New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora made an appearance on Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio today per ProFootballTalk.com. He mentioned that he doesn’t know what his future holds with the Giants and understands the NFL is a business.
“We’re just going to have to wait and see,” Umenyiora said. “I can see it going either way. I can see where they would keep me, I can see where they would trade me, because it makes sense both ways. So hopefully things will work out in my interest. I know the team is going to do what’s best for them. They’ve always made the right decisions for that organization. Whether that’s keeping me or trading me, I’d love to stay, but at the end of the day I understand it’s a business and hopefully things will work out.”
Umenyiora doesn’t hold any bitterness towards the Giants front office for not paying him the money he’s desired, and he would be happy with whatever the outcome is.
“Me and Jerry Reese, me and the owners, Mr. Mara and Mr. Tisch, we’re all cool,” Umenyiora said. “Even when all that stuff was going on, it wasn’t really as contentious as people would have thought. We just sat down and had a lot of conversations. We went back and forth as to what was going on. They understand it’s a business just like I understand it’s a business. If anything happens, in the event that I am traded or released, it’s not going to be bad. They would probably be doing it for my own good, in actuality, so I’ll be happy with anything that happens.”
Umenyiora may have to settle for not getting a new deal done this season and playing the 2012 season under his current deal, which will pay him just over $3 million.
If anything, Umenyiora has lost any type of leverage he once had to get a new deal because of the emergence of Jason Pierre-Paul and the fact that he missed half of the season because of injuries.
The Giants will certainly not release Umenyiora and the only way I could see them trading him, is if they’re able to get at least a first round pick in return.
Follow PFZ on Twitter @ProFootballZone
Nobody will pony up the 1st rounder but a 2nd is good for a guy with 1 year on his deal. I said last year they should only trade him for a 1st rounder but that was when he still had 2 years left now he is worth the 2nd rounder. Plenty of teams offered 2nd rounders for him i think off the top of my head Baltimore New england and a few other made like the Jets made serious looks at him. Trade him for a Pick or for a player we need TE O-line LB and 3 picks in the first 2 rounds gets us 3 starters.