New York Giants’ Osi Umenyiora, fined $20,000 by the NFL for missing mandatory media session–NFL News
The National Football League (NFL) imposed a fine of $20,000 to New York Giants’ defensive end, Osi Umenyiora, for not participating in the pre-scheduled media session on Wednesday, February 1, 2012.
Six Giants’ players were expected to address the media at the team hotel in Indianapolis where the Super Bowl XLVI game will be played between Giants and New England Patriots on Sunday, February 5.
During the 45-minute interview session, all the players responded to different queries put forward by reporters while Osi’s seat remained vacant.
As per the league rules, Osi’s appearance in the media session was mandatory and by missing it, the player violated the code for which he was penalised.
As if missing the session was not enough, Osi took his team meetings seriously and was present during them.
Moreover, he participated in the training session scheduled after the media session.
Within two hours after the media session, the league fined Osi, who later apologised saying that he had misunderstood the schedule.
The statement released by Giants’ management on behalf of Osi read:
"I misunderstood the schedule It won't happen again, and I will be at tomorrow's media session and available after the game. I apologise for any inconvenience my absence this morning may have caused."
Osi who is suffering from ankle/knee injury, stayed limited during the practice. However, the team officials confirmed that the injury had nothing to do with the player’s absence from the media session.
It was the first training session for the Giants after landing in Indianapolis for the Super Bowl game.
A few other players, including Osi, were also limited in the practice, but the management was not bothered.
Giants’ head coach, Tom Coughlin, said that it was the first day of the practice where minor things could be ignored.
He further said that:
“This was a good, spirited, uptempo practice. There are a few things we will clean up, obviously, and we want to be better tomorrow and build to our best work on Friday.’’
Osi clearly violated the league’s code by missing the media session and a apology later settled the matter.
However, he still has to pay the fine, which would not be a problem for him if he guides Giants to victory against the Pats and earn huge prize money.
You can view live coverage and analysis of the Super Bowl XLVI by http://answers.bettor.com/Users/Robert-California-u3050 on Sunday,
11:00pm, GMT
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