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As soon as the news came out that the Giants had given Mathias Kiwanuka a three-year contract extension, many wondered how Osi Umenyiora would feel.

Umenyiora says he is happy for his teammate and friend.

"Happy for Kiwi, he deserves it for sure," Umenyiora wrote in an email. "Especially all he has been through. A very good player. Honestly, it's a good, smart business move by the Giants. Take care of a good player and buy some insurance at the same time. Very well done."

But how will it impact Umenyiora's future? As Umenyiora says, the Giants did the smart thing, locking up Kiwanuka for a few more years with an extension worth $21.75 million through 2015 which includes an $8.5 million signing bonus and a total of $10.95 million in guaranteed money, according to reports. The New York Daily News first noticed the Kiwanuka extension.

Remember, Umenyiora has been asking for a new deal for years and sat out the first two weeks of camp last summer before later opting for minor knee surgery. He still had nine sacks in the regular season and another 3.5 in the Giants' Super Bowl playoff run.

"How that impacts me remains to be seen, though," Umenyiora said of Kiwanuka's extension. "But I understand why they would do that [extension for Kiwanuka]. It makes sense."

By signing Kiwanuka to an extension, the Giants have insurance in case Umenyiora doesn't return or if Justin Tuck or Jason Pierre-Paul were to get injured. Kiwanuka is still considered a hybrid linebacker/defensive end but he could see more snaps at pass rusher depending on Umenyiora's future, the addition of linebacker Keith Rivers and Dave Tollefson's departure in free agency.

Umenyiora will likely be watching the draft tonight and this weekend to see if he gets traded. We'll have to see what happens if the Giants draft another defensive end.

NEW YORK -- Justin Tuck knows that he probably won't sleep much over the next week or so in the aftermath of the Giants' Super Bowl victory.

Tuck said, after serving a few sandwiches as part of Subway's Footlong Nation Mobile Tour at a Fifth Avenue store on Thursday, that once the festivities are over, he can finally rest his ailing body and give it at least a month before even thinking about football again.

What he does not know, however, is if his friend and teammate Osi Umenyiora will be back with Big Blue for next season's run at back-to-back championships.

"I would hope so, obviously," Tuck said. "We had seven great years together being kind of that 1-2 punch on the line. We had [Michael] Strahan early in our careers and JPP [Jason Pierre-Paul] now. It's fun to play with that guy, man. I'm hoping that he can come back but, more than that, I'm hoping that he can do what's best for him and his family."

Umenyiora started the 2011 season wanting either a new contract or a trade. As the season progressed, the 30-year-old defensive end, with one year and $4 million remaining on his contract, was pushed to the bench. He was also required to play both sides of the defensive line because Pierre-Paul had a breakout season playing on the right side, where Umenyiora would normally play.

Umenyiora missed the first three games of the regular season with a knee injury. He missed another four with an ankle injury. But Umenyiora was dominant when he did play. He recorded 12 sacks in 11 games, including two on Tony Romo to clinch the NFC East. He recorded another two on Aaron Rodgers when the G-Men beat Green Bay in the second round of the playoffs.

"I know he loves New York City and I know he loves the fans and this organization," Tuck said. "He did his part. He came out and had a brilliant year. [Giants general manager] Jerry Reese is a brilliant guy when it comes to things like that. He knows how to put together a team and he knows what's best and until that happens we're all just taking a shot in the dark."

Tuck doesn't have to deal the pressure of free agency or contract negotiations like Umenyiora or Mario Manningham do, but he will have to worry about his body.

Asked about the numerous injuries he battled throughout the season to his neck, shoulder, toe and groin, Tuck said, "You can add a couple more to the list if you want."

Distracted by a ticker-tape parade and public appearances, Tuck hasn't yet had time to assess the status of his health. He said he would know by next week whether he will need offseason surgery on his ailing shoulder. Tuck said he played with more pain this season than at any point in his career.

"It was rough man," he said. "But I think our trainers did an excellent job of getting me ready for Sunday. That’s all I asked for. Football is a contact sport. You’re going to get some bumps and bruises and some hurts here and there, but I think mentally, I was in a good space those last couple games this year and that allowed me to just go out there and focus on helping my team."

Considering the Giants' 7-7 start this season, GM Jerry Reese may need to tweak things a bit. Do you have any recommendations?

Vote here in our Take 'Em or Trash 'Em poll.

Osi Umenyiora has a message for New York.

"We're going back to New York man, big parade on Tuesday, big party, we're going to shut New York down for the whole year," Umenyiora told ESPN's Sal Palantonio after the Giants' 21-17 win. "The rest of the year in New York, it's over."

The title capped a long season for Umenyiora, who battled injuries and an ugly contract battle with Giants general Jerry Reese but gave the Giants great production down the stretch.

"It's unbelievable man," Umenyiora said. "After the season we went through, everything I went through personally, look at how it ends, you never know how it's going to end in this life and it's just unbelievable man. There's no better way. No other way it could have ended than how it ended today."

INDIANAPOLIS -- Osi Umenyiora explained he was with his family during the mandatory 45-minute session he skipped on Wednesday.

Umenyiora, who was fined $20,000 by the NFL for missing it, said he thought he had filled media obligations by going through Super Bowl media day on Tuesday.

"Honest mistake," Umenyiora said on Thursday. "We had just went through the whole media day the day before so I wasn't sure that this was mandatory so i went to hang out with my family. i twas a mistake, a costly one, but a mistake none the less."

"It cost me a lot of money, I am sorry about that," he added. "I don't really know what I could have discussed with you guys between Tuesday's media day and Wednesday morning. It is not like we had practice or anything like that."

Umenyiora said he returned to the team hotel for a team meeting around noon when he learned about missing the media session.

"I saw my phone and I was like, 'wow, this is crazy,'" he said.

Head coach Tom Coughlin said he wasn't happy that Umenyiora missed the media availability but Umenyiora said he hasn't talked to the coach about it.

"He hasn't spoken to me yet but I would imagine he wouldn't be pleased because he has to answer questions about that," Umenyiora said. "Besides that, I don't really see how it is that much of an issue. It's a non-issue."

The defensive end also got a good laugh when asked if his absence was related to his desire for a new contract. Umenyiora has one year remaining on his contract at nearly $4 million and he wants a raise.

"It had nothing to do with a contract," he said with a big laugh. "That is hilarious."

This isn't Umenyiora's first Super Bowl. But he said he didn't remember the media sessions being mandatory the first time either.

"I remember doing the media day four years ago and I honestly don't remember doing anything else besides that," he said. "That's maybe where my memory got fudgy."

INDIANAPOLIS -- What to expect from the Giants:

Work schedule: The Giants will conduct another full practice at their designated site, the University of Indianapolis, a Division II school with a 100-yard indoor field. Once again, it starts at 4 p.m. Coach Tom Coughlin said he's impressed with the facilities at the school, about seven miles from the Giants' downtown hotel.

Media obligations: This will be the final big media day for both teams. Hey, maybe Osi Umenyiora will decide to show up. At 10:15, Coughlin starts it off with a 15-minute Q & A. He will be followed by a yet-to-be-announced player at the podium. At that time, the rest of the players and assistant coaches will be available for 45 minutes. This is the final access to players until post-game.

Storylines: Umenyiora will be on the hot seat. After missing Wednesday's mandatory media session, resulting in a $20,000 fine from the league, Umenyiora has some explaining to do. He figures to draw a bigger-than-usual crowd of reporters ... Confidence: The Giants are talking big for a team that likes to say it doesn't talk big. They almost sound like -- dare we say it? -- the Jets.

INDIANAPOLIS -- By Super Bowl media day standards, things were pretty tame at the Giants Super Bowl media session today.

The Giants enjoyed themselves and Tom Coughlin was even seen breaking out a smile or two.

Osi Umenyiora deflected talk of a feud between him and Patriots' left tackle Matt Light. The two have gotten into two on-field skirmishes before.

Umenyiora said mostly nice things about Light, who was not at media day for the Patriots reportedly under the weather.

The defensive end did talk about his topsy-turvy journey from holding out in camp to making the Super Bowl.

Also, Brandon Jacobs talked about his best friend Plaxico Burress and said the former Giant will be coming to Indy to watch the Giants and that his heart was with the Giants even though he signed with the Jets.

Jacobs also left the door open for a possible Plaxico reunion as well.

As for the scene at media day, this was the first year fans were allowed to watch in the stands.

There weren't as many celebrities conducting interviews -- R&B star Ciara was the biggest in attendance -- and a few people dressed up in costumes like a Super hero and an old-time football uniform.

For much more, check out ESPNNewYork.com later.

Giants safety Kenny Phillips was fined $7,500 for unnecessary roughness for striking a defenseless player in the head and neck area, according to the NFL. While Phillips was not flagged in the game for his hit, the league still fined him.

Defensive end Osi Umenyiora was not fined for his roughing-the-passer penalty against Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the fourth quarter last week. Safety Deon Grant was not fined either for getting into a little scuffle with tight end Jermichael Finley.

Everyone has been talking about the Giants' defensive line, and how much impact it's had during this current run to the NFC Championship Game.

On Thursday, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell called his front four the key to his defense and its success.

"That's where our energy comes from, that’s where our confidence comes from, that's where our swagger comes from," Fewell said. "Those guys, unlike most teams that you are associated with, they set the tone for us. They are the catalysts for what we do and how we do it. It sets the whole mindset for our defensive football team."

When asked to elaborate on why this is unusual, Fewell said:

"On our team, on the New York Giants, you have three or four defensive ends, and then two tackles -- the two tackles really set the tone in the middle for you, but you have three or four defensive ends that can change the complexion of the ballgame on any given play.

"A lot of teams that I've been associated with in the past, you may have one, possibly two -- when you had two, you felt like, 'Man, we are great up front.' But if you have three or four, at any point in time one of those guys can make a game-changing play like Osi [Umenyiora] did last week."

Who will make the big play this Sunday? Justin Tuck? Jason Pierre-Paul? Umenyiora again?

The Giants will likely need a game-changer from one of those three to vanquish the 49ers.

Osi Umenyiora is reveling in this postseason run by the Giants, in what could be his final days with the team.

The 30-year-old defensive end has one year remaining on his current contract, at just under $4 million, but wants a new deal -- something the Giants probably can't afford to give him, because of salary cap considerations. Umenyiora was asked about his future after practice on Thursday.

"I can't really discuss that right now," Umenyiora said. "Whatever happens at the end of this year happens. Right now I'm just focused on playing football. This is pleasure. You don't want to mix business with pleasure. This is fun for me, I'm enjoying it, and the business part of it will be taken care of later."

ESPNNewYork.com colleague Ian O'Connor, in an interview with Giants GM Jerry Reese earlier this week, asked Reese if he wants Umenyiora back.

"I want all of our good players back," Reese said. "Is he going to be back? Who knows? We’ll evaluate that when the season's over. I hope it's not over for a couple of more weeks, 'til February 5."

Umenyiora made one of the biggest plays of the game in the Giants' 37-20 divisional round win over the Packers last Sunday, a strip-sack of Aaron Rodgers on the opening possession of the second half.

It was the 32nd forced fumble in Umenyiora's eight-year NFL career, all with the Giants.

Umenyiora said last week, prior to the game, that he had a good feeling about the Giants' chances of beating the Packers. He was asked the same question about the 49ers on Thursday.

"Same feeling," Umenyiora said. "I think we've had pretty good practices. I feel good about it. Obviously they're a very good football team and they're a different team, but overall I still feel pretty good."

San Francisco's offense depends heavily on the running game -- the 49ers were ranked eighth in the NFL in the regular season, averaging 127.8 yards per game on the ground. That means Umenyiora might be on the sideline a little more often, since his strength is rushing the passer.

"Whatever they want me to do, I'll do," Umenyiora said. "If they don't want me to play run downs -- whatever they ask me to do I'll do. I have no problem with it. It’s whatever at this point."

As for the prospect of playing in a second Super Bowl with the Giants, Umenyiora said he and his teammates aren't focusing on that right now.

"From what I saw against New Orleans, [the 49ers] are just so hungry. Understand what I mean? So all our focus is basically on them right now," Umenyiora said. "They think it's their year. So far it's been their year -- they've beaten everybody, or most of the people who've been put in front of them. But we're just as hungry, if not hungrier than them."

The New York Giants were the smarter team, the hungrier team, the tougher team. They exploited the NFL's lowest-rated defense and, for the second time in five years, they ended one of the great quarterbacking seasons in history.

And they made Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy go from genius to dunce in about three hours.

An inside look at the Giants' 37-20 victory Sunday in the NFC divisional playoffs:

DUMB AND DUMBER: Remember how they broke the New York Jets' will on Victor Cruz's 99-yard touchdown late in the first half of their Week 16 win? Well, they did it again, this time with help from a McCarthy brain cramp. The last 15 seconds of the first half -- two plays -- changed the game.

The Giants were content to run out the clock on a third-and-1 from their 40-yard line, but they received a gift because McCarthy called a timeout -- one of several questionable decisions. To compound the bad strategy, the Packers seemed disinterested, letting Ahmad Bradshaw run for 23 yards and giving him a free lane to step out of bounds to stop the clock with six seconds left.

On Eli Manning's 37-yard Hail Mary to Hakeem Nicks, the Packers were downright lazy. A review of the game tape showed they had only two defenders in the end zone, with five others trailing between the goal line and 8-yard line. Some appeared to be loafing. As a result, they had no one to "front" Nicks in the end zone, allowing him to box out two defenders and make a Tyree-esque catch for a 10-point halftime lead.

RUSTY RODGERS: McCarthy's decision to rest many starters in the final regular-season game will be debated through a long, cold winter in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers & Co. went three weeks between games, including the bye, and it showed.

The Packers dropped six passes, with six different players dropping a ball, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That tied for the most in the league this season. Even Rodgers, nearly flawless all year, was off his game, missing at least two wide-open receivers. They also lost three fumbles, half their total from the regular season.

The layoff also affected the Packers' tackling, the biggest miss coming on Nicks' 66-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Instead of trying to wrap him up, safety Charlie Peprah led with his shoulder and bounced off Nicks at the Packers' 47.

LAMBEAU LEGEND: There's something about cold weather and Green Bay that brings out the best in Manning. (See the 2007 NFC title game.) He passed for 330 yards and three touchdowns, making the Packers pay whenever he had time in the pocket.

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers mixed up his calls, using almost as many blitzes as standard rushes -- and it worked at times. Under duress, Manning was only 3-for-10, according to ESPN Stats. Problem was, the Packers couldn't maintain consistent pressure against an offensive line motivated by B.J. Raji's insult from last week.

When Manning had time, he shredded the Packers' overmatched secondary, completing 18 of 23 for 285 yards and three touchdowns. On long passes (15 or more yards), he hit eight of 10 for 206 yards and two touchdowns. He hit Nicks three times, two for touchdowns, conjuring up images of Manning-to-Plaxico Burress in the '07 title game.

Manning was on his own for much of the game, without much help from the running game, yet he still managed to kill on play-action (7-for-9, 155 yards, two touchdowns). In the postseason, he's been an absolute beast on play-action passes.

He used play-action to ice the game, hitting Mario Manningham on a 4-yard touchdown to make it 30-13. Manning used the play fake to freeze linebacker A.J. Hawk, and he used his eyes to draw Hawk out of position. That created a passing lane in the middle, and he found Manningham matched up against a safety for the touchdown.

It was a subtle, yet brilliant play by Manning -- one of many.

WEBSTER ISLAND: To avenge their Week 13 loss to the Packers, the Giants needed much better coverage from their cornerbacks, Corey Webster and Aaron Ross -- and they got it.

Rodgers completed only 11 of 23 passes outside the numbers, according to ESPN Stats. In the previous meeting, he toasted the cornerbacks throughout the game, hitting a remarkable 21 of 25 outside the numbers.

This time, Webster & Co. were physical at the line of scrimmage and did a nice job of disrupting the timing between Rodgers and his wideouts. They took away Rodgers' first read, forcing him to check down or take off with the ball.

HOLY BOLEY: Linebacker Michael Boley played perhaps his finest game as a Giant, recording eight solo tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss. His two sacks were huge momentum-changing plays.

Sack No. 1 set up the Manning-to-Nicks Hail Mary. On a third-and-5, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell used a five-man rush, with three down linemen and DE Justin Tuck in a stand-up position in the middle of the formation. Tuck ran a stunt with Osi Umenyiora, leaving Boley singled up with running back James Starks.

Sack No. 2 came on a fourth-and-5 from the Giants' 39, early in the fourth quarter -- another decision by McCarthy that backfired. Once again, the Giants rushed five. Once again, Boley was isolated on a back, Brandon Saine. The underneath coverage was excellent, eliminating the short crosses, allowing the rush to get home.

THE FAB FOUR: This game was billed as the Giants' front four vs. Rodgers -- and the Giants didn't do anything to trick it up. They stuck to what they do best, letting their four defensive linemen handle the bulk of the pass rushing.

In fact, the Giants (four sacks) used four or fewer rushers on 45 of 56 dropbacks -- the highest ratio of standard pressure against Rodgers this season, per ESPN Stats. Actually, the trend started three games ago, when the Kansas City Chiefs didn't blitz much at all en route to their stunning upset.

Teams that don't have to rely on blitzing have an advantage against high-powered passing teams because it allows them to drop extra an player -- or players -- into coverage. That's how the Giants ended Tom Brady's magical season four years ago in the Super Bowl.

NICK OF TIME: Sometimes a fraction of a second can be the difference between paydirt and face in the dirt. For example, let's examine Umenyiora's third-quarter sack from the Giants' 31. He slapped the ball out of Rodgers' passing hand just as the quarterback was about to load his trigger for what could've been a long touchdown pass.

Wide receiver Greg Jennings ran a slant-and-go and was wide open downfield because Ross bit hard on the slant and Rodgers' pump fake. If Rodgers had been able to deliver the ball, it probably would've been a touchdown (barring another drop) and the Giants' lead would've been cut to three.

The Giants were a split-second faster than the Packers all night, which is why they're moving on and the Packers are making tee times.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- As expected, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw practiced on a limited basis on Friday -- the first time he’s practiced all week -- and is listed as probable for Sunday afternoon’s NFC divisional playoff game in Green Bay against the 15-1 Packers.

Bradshaw has been dealing with a foot injury which caused him to miss four games earlier in the season.

This week, he’s also dealing with a sore back.

“It’s no big deal,” Bradshaw said. “Just a lot of tightness. It feels better now. It feels good. It’s nothing serious.”

Coach Tom Coughlin said Bradshaw came through practice well.

Bradshaw said he’s undergone further X-rays since he fractured a bone in his right foot on Oct. 30 against the Miami Dolphins, and has been taking Forteo, a medication which helps build new bone and ease pain.

The 28-year-old Bradshaw, who rushed for 63 yards on 14 carries in last Sunday’s wild-card victory over the Atlanta Falcons, said he’s anxious to play the Packers, who barely beat the Giants, 38-35, on Dec. 4.

“We’ve got a lot to prove, and we’ve got payback to give back to them,” he said.

Safety Deon Grant (quad), cornerback Aaron Ross (concussion), defensive end Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee), running back D.J. Ware (concussion), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and running back Da’Rel Scott (knee) are also listed as probable by the team.

Linebacker Mark Herzlich (ankle) is out. Herzlich has been out since injuring himself during the Nov. 28 loss in New Orleans.

Defensive end Osi Umenyiora feels good. He's battled a high ankle sprain and had minor surgery on his knee at the start of the season.

But Umenyiora says he feels like vintage Osi as the Giants get set to face the Packers for the right to head to the NFC Championship game.

"I never left, man," Umenyiora said when asked if he feels like his old self. "I never did. I was just hurt. But you know everybody likes to forget things, but I don't forget. I feel like I've been when I wasn't hurt."

Umenyiora revealed that he saw a personal doctor -- he wouldn't say who -- in addition to the Giants' medical staff to treat his ankle injury.

"A lot of the things that I was going through, I feel pretty good," said Umenyiora, who has played the past two games after missing four games due to the high ankle sprain. "I went to see my own doctor and they took care of me along with [Giants VP of medical services] Ronnie Barnes and [team physician] Doctor [Russell] Warren and those guys came together and I think they did a good job. I feel pretty good."

And with a healthy Umenyiora, the Giants' pass rush has been feeling good as well. Umenyiora has three sacks in the past two games and the Giants have collected a total of 13 sacks in their past three games. In those three consecutive wins, opponents have scored a total of 30 points against the Giants.

Most have pointed to Umenyiora's return as sparking the defense but the defensive end said it is a collective effort.

"I guess that would be a logical explanation but I don’t think that is the case at all," he said. "As a defense, on the defensive line, they were playing better when I wasn’t there so I can’t attribute that success to me. I think, for some reason, everything is coming together at the right time now."

Giants defensive end Justin Tuck (shoulder) is listed as probable for Sunday's NFC wild-card showdown against the Atlanta Falcons, according to the team.

Coach Tom Coughlin said Tuck’s shoulder is "sore," but the defensive end would not comment on any questions related to his injury. Tuck did not practice Friday. He has been banged up all season, and has also dealt with injuries to his neck, groin, toe and ankle.

Tight end Jake Ballard (knee), running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee) and Corey Webster (hamstring) are also listed as probable. Linebacker Mark Herzlich (ankle) is out.

Ballard, who has missed the last two games with a strained PCL and has been limited in practice this week, says he'll "absolutely" play vs. the Falcons. Coughlin said he's optimistic about Ballard's chances of playing after he ended the week on "an up note."

Webster, who appeared on the injury report for the first time on Thursday, was fine on Friday, Coughlin said.

Heading into the Green Bay game on Dec. 4, Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell noticed that his defense had become rather chatty. Not in the trash talk sense but rather the communication between his unit.

"They really started focusing in and getting better and it's been a gradual thing for us," Fewell said. "They're a good group. They want to get it right. We've been young at times, we don't know how to get it right at times, but we have been a little bit stable the last few weeks."

Coming off perhaps their best two-week defensive stretch of the season, the Giants defensive coordinator acknowledged that he has seen more confidence from his team in practice and much more communication. The Giants are coming off back-to-back 14-point efforts against the Jets and the Cowboys.

The execution against the Cowboys was especially impressive considering Dallas had torched them for 34 points in the first game on Dec. 11. On Sunday night, the Giants were able to control the Cowboys and limit the big plays down the field. Dallas did not score in the first half.

Heading into the playoffs, the Giants defense appears to be peaking at the right time.

"I see a lot more bounce in their step and confidence. I see a lot more focus and them wanting to get it right and trying to get it right, demanding each other to get it right," Fewell said. "In the meetings, there's a lot of chatter, it's not always coaches, it's them talking to each about what they did right, wrong, or what have you. I think it's spilled over onto the football field."

TUCK AND OSI: It took 17 weeks, but the defensive coordinator finally got to see his two defensive ends playing well together at the same time. In Sunday's 31-14 win over Dallas, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck combined for three sacks.

It included one in the first quarter when the pair of veteran teammates ran a well-executed stunt that resulted in Umenyiora sacking Dallas' quarterback Tony Romo. Fewell said the play was setup and coordinated well by the defensive ends.

"We've been waiting for that to happen all year long," Fewell said. "We just could never get them on the field at the same time, just due to nicks and injuries and that type of thing. It was fun to see. That was a fun game for me to call."

NO HUDDLE, NO WORRIES: Atlanta will likely employ the no-huddle offense against the Giants but Fewell did not seem too concerned. His team was accused earlier this season of faking injuries in the two-minute drill to slow down the other team.

"We've faced no huddle all year, we know it will be an up-tempo offense, we know it will be run-pass option," Fewell said. "We just have to get our hands in the dirt and play as fast as we can possibly play and disrupt the timing of the run and the pass."