<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants all-time leadingreceiver Amani Toomer will miss the rest of the season because ofan injured left knee.Toomer, the team's co-leader with 32 catches this year, feltpain in his knee on Sunday and came to the sideline briefly in the14-10 win over Houston. He later returned and finished the game.An MRI exam Monday night showed Toomer had a partial tear of hisanterior cruciate ligament. He has elected to have season-endingsurgery, but did not specify when that would take place."I didn't think anything of it," Toomer said of the injury."It was very disappointing when I got the MRI."Toomer had a similar injury to his right knee as a rookie 10years ago.The injury is the latest for the Giants in recent weeks.Linebacker LaVar Arrington was lost for the season with anAchilles' tendon injury against Dallas on Oct. 23, and Pro Bowldefensive end Michael Strahan said he's going to be sidelined fortwo to eight weeks with a sprained right foot.New York has played without All-Pro defensive end Osi Umenyiora(hip), cornerback Sam Madison (hamstring) and linebacker BrandonShort (quad) in recent weeks. All are starters.The Giants (6-2) host the Chicago Bears (7-1) in a showdown forthe NFC lead Sunday night.Toomer was given the option rehabbing the knee, but was worriedabout the potential for further injury."It's unstable at this point," Toomer said. "I just want tofix it. I don't want to get into the specifics of what happened,but I feel like the best thing to do is to get it fixed. Going outthere and not being able to perform to the best of my ability isworse than getting it fixed now and taking the time" for it toheal.Toomer and Tiki Barber are tied for the team lead with 32catches. Toomer had only two catches last weekend. His best outingthis year came against Philadelphia on Sept. 17, when he had acareer-high 12 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns."Here is a young man who had dedicated himself to having a goodyear, and he was playing well," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin."He has done anything we have asked of him. His numbers and bigplays speak for themselves, but time and time again, he does thethings that maybe people on the outside don't notice as much. Butthey are the kinds of things that make a difference in theballgame."Toomer's 561 career receptions are one more than Barber's. His22 100-yard games are a franchise record, and his 47 touchdowncatches tie him with Joe Morrison for second, one behind franchiserecord-holder Kyle Rote."Hopefully next year I'll be able to start up right where Ileft off," Toomer said. "That's where my focus is, getting myknee as healthy as possible so I can keep on playing and performingto the best of my ability."The Giants got some good news Wednesday. Madison, who missed thelast two games, and receiver Sinorice Moss, the second-round draftpick who has played only one game because of a quad injury,returned to practice.Plaxico Burress, who sat out last week's game with back spasms,had his back tighten up again before practice Wednesday and he didnot work out. He is questionable for Sunday's game.Also questionable are LB Carlos Emmons (groin), Short, DE JustinTuck (foot) and Moss.Umenyiora is doubtful for Sunday's game with his hip problem.</div><div align="center">Source</div>Tough loss for the G-Men, especially with Plaxico Burres already banged up. Look for Tim Carter to step in.
