Defensive end Osi Umenyiora of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants will be out for the 2008 NFL season due to a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. He suffered the injury in Saturday's preseason game against the New York Jets. When the injury initially occurred, it looked very serious because Umenyiora couldn't leave the field putting pressure on the left leg and he was later taken to the locker room on a cart. Umenyiora led the team in sacks last season with 13 in a season where the Giants led the league in sacks. Those sacks were important in the playoffs as well as the Giants were able to apply pressure on the quarterbacks en route to their Super Bowl win over the previously undefeated New England Patriots. Umenyiora was the only player from the Giants to play for the NFC in the Pro Bowl. The Giants defense were good last year, and was excellent in the playoffs. But they lost several defensive players from that defense. Michael Strahan, the face of the franchise for years, retired after winning the Super Bowl. Gibril Wilson, the starting safety, left the Giants in free agency to play for the Oakland Raiders. Kawika Mitchell, their starting linebacker who had 4.5 sacks, left the Giants as well in free agency to play for the Buffalo Bills. With Umenyiora's injury, the pressure is now on defensive end Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka to put pressure on the quarterback. How will Umenyiora's absence affect the Giants' defense? Will the Giants repeat as Super Bowl champions?
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