Agent: Umenyiora will fly to Atlanta to see specialist

The agent for disgruntled New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora said Tuesday that Umenyiora will travel to Atlanta in the next few days to get a second opinion on his knee, which has kept him from participating in the team's recent practices.

"We won't do anything without conferring with the Giants medical staff first," Tony Agnone told the Star-Ledger. "We're just looking for a way to get him back on the field soon."

Umenyiora's planned trip to Atlanta to see a specialist is the latest chapter in what has been an eventful offseason for the Giants' defensive star. Unhappy with his contract, Umenyiora was initially a holdout as the team opened training camp. The Giants front office gave Agnone permission to seek a trade, but the agent's asking price of a first-round pick, and Umenyiora's desire for a restructured deal, didn't attract any takers. After one missed practice, Umenyiora returned, but has been limited to riding a stationary bike.

Umenyiora missed the entire 2008 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The same knee has been an issue this summer.

Giants team doctors have already examined Umenyiora, and seem to think he can manage the knee with rest and still participate in practice, according to the New York Post.

A person familiar with Umenyiora’s status told the Star-Ledger he is dealing with a meniscus cartilage issue that could require surgery. The person requested anonymity because the extent of the injury has not been made public.

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Agent says 21 teams interested in Giants DE Umenyiora

Osi Umenyiora's agent is finding plenty of NFL teams interested in trading for the star defensive end, but so far, none of them appear willing to pay the New York Giants' asking price.

"Just trying to convince them to give up that elusive first-round pick," Tony Agnone told the New York Post on Tuesday. "Still working on it."

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Agnone told the newspaper that he has received inquiries from 21 teams. The New York Daily News reported Monday that the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks have shown interest either to the Giants or to Agnone. But the combination of the Giants' asking price -- a first-round pick -- and Umenyiora's desire to earn more money is making a deal difficult.

The Baltimore Sun reported Tuesday that the Giants have dropped their demand for a first-round pick and would be willing to accept a second-round pick. The newspaper cited a league source in reporting that the Ravens and the New England Patriots are interested in Umenyiora.

Umenyiora, 29, wants to rework a contract that will pay him $7 million over the next two seasons, with $3.1 million due this season. He led the Giants with 11.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in 2010, and he has grown increasingly frustrated with the criticism he's receiving over the situation.

The Giants gave Agnone a limited time to make a deal, and that deadline is drawing near.

"It's not going to be long now," he said.

After holding out of training camp the first day, Umenyiora reported the next three but didn't participate in practice.

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Agent says Polamalu wants to finish career in Pittsburgh

It has been a busy offseason for Troy Polamalu.

He has been rehabilitating an Achilles' tendon injury in Los Angeles. He earned his bachelor's degree in history from USC. He'll have a maximum 99 rating in the "Madden NFL 12" video game when it's released next month.

But has the Pittsburgh Steelers' star safety also been planning a request for a contract extension once the NFL lockout is over?

"The Steelers always have done this sort of thing the year before a contract is up," Marvin Demoff, Polamalu's agent, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review when asked Thursday about the possibility. "There's been no discussion yet, but I'd say it's highly likely that was because of the lockout. We'd be open to it, sure. Troy's played there eight years and wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh."

Polamalu, who signed a four-year, $30 million extension in 2007, never fully recovered from the Achilles' tendon injury he suffered during a Week 14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals when he approached the end zone to score a touchdown off an interception return. He missed subsequent games against the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers before returning for the regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns.

Following treatment and rehab under the care of an orthopedic surgeon with ties to the Steelers' medical staff, Polamalu was expected to be ready by training camp -- whenever that might be.

"Troy tends to be pretty hard on himself emotionally and physically," Demoff said, "and he feels really good about where he is."

Now 30 years old, Polamalu has fully played a 16-game schedule in just four of his eight seasons because of his physical style of play. He has missed 13 regular-season games the last three seasons but still has 17 interceptions and 35 passes defended.

With the Steelers' defense rock solid but aging -- nine of the unit's 11 regular starters last season are either over 30 or about to turn 30 -- the question of a long-term contract might be troubling to the front office. But Demoff doesn't see his client just hanging around to collect a paycheck.

"That's not Troy," Demoff said. "He's not the type to keep playing when he's not at a high level. No offense, but he's not going to be Brett Favre."

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Agent: OT Colon hasn't heard from Steelers about new deal

Willie Colon has spent his entire five-year NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but his agent doesn't sound hopeful that the offensive tackle will be back with the team this season.

"They haven't called about Willie in three years," Joe Linta told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday. "I'm not expecting them to call because they haven't yet. That's the way they do business, and that's fine. But if they do call, we'll pick up the phone."

Colon, 28, is one of 14 Steelers players who will become unrestricted free agents when the NFL lockout is lifted, according to the Post-Gazette. He was the Steelers' starting right tackle for three seasons before an Achilles injury suffered last summer cost him all of 2010.

A Bronx, N.Y., native, Colon was selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Hofstra University. The veteran has made it clear he wants to return to Pittsburgh, but the feeling might not be mutual.

"He loves the team and loves the city," Linta said. "But they have to want him, and they haven't shown that yet."

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Agent: T.O. had knee surgery in April, doesn't plan to retire

Terrell Owens is recovering from left knee surgery and plans to be ready to play when the NFL season starts, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Tuesday.

Rosenhaus confirmed in an interview with ESPN that the star wide receiver tore his anterior cruciate ligament and had surgery in early April. However, Rosenhaus said, his client "will be playing at the start of the NFL season."

Rosenhaus called speculation that Owens, 37, was considering retirement "nonsense" and said the 15-year veteran is doing "fantastic" and could be recovered as early as August. Sources familiar with the injury told ESPN on Sunday night that Owens wouldn't return until mid- to late November at the earliest.

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Rosenhaus said Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery to the same knee in which Owens tore his meniscus late last year.

"The old injury has been repaired," Rosenhaus said. "He is many months into recovery and doing fantastic. No predictions on training camp, but he comes back fast from injuries. I won't rule him out of anything. He will be a starting receiver for someone this year."

Rosenhaus declined to say how the latest injury occurred, although one source told ESPN on Sunday night that it happened while Owens was taping a segment for his VH1 reality show, and another source said the receiver injured himself during personal workouts.

As for Owens mulling retirement, Rosenhaus said "all the retirement talk is nonsense. There's been no discussion about that, and this injury is not a big deal."

Two of Owens' former teammates also said the star wide receiver plans to return. Both players spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because Owens hasn't publicly discussed the surgery.

Owens had 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve Dec. 21, one day after surgery for his torn meniscus.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Agent: Big Ben's surgery comments blown out of proportion

As you were.

That's the message from Ben Roethlisberger's agent, Ryan Tollner, after a report last week quoted the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback as saying there's a chance he will need surgery on his previously broken right foot at some point.

"There's nothing new there," Tollner told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday night. "The doctors elected not to do surgery and to let it heal. If it ever got worse, they might have to do something.

"Ben is kind of surprised that it's getting the attention. He hopes and expects never to have surgery on it. The foot was feeling better after the season, with the extra time this offseason, it's feeling great."

Roethlisberger, who told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in a story published Saturday that his foot has healed, suffered through much of 2010 with the injury. He aggravated it during a game against the Buffalo Bills in November, saying "there were times during practice and games where I didn't feel like I'd be able to walk."

The seven-year veteran and two-time Super Bowl winner wore a cleat fitted with a pair of metal plates both in games and practices, right up through the team's loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. He didn't miss a snap last season because of the injury, throwing for 3,200 yards and 17 touchdowns.

"I could have had surgery (after last season), but according to the doctors, it would have been a really nasty process because of where the break was. It was better off trying not to do anything," Roethlisberger told the Tribune-Review. "It's going to be something where we're just going to have to, in essence, play it by ear. If it continues to be as painful as it was at the end of last year, then I'm going to probably have to have the surgery."

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Agent says LB Kindle 'extra hungry' to show Ravens his worth

Linebacker Sergio Kindle has been cleared to play for the Baltimore Ravens after missing all of last season with a head injury, but his agent, Joel Segal, isn't expecting a long-term contract just yet.

"No, I don't think we'll do long-term right now," Segal told WJZ-FM, according to the Ravens' official website. "Once Sergio shows he's the Sergio Kindle who was the special player at Texas, that he's healthy, that he's ready to roll, the difference-maker that we know he will be if he's healthy, I think at that point, hopefully, we'll have a conversation."

"Serg was obviously on a small contract (a one-year deal last season) and, hopefully, once he's healthy and ready to go, it will be a contract we expect. ... He has been working out hard, he's obviously extra hungry. He's focused, ready. You know, now he's just got to get some contact and show everybody that he's the old Sergio Kindle."

A second-round pick of the Ravens in the 2010 NFL Draft, Kindle was at a house party last summer when he fell down two flights of stairs, fracturing his skull.

The injury led to concerns that Kindle's career might be in jeopardy. The skull fracture and subsequent brain bruising led to permanent damage to his equilibrium. Kindle has very little hearing in his left ear, which doctors don't expect to change. He describes the year forced out of football as very difficult.

Kindle told the San Antonio Express-News earlier this month that he has been cleared for football activities. He admits, however, that the true test of his progress will come when he takes part in physical contact drills. The lockout hasn't allowed that yet.

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Agent: Vikings' Winfield fined $17,500 for hit, uniform violation

The NFL fined Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield a total of $17,500 this week for a uniform violation and a hit on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, agent Ashanti Webb told the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Thursday.

Winfield plans to appeal the $7,500 fine for the hit on Cutler. Webb said Winfield tried to pull up to avoid a helmet-to-helmet hit.

The $10,000 uniform infraction apparently involved the height of Winfield's socks, according to the newspaper.

Winfield incurred the fine for contact on a Monday night play on which he blitzed Cutler. The 5-foot-9 Winfield's helmet struck the 6-foot-3 Cutler in the chin as he wrapped up the quarterback while they fell.

Cutler received three stitches to close the wound, but he returned and led the Bears to a 40-14 victory that clinched the NFC North title for Chicago.

Winfield has long been known as one of the NFL's most physical cornerbacks. But he is rarely fined for hits and is considered among the league's most fundamentally sound tacklers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Agent: McNabb-Shanahans relationship 'difficult' to maintain

Donovan McNabb's agent believes the "tension" between his client and Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is a result of the quarterback's suggestions for improving the struggling team's offense.

Fletcher Smith said in a statement Thursday that the Shanahans have made comments that go beyond disrespectful and were "unprecedented for a six-time Pro Bowl quarterback such as Donovan."

McNabb was benched before last Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys and told by Mike Shanahan that he wouldn't play for the remainder of the season.

Smith said in the statement that the Shanahans -- "both Mike and more specifically Kyle" -- have made the quarterback's relationship with them "difficult" to maintain.

"Unfortunately, it appears as though the Redskins coaching staff decided that their 12-year veteran quarterback, who flawlessly executed one of the NFL's most complex offensive systems (in Philadelphia), is unable to grasp Kyle's offense," Smith said.

Smith added that the Redskins used his client's suggested changes during the game against the Cowboys.

"I believe there is tension between Donovan and Kyle that's rooted in the fact that Donovan has suggested modifications to Kyle's offense based on intricacies Donovan has learned in his NFL career," Smith wrote. "For example, Donovan has asked all year that the team run more screen passes to help manage the pass rush more effectively. Ironically, Kyle decided to employ Donovan's suggestions after he unceremoniously benched him on Sunday."

Shanahan released a statement in response later Thursday.

"As I stated earlier, when I traded for Donovan McNabb I had hoped that he would lead us to the playoffs," the statement begins. "No one wanted him to be more successful than me. When the team was 5-8 and mathematically out of the playoffs, I made the decision to evaluate our other two quarterbacks. This was not personal, but strictly professional. The decision was made in the best interest of the Washington Redskins and I stand by my decision.

"I will attempt to talk to Fletcher Smith directly to clear up every one of his misconceptions."

McNabb, 34, was listed as the No. 2 quarterback during Washington's 33-30 loss to Dallas. McNabb said he felt "disrespected" by the way he was benched and demoted.

"Everything was handled awkwardly," he said Tuesday on his weekly radio show on ESPN980, "somewhat to a disrespect to me and to the team."

Shanahan waited until last Thursday to tell McNabb that Rex Grossman would be the Redskins' starter for the remainder of the season, although rumblings of a possible switch had circulated all week. McNabb said he believed the team leaked the news before informing him, but Shanahan said Wednesday that he told nobody before he spoke with the quarterbacks.

Shanahan also disagreed with McNabb's assertion that the coach didn't tell him he would be the Redskins' No. 3 quarterback for the final two games.

"I did talk to Donovan (about) exactly what his role was gonna be, just like I shared with (reporters)," Shanahan said Wednesday, according to The Washington Post. "That he was gonna be No. 2 (against Dallas), and then the next two games he was gonna be No. 3 -- and I explained why."

Shanahan continued: "With John Beck getting the reps, just like I did to you guys (reporters), I went into detail about that. I really felt that after I was done, it was a good conversation and we'd go from there."

McNabb was benched only once in 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he already has doubled that total with the Redskins in less than one season. Shanahan yanked McNabb for Grossman in the final two minutes of an Oct. 31 game against the Detroit Lions, then offered several strange excuses for the decision.

Smith said Thursday the benching of his client has been part of what he described as a "difficult season" for McNabb.

"Donovan is coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2009 where he threw for 3,500 (plus) yards on 60 (percent) completions, with a TD:INT ratio of more than 2:1," Smith wrote. "He also led his team to the playoffs with an 11-5 record, and that's what he hoped to accomplish in Washington.

"This year, Donovan was on pace to set the Redskins all-time passing yards mark before being benched."

Earlier this season, Mike Shanahan said he believed Grossman had a better grasp of the team's two-minute offense, then said McNabb lacked the "cardiovascular endurance" to run a fast-paced drill because of nagging hamstring injuries. Kyle Shanahan, the son of the head coach, said McNabb had been tipped off in advance that the team might go with Grossman; McNabb said he hadn't.

Then the Redskins gave a McNabb a five-year contract extension worth up to $78 million -- although the quarterback is guaranteed only to receive an extra $3.5 million this season. The deal contains a clause that allows the Redskins to cut McNabb before next season with no further financial obligation.

McNabb has expressed a desire to return to Washington next season, and Shanahan said he would be willing to have McNabb as a backup -- a pairing that seems hard to imagine.

But Smith left the door open in his statement, saying McNabb has taken the high road during the circus-like atmosphere.

"Donovan has maintained a high level of professionalism on and off the field," Smith said. "He is determined to continue his relentless commitment to win and looks forward to the opportunity wherever that may be!"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Colts will sign free agent Kapinos to punt vs. Texans, agent says

The Colts will sign free-agent punter Jeremy Kapinos on Monday, agent Rob Roche told The Indianapolis Star.

Kapinos' signing comes on the heels of the team's one-game suspension of starting punter Pat McAfee.

McAfee was arrested for public intoxication on Oct. 20. Police said McAfee took a pre-dawn swim in a city canal and told them, "I am drunk," as he tried to explain why he was sopping wet in the Broad Ripple neighborhood, a trendy area known for its nightlife.

Kapinos, in his fourth NFL season out of Penn State, spent time with the New York Jets in 2007 and the Green Bay Packers from 2008 to 2009. He was the Packers' starter last season, averaging 43.8 yards on 66 punts.

The Colts (4-2), coming off their bye week, are preparing for their AFC South rematch with the Houston Texans (4-2) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday night. The Texans won the first meeting, 34-24, in the Sept. 12 season opener in Houston.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Agent: Manning waiting until after season to negotiate new deal

Peyton Manning will not have a new contract until 2011.

Tom Condon, the agent for the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, told the team that he and his client will wait until the end of the season to negotiate a new deal.

Manning is in the final year of a seven-year, $99.2 million contract.

The decision removes one more distraction for Manning in what is fast becoming a challenging season. Manning's offensive weapons are quickly dropping with injuries.

The most recent hit came Friday, when the Colts announced that tight end Dallas Clark would miss the remainder of the season because of wrist surgery.

Austin Collie, the Colts' leading receiver through six weeks, also is due to miss at least two weeks following thumb surgery, and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez continues to make his way back from a high ankle sprain.

In February, Colts owner Jim Irsay said he expected to make Manning the NFL's highest-paid player. Irsay also suggested that a deal for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady would provide the framework for a new deal with Manning.

Last month, the Patriots gave Brady a four-year, $72 million extension with $48.5 million guaranteed, making him the NFL's highest-paid player.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Disgruntled Chargers WR Jackson to report Oct. 29, agent says

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson will report to the San Diego Chargers next week and sign his contract tender, his agent said Thursday.

By reporting Oct. 29, Jackson will be able to serve a three-game, team-imposed suspension on the roster exempt list, then play in the final six games to accrue his sixth season toward unrestricted free agency.

Jackson and his agent, Neil Schwartz, said earlier this fall that the receiver likely wouldn't play this season.

"With the landscape of labor uncertainty, we wanted to create, at this point in time, certainty," Schwartz told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Last week, the NFL Players Association recommended that Jackson and New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins, also a restricted free agent, report to their teams in time to gained an accrued season.

Jackson, a 6-foot-5 Pro Bowl receiver who had two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, will miss games against the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos while on the roster exempt list. He was placed on the list on Aug. 20 in a hardball tactic by Chargers general manager A.J. Smith.

Jackson will be eligible to return to the struggling Chargers for a Nov. 28 game at Indianapolis. Counting the six games he plays and the bye week, he'll earn $240,058 rather than the $3.268 million he would have made had he signed his tender as a restricted free agent before the season.

The Chargers (2-4) could use Jackson sooner than he'll be available. They might be without quarterback Philip Rivers' top two targets, tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and wideout Malcom Floyd (hamstring), because of injuries when they host the New England Patriots on Sunday. Gates and Floyd missed practice Thursday, as did wide receivers Legedu Naanee (hamstring) and Buster Davis (ribs).

If all four pass-catchers can't play, veteran Patrick Crayton and undrafted rookie Richard Goodman could be the first-team wideouts.

"My thoughts are exclusively on the Patriots," Chargers coach Norv Turner said when asked about Jackson reporting. "If Vincent reports, I'll be excited to see him."

Jackson's original five-year contract expired after last season. But because this is an uncapped year, he would have needed six seasons to become an unrestricted free agent.

Unhappy over not receiving long-term deals during the offseason, Jackson and Chargers left tackle Marcus McNeill refused to sign their tenders. Since they hadn't signed by June 15, the Chargers were entitled to offer them 110 percent of their 2009 salaries, essentially cutting $2.5 million off the tenders.

McNeill, who also had been placed on the roster exempt list by Smith, reported to the team Sept. 25. He served his three-game suspension and then last week agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $48.5 million, with $24.5 million guaranteed, through 2015.

The Chargers' unwillingness to sign Jackson to a long-term deal is believed to stem from the player's off-the-field issues. He was suspended for the season's first three games by the NFL after pleading guilty in February to his second DUI since 2006.

Hours before a playoff loss to the New York Jets last season, Jackson was handcuffed briefly and had his car impounded following a traffic stop. Jackson was pulled over near team headquarters for playing loud music, then cited for driving with a suspended license and expired tags.

Jackson had to catch a ride to the game with Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. Jackson drew a 15-yard penalty for kicking the red challenge flag thrown onto the field by Jets coach Rex Ryan, one of three personal fouls called against the Chargers during the 17-14 loss.

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Last month, while Jackson was still within his three-game DUI suspension, the league and union brokered a deal under which the player could be traded and have six games worth of suspensions reduced to two.

The window for trading Jackson came and went without the Chargers moving him. Schwartz said he had deals in place with several teams, but that the Chargers were asking for "wholly unreasonable" compensation for another team to acquire Jackson.

Schwartz said another GM told him that Smith seemed to be "squatting" on Jackson.

Smith didn't return calls seeking comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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