Tuck less talkative about Osi stalemate

There are not many topics that Justin Tuck will shy away from. On Saturday, for the first time in a while, he found one.

"I've just been informed that I can no longer answer questions about player No. 72," he said in response to the first of many questions aimed at him about Osi Umenyiora, a player whose situation he spoke freely about last week. When asked where this new rule came from, Tuck said: "From player No. 72."

He said he was joking, but the standoff between Umenyiora and the Giants is losing a lot of its laughability. The defensive end remained on his exercise bicycle and off on the sideline for Saturday night's practice, the sixth time he's done so since camp began last weekend. He has told the Giants he has a sore knee that has kept him off the field, but most believe his pedaling is more about making a statement.

Umenyiora has said he wants a new contract or a trade to a team that will give him one. He swore in an affidavit that general manager Jerry Reese promised that to him. He has received neither, and though he and the team have exchanged some ideas on settling the situation financially, they remain very far apart. Umenyiora's agent, Tony Agnone, said there were no conversations or exchanges Saturday.

Tom Coughlin said the situation remains status quo "until somebody tells me different."

Tuck said he has taken a vested interest in how this plays out, not only because he is a defensive captain but because there will come a day when Tuck could be in a similar contract situation. He said he is "definitely" learning from the ordeal, but as of now, he does not believe that Umenyiora's situation is distracting the team.

"I can give my opinion on it, but at the end of the day, I've still got to go out there to perform,'' Tuck said. "I can't let that clog any of my business.''