That familiar cat-quick burst arrived yesterday at Giants training camp. Osi Umenyiora was back.
Well, it wasn’t exactly a real return and no, Umenyiora actually didn’t make his summer practice debut. He did, though, get off the stationary bicycle long enough for about 15 minutes of an honest-to-goodness football drill, getting down in his three-point stance, simulating the snap count and firing out of his stance with some pass-rush moves that put on display his uncommon quick-twitch athleticism.
Off to the side and watched by a member of the Giants training staff, Umenyiora even pantomimed the strip-sack maneuver he should trademark, considering he’s coming off a season in which he set an NFL record with 10 forced fumbles. If his left knee was ailing he sure did a great job of hiding any discomfort or impairment.
“Let’s get this stuff resolved and get out there,” Tom Coughlin urged.
There are still issues in need of resolution.
Today, Umenyiora will travel to Atlanta for a second medical opinion, as he says his left knee is bothering him enough to keep him off the field. And, of course, Umenyiora is locked in a contract dispute with the team, wanting a new deal or a trade. The trade is no longer an option and, although the Giants have tried to sweeten his $3.1 million salary for 2011 with some performance-based incentives if he surpasses 131⁄2 sacks, there has been no inclination to give him the hefty raise he desires.
Coughlin is hoping the trip to Atlanta represents the light at the end of the tunnel — “I hope we get some closure on that chapter and start on the new one,” he said — and provides the impetus for the unhappy and perhaps unhealthy defensive end to finally get on the field for more than a few brief minutes off to the side.
After examining Umenyiora, the Giants believe he can play through the cartilage issues in his left knee. Last season, when Umenyiora was bothered by hip problems — he underwent surgery following the season — the decision was made to limit him in practice during the week. The Giants say they will adopt a similar procedure with Umenyiora this year to deal with any knee concerns. Of course, if word out of Atlanta is that Umenyiora needs surgery to repair some meniscus problems in his knee, that changes everything.
“We will manage whatever we have to manage,” Coughlin said. “We’ve done it. The hip we couldn’t practice both Wednesday and Thursday so we practiced one day under those circumstances. If there’s an issue here we’ll find a way to work with the issue. We’ll find a way to get the player in the best position he can be in for Sunday.”
Justin Tuck, already weary of providing daily Osi updates, said he views the trip to Atlanta as positive because “it’s movement,” but would go no further in his assessment of this situation.
“We don’t know anything as far as when it’s going to end so I don’t worry about it,” Tuck said. “He definitely wants to get on the football field but I don’t think he’s in any rush. I think he’s taking it day by day.”
With the Giants opening up their preseason schedule Saturday night in Carolina, they would like to at least see a clear path for Umenyiora to join in sometime next week.
Asked if he feels Umenyiora will be able to put all this behind him, Coughlin said, “I think he’ll be able to. Whatever the ‘behind you’ is. It’s the season. It’s time to go. Competitors feel it. They want to go.”
paul.schwartz@nypost.com