Umenyiora might miss season with knee problem

The New York Giants have suffered a blow in their efforts to repeat as Super Bowl Champions. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora, a key pass rushing contributor during the big run last season, suffered serious ligament damage in his knee Saturday night.

Umenyiora, according to the Newark Star Ledger, will undergo surgery that is likely to knock him out for the season.

The Giants have some depth at defensive end. Justin Tuck had 10 sacks during the regular season and might have been the best defensive player on the field during stretches of last season for New York and converted linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka could move back there as well.

But the injury coupled with Michael Strahan’s retirement cost the Giants 109 regular season tackles and 22 sacks – not to mention half of what was an unbelievably successful rotation during the playoff run.

The Giants are certainly not out of the running in the NFC East and beyond in 2008 – but the road has gotten much, much tougher already.