Giants in recent months, accusing them of not keeping a promise to pay him more money. He contemplated a holdout before reporting to training camp, but has yet to participate in practices due to an undisclosed injury the Giants have been unwilling to confirm, according to Garafolo.

Justin Tuck thinks Umenyiora is healthy enough to practice, although he hedged by adding, "The only thing I worry about is if he'll be in that Giants Blue. I know where he is mentally, I know where he is physically. Only problem now is he's not happy with his contract. Last time I checked, I am defensive captain but I do not write checks for the New York Giants. So I can't answer the questions, is he going to be here or not."

For now, it appears Umenyiora won't be going anywhere.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

When we first heard that Giants DE Osi Umenyiora was on the trading block, the rumor made sense. Umenyiora wants more money and more years on a contract that New York didn’t want to give to him. So, the Giants would trade him, get something in return and everybody would walk away happy.

Until we read the report from CBSSports.com’s Clark Judge about what the Giants apparently wanted. A first-round pick in return for the rights to Umenyiora, which, honestly, seems overpriced at best and ridiculous at worse.

One day later, the Giants have apparently dropped their price. According to the Baltimore Sun, the Giants are now sending out feelers that Umenyiora could be had for the low, low price of a second-round pick.

As we wrote about Tuesday, five teams appear interested in Umenyiora (including the Ravens, Rams, Chargers, Seahawks, and Broncos, while another report also had the Patriots interested as well), though none were intrigued enough to take New York’s original first-round bait.

The Ravens, though, might be interested in dealing a future second-rounder. The Sun reports that some within the Baltimore organization are urging GM Ozzie Newsome to make the deal, though he remains unsure of Umenyiora’s injury history and whether the team could actually afford him (remember, this whole thing started with the Giants because Umenyiora wants to get paid big-time money, and that won’t change if and when he’s dealt).

Apparently, some of this depends on DT Haloti Ngata, who would be one of Umenyiora’s mates on the defensive line if this deal comes to fruition. The newspaper writes that if the Ravens can agree to a new multi-year deal with Ngata, that would free up some salary cap room for the team and mean they could fit in Umenyiora. If not, though, the Ravens probably won’t make a play for him.

So, what will happen? We don’t know. Especially if the Giants haven’t dropped their first-round demand. As the New York Daily News writes, “I can only tell you what I think I know, and at this point it's that the Giants are holding strong on their demand of a first for Umenyiora. Things, though, tend to change fast.”

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Posted by Will Brinson

The Giants gave Osi Umenyiora's permission to seek a trade recently. There's just one problem: New York wants a first-rounder in return for Osi, which might make it kind of tough to move him.

Still, there's interest in the defensive end -- Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports that there are five teams that have "expressed some level of interest" in acquiring Osi's services.

Those teams? The Ravens, Rams, Chargers, Seahawks, and Broncos.

The Rams are a logical fit because their head coach, Steve Spagnuolo, once worked with Umenyiora when he was the defensive coordinator for the Giants. (They had a little success there too, if you recall Super Bowl XLII.)

And Ravens fans wouldn't be upset with Osi either -- in an informal poll by our friend Bob Haynie of 105.7 the Fan in Baltimore shows nearly half of the folks asked would be willing to give up a No. 1 for Umenyiora.

Don't count on anyone doing that, though, because first-round picks just recently got a significant bump in value thanks to the new CBA rules. They're no longer the big-money risks that they once were, and giving up a first rounder for a guy who's going to demand a new contract once he lands in a new situation isn't an ideal scenario.

Indeed, Osi's agent, Tony Agone, told CBSSports.com's Clark Judge on Tuesday morning that he finds the notion of being forced to get a first-rounder in return a "rather dubious situation."

Still, Osi's a relatively young (29) and highly-talented defensive end who holds not just the Giants record for most sacks in a game (six) but also the NFL record for most forced fumbles in a season (10). He's made two Pro Bowls and he's helped anchor a Super-Bowl winning defensive line.

There's a market for him, but the Giants are going to need to lower their asking price -- perhaps a second- or third-round pick? -- before he gets moved.

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Posted by Ryan Wilson

Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora ended a brief holdout and reported to training camp Sunday, although he remains unhappy with the team for not coming through on money he insists was promised to him. And now, according to an ESPN report, the Giants have given Umenyiora permission to seek a trade.

CBSSports.com's Clark Judge reported Saturday that even though Umenyiora agreed to show up for camp, "that doesn't mean anything has been resolved. In fact, nothing has been. Umenyiora, who set a league record last season with 10 forced fumbles, wants a new contract or a trade…"

Now it appears the organization has paved the way for the latter, although Judge warns that it doesn't mean a trade is imminent. "It means the Giants have taken the first step to eliminate a distraction."

Giants general managers Jerry Reese and Umenyiora spoke Saturday and, via ESPN, Reese said that if the team were to trade Umenyiora they would ask for a first-round pick. That's a steep price for a player a team is willing to move because they already have plenty of depth along the defensive line.

Still, Umenyiora, 29, had 11.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in 2011. If the Giants are serious about trading him, they will likely have to settle for something less than their current asking price.

In the meantime, we eagerly await LeSean McCoy's thoughts on the prospects of not facing Umenyiora this season.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

DE Osi Umenyiora is not a happy man, and his displeasure is pointed at the Giants as he tries to force a new contract from his team. He also believes New York has reneged on a promise to provide him with more money, and that doesn’t sit well with him.

Which is why he planned on holding out from training camp. Until he determined the Giants were going to fine him $30,000 a day if he missed practices.

That’s why Rapid Reporter Alex Raskin writes that Umenyiora will report to camp Saturday night and be ready to go.

But he’s still not happy with his situation.

“No one reached out so hey, we’ll go in and do what we have to do,’’ Tony Agnone, Umenyiora’s agent, told the New York Post. “Nothing in the situation has changed.’’

Umenyiora’s contract still has two years remaining at $3.125 million in 2011 and $3.975 million, and the Giants don’t seem to be interested in renegotiating.

More from the Post:

Umenyiora remains angry that the Giants have not come up with more money that he insists was promised him, or that Reese hasn’t traded him away.

Asked how Umenyiora will deal with Reese, Agnone said “They won’t speak.’’

Asked if he was surprised that the Giants did not reach out in any way to try to satisfy Umenyiora, Agnone said “Very surprised, surprised by the whole situation. But I shouldn’t be.”

But teammate Justin Tuck insists that Umenyiora isn’t angry.

 “I think he realizes this is a business and he’s doing what he feels is best for him. My biggest concern he doesn’t do something that’s going to hurt Osi. We all have been in situation where we wish we could take stuff back. Osi’s a smart guy, he knows what he’s doing.”

As does Agonene, who told CBSSports.com's Clark Judge that he's trying to protect his client.

"(Shaun) O'Hara and (Rich) Seubert had contracts, and they got released," Agnone said, "and Brandon Jacobs had a contract and it was reduced. Does this only work negatively, and not positively?"

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