New York Giants fans have noticed that Osi Umenyiora is back to his old self, terrorizing NFL quarterbacks. Seems the rest of the league has noticed, as well, since Umenyiora has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October.In four games last month - all Giants victories - Umenyiora had 18 tackles (10 solo), including 7.0 sacks and six forced fumbles. Umenyiora had three consecutive multiple-sack games in October: he had 3.0 sacks vs. Chicago, 2.0 at Houston and 2.0 vs. Detroit. Prior to that stretch, the two-time Pro Bowler had never had multiple sacks in back-to-back games.
He also forced two fumbles in each of those three games.
Umenyiora is tied for second in the NFL with 8.0 sacks and he leads the league with seven forced fumbles.
Umenyiora is the first Giant to win a Player of the Month award since November 2008, when Eli Manning was honored as the NFC Offensive Player of the Month.
He is the first Giants defender to receive the award in nine years. Defensive end Michael Strahan was named in October 2001, the year he set the NFL single-season sack record with 22.5.
-- The New York Giants PR Dept. contributed to this report