Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora insists his absence from a mandatory media session four days before the Super Bowl was an honest mistake and not an attempt to blow off the function to spend time with his family.

A day after the NFL fined him $20,000 for missing the session, Umenyiora attended Thursday’s media availability and once again apologized for his absence Wednesday. He said he spent the hour with his family.

Umenyiora had no problem with the amount of the fine, saying it made sense.

When pressed. the two-time Pro Bowler said the absence wasn’t a big deal, noting it was not like he missed practice or skipped a team meeting for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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