Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
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New York Giants starting defensive end Osi Umenyiora released a statement via the team's public relations staff earlier this evening to address his unexcused absence from today's practice. Umenyiora left the Giants' practice facility Monday morning because he was frustrated with new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, according to a league source. Here is Umenyiora's statement:
"I made a mistake by leaving the facility today. I was wrong. I came in here this afternoon and met with coach Coughlin, coach Sheridan and coach Waufle and apologized and explained why I left the building; that will remain between us. I have no problem with our defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan or any of our coaches. That's the end of it, as far as I am concerned."
No matter what Sheridan may have said to Umenyiora in a film session, he was clearly in the wrong for skipping out on practice. And I'm not sure that this is "the end of it" as far as Tom Coughlin's concerned. When Plaxico Burress vanished for most of a day last season, Coughlin sat him down for a game. Now, Burress already had a history of team violations, so that's a little different.
With Umenyiora, it wouldn't surprise me if Coughlin chose not to start him in the season opener against the Redskins. I'm sure Umenyiora's teammates are watching with great interest to see how Coughlin handles this potential distraction.
Do you guys feel like not starting is the proper punishment? Or should Coughlin let it slide since Umenyiora has a clean locker room record?
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Matt Mosley
Mosley, an award-winning writer for The Dallas Morning News for seven years, joined ESPN.com in January 2007. Mosley, a Baylor graduate, writes columns, features and blogs for ESPN.com.