Chargers/ Merriman ; New York Giants / Umenyiora

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Giants' Umenyiora requires season-ending knee surgery

The New York Giants' Osi Umenyiora needs season-ending knee surgery, NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting. The Pro Bowl defensive end has a torn MCL.

Umenyiora injured his left knee in the second quarter of the New York Giants' preseason game against the New York Jets.

Umenyiora started all 16 games last season and had 52 tackles and a team-high 13 sacks. He added seven tackles in the Giants' run to the Super Bowl.

The Giants are a bit thin at defensive end this season with the retirement of seven-time Pro Bowler Michael Strahan. Tuck has replaced Strahan. New York also signed veteran Renaldo Wynn in the offseason.

With Umenyiora sidelined, the Giants could move strongside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end. He was switched to linebacker last year so the team could put its best 11 players on the field.

"You are always concerned any time a player like that goes down," Kiwanuka said. "That's not good. We know the type of player he is and if he can come back he will. But we have the personnel to step up in his absence."

Kiwanuka sidestepped moving back to defensive end, saying that decision is up to the team.

Merriman weighs options for 'career-threatening' knee injury

Chargers Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman said Saturday he has two torn ligaments in his left knee and has been told by doctors that he could suffer a possible career-ending injury if he attempts to play without having surgery.

Merriman said he has tears in both the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments. He said doctors agree that he needs surgery to repair the damage.

"It could be career-threatening if I did (play)," Merriman said. "It's a possibility. That possibility is still open."

A course of action has not been decided. Merriman, who will consult with a doctor in Miami early next week before making a decision, has been told reconstructive surgery would sideline him for the entire 2008 season. Another option is a less-invasive surgery that would allow him to play at some point in the season.

"They've all said the same things about the injury," Merriman said. "(They're) kind of surprised that I've been playing with it up to this point."

The Chargers open the regular season Sept. 7 against the Carolina Panthers. Merriman wants to play this season.

"That's first and foremost," Merriman said. "That's what I want to do. That's why this decision is even out there still and not already made, because I want to play, period. The question is what should I do? How long should I play with it?

"It's a thousand different options at this point and I'm just trying to make the best one."

Merriman left the team Tuesday to seek opinions from other doctors, a trek that included a visit with renowned surgeon James Andrews on Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala. He said he is seeking as many opinions as he can for a reason.

"I'm just trying to make the best decision possible for the team and for my career," Merriman said.

Coach Norv Turner has remained optimistic all week that Merriman will be able to play this season. He again expressed that hope Saturday.

"Right now, in talking to him, his mind-set is he's doing everything he can to get ready for Carolina, our opener," Turner said. "He just wants to get a little bit more information on his knee."

Merriman has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three NFL seasons. He has 39½ sacks in that span, more than any other NFL player.

This sucks ass ... First Merriman, now Osi. Osi being gone for the season, that's a fucking blow to the defense. Merriman should just take the surgery option, even though he not likely will be with the Chargers next year due to contract. I'd like to see Merriman come back and not risk his career just to prove a point. Go get it cured now, and hopefully next season, everything will be alright (hopefully). So much going on in the NFL right now, as far as injuries ... this is why I don't like having the starters play these quarters/ whole half and shit ... TOO risky!

I'm still cleaning up from last night's massacre of the Skins'/Panther's game. What the hell happened? Gameplanning, my ass ... Peppers was making my Skins' pro-offensive line look like rookies.

Oh well ... that's all I got for right now.

Holla!