Contrition and good humor replaced concern and uncertainty in Giants Nation yesterday.
One day after Osi Umenyiora bolted the team’s practice facility after taking umbrage at some criticism from new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, the star defensive end was back with the team and offering more apologies than a politician who had been caught cheating on his wife.
Unlike a politician, Umenyiora seemed truly sorry for the ruckus he had caused Monday.
“If I would have known, I never would have stepped foot out of that door,” Umenyiora said when asked if he was surprised at how big a story his unexcused absence became.
“If I would have known the repercussions from it, the text messages, and people thought I was dead, you know, ‘Where you at?’ I didn’t know it was going to turn into that, but it did and I know better. I think everybody’s allowed one mistake and this is my one big mistake and I’m not going to repeat nothing like that ever again.”
As reported in yesterday’s Post, Umenyiora took exception to criticism he received from Sheridan at a Monday morning meeting while the defense was reviewing film of the team’s 27-25 loss to the Jets.
Umenyiora, an intense, intelligent and emotional player, bolted before returning late in the afternoon to apologize to coach Tom Coughlin, Sheridan and defensive line coach Mike Wauffle.
“That issue has been resolved,” said Coughlin. “We put that behind us and we are moving forward.”
When asked if he was confident there wouldn’t be a repeat, a clearly in-charge Coughlin said, “Oh, I’m very confident it won’t happen again.”
Umenyiora said he knew all was forgiven when he walked into the Giants locker room yesterday and saw hand-written posters tacked up by teammates: “Missing.” “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
“Sometimes you just get emotional and things get out of hand, get out of line, and you do things you’re not supposed to,” said Umenyiora. “I wouldn’t advise any of them to ever try anything like that because it was extremely stupid, but you move on from it.”
Neither Coughlin nor Umenyiora would disclose what penalties the club levied, but Umenyiora insinuated there was a hefty fine involved.
“It was a very bad moral decision on my part and an even worse financial decision on my part,” he said.
Umenyiora also said there is no bad blood between him and Sheridan, who replaced former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, now the head coach of the St. Louis Rams.
“With me and Bill?” repeated Umenyiora when asked if Giants fans could feel comfortable the player and coach have a good working relationship. “I’ve known Bill like six years. People would think he just got here. I’ve known him forever. This is not the first time having a conversation, it just so happened that I took [what he said the wrong] way and it’s going to be the last time.”
Now that AWOLOSI is over, the emphasis shifts back to how well Umenyiora can perform after missing last season while recovering from surgery to repair knee cartilage. The last thing he wants to be is missing on the field.
lenn.robbins@nypost.com