THE NEW YORK GIANTS SHOULD EXTEND OSI UMENYIORA'S CONTRACT

[RoanokeFan]

<a href="http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/the_new_york_giants_should_extend_osi_umenyioras_c ontract/10712363">THE NEW YORK GIANTS SHOULD EXTEND OSI UMENYIORA'S CONTRACT
</a>
"New York Giants (http://www.rantsports.com/new-york-giants/) defensive end Osi Umenyiora (https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.rantsports.com/new-york-giants/2012/05/02/jerry-reese-vs-osi-umenyiora-whose-side-are-you-on/&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=A7WiT-vbG8P10gGii6nVDA&amp;ved=0CA8QFjAF&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNFY4eMFzZUtTYyta77Qwok5z7HU5g) has been making
the headlines lately with his open criticism of General Manager Jerry Reese (https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.rantsports.com/new-york-giants/2012/05/02/jerry-reese-vs-osi-umenyiora-whose-side-are-you-on/&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=A7WiT-vbG8P10gGii6nVDA&amp;ved=0CA8QFjAF&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNFY4eMFzZUtTYyta77Qwok5z7HU5g) and his contract
situation. The same thing happened last offseason as well, where Osi threatened
to hold out if he wasn’t given a new contract. Ultimately, Osi got on the field
and played football and the Giants won a Super Bowl. Now, Osi is back at it,
opening his mouth to everyone that walks by him about how Reese lied to him and
that he was promised a new contract. Osi became angry when the Giants gave <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.rantsports.com/new-york-giants/2012/04/27/new-york-giants-give-mathias-kiwanuka-3-year-16-5-million-extension/&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=tbWiT4muNOjZ0QGYvczQCA&amp;ved=0CAUQFjAA&amp;clie nt=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNGFGfVDZINS37c_npMZ1NycPlPGkQ" target="_blank">Mathias Kiwanuka a three-year contract
extension</a> and has come out and said the Giants are making him out to look
like a “greedy pig.”


The back and forth between Osi and Reese is purely a case of he-said,
she-said and Reese has publicly stated that Osi’s words will not play a role in
the Giants trying to re-sign him, something the Giants are trying to do. This
is the right move by Reese. There is no need to engage in a verbal tug-of-war
with one of your best players. Let him vent. It means nothing. If this is the
biggest distraction the Giants face as they gear up to defend their Super Bowl
title then so be it. That is a very good problem to have, a player who wants to
stay with the team, wants to get paid for being one of the best at his position,
and who won’t sulk on the field if he doesn’t get his way.</p>


Umenyiora has been an integral part of a defense that has led the Giants to
two Super Bowl Championships in five years. He has made two Pro Bowl
appearances in 2005 and 2007 and was named to two All-Pro teams in 2005 (first
team) and 2010 (second team, Associated Press). He has been in the top ten in
sacks three times and is currently 13^th on the active sacks leader
list. In 2010, Osi had 10 forced fumbles, a league record, and is one of the
best in the NFL at the strip-sack where he gets the quarterback to fumble the
football. He has 30 forced fumbles in his career. Every team in the NFL needs
a player like Osi Umenyiora. His on-field production has been fantastic, there
is no question. This past season he only played in 9 games as a result of
injury but still recorded 9 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He added another 3.5
sacks and one forced fumble in the Playoffs. Osi is one of the best defensive
ends in football.</p>


Osi’s problem is Osi. He has a big mouth. He isn’t the first football
player to open his mouth too often and he won’t be the last. Football players
have a short career, especially when it comes to maximizing their earnings
potential. They want to get paid and they want it immediately. That is
understandable, especially in a league where few dollars are guaranteed. You
could sign a huge, eight-year contract this year and be cut in two years and
never see a dime beyond what you have already made. Football is a merciless
game both on and off the field.</p>


Reese has publicly stated that the Giants are, “a better football team with
Osi Umenyiora on our team. We respect him as a football player. So our goal is
to have Osi play football for the New York Giants and retire a Giant.” Those
words might be PR but they are also true. The Giants are a better football team
with Osi Umenyiora. Reese should be working towards a contract extension with
one of his best players. It is only logical. Words mean nothing. Osi went out
there last season and played hard when he was healthy. In the nine games he
played in, he recorded three multi-sack games and added another one in the
playoffs against Green Bay. He has the ability to absolutely dominate a game
with his ability to get to the quarterback and cause him to fumble the
football.</p>


The New York Giants are a better football team with Osi Umenyiora. The
Giants are at their best when they get unrelenting pressure on the quarterback
and they have some of the best in the game at being able to do that. With
Justin Tuck (https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.rantsports.com/new-york-giants/2012/01/13/justin-tuck-this-11-team-is-better-than-07/&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=W7WiT7C2F4fV0QHSi4XVDA&amp;ved=0CAUQFjAA&amp;clie nt=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNHoly5I4-QVfqRCK8yaWzzGVFS7OQ), Jason Pierre-Paul (https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.rantsports.com/mock-draft/2012/04/25/new-york-giants-offseason-outlook-2/&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=hrWiT_CtA6e50AHWz-3VDA&amp;ved=0CA0QFjAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNGorqfryBNcwOlo6S9zW2hN_Pu_zw), Mathias Kiwanuka, and Osi able to
line up in various packages on the defensive front few teams are able to stop
them. You can’t double team everyone. Last season, despite injuries hampering
Osi and Tuck, the Giants placed third in the NFL with 48 sacks behind the
Minnesota Vikings (http://www.rantsports.com/minnesota-vikings/) and <a href="http://www.rantsports.com/philadelphia-eagles/" target="_blank">Philadelphia
Eagles</a> who both had 50. Had Tuck and Osi not been dealing with
nagging injuries, the Giants probably would have led the NFL in that category.
That is how good this defensive front is. The Giants don’t need to rely on
schemes and blitzes because their front four at any given moment can bust
through the offensive line and make your quarterback regret being born. That is
an effective weapon to have but the Giants must make sure they have all of the
bullets for their weapon and Osi is a part of that ammunition.</p>
The Giants need Osi and Osi needs the Giants. He fits the system and I think
everyone on that defensive front benefits from each other. If Osi were to leave
as a free agent he might be able to get more money but I don’t think his
production would be as good as it has been with the Giants. What is happening
right now is just talk. Osi has done it before and I am sure he will do it
again. He isn’t hurting anyone’s feelings. He might be aggravating some fans
who might see him as ungrateful but I honestly can’t say I blame him for wanting
more money or a little security moving forward. Who doesn’t want job security?
The only difference is Osi has microphones stuck in his face and writers who
follow his Twitter account and report his musings as news. I have confidence
the Giants and Osi will reach an agreement on a new contract and Osi’s mouth
will only be yapping at offensive linemen and quarterbacks."

[FBomb]

I don't disagree with any of this.</P>


So everybody just shut up, hammer out a deal and lets go get another one, OK? </P>

[JesseJames]

I don't necessarily have a problem with Osi but what I do have a problem with is these athletes signing a contract for more money and then wanting more money before the term of the contract is finished, whats with this stuff, who started it? and why bother negotiating a contract if its not going to be honored...

[Gimaniac]

Osi is under contract. There is no pressure to extend it. He has to play.

[fletch842]

I don't necessarily have a problem with Osi but what I do have a problem with is these athletes signing a contract for more money and then wanting more money before the term of the contract is finished, whats with this stuff, who started it? and why bother negotiating a contract if its not going to be honored...
I don't blame the players in the NFL for wanting to renegotiate when they outplay their contracts one bit. The owners can force them to take a pay cut, or release them with no issues, the players should have the same right.

In other leagues, there are a lot more guarantees on the contracts, binding the owners, and removing that as a reasonable strategy for the players.

[RoanokeFan]

I don't disagree with any of this.</p>


So everybody just shut up, hammer out a deal and lets go get another one, OK? </p>

[:#]

[FBomb]

I don't disagree with any of this.</P>


So everybody just shut up, hammer out a deal and lets go get another one, OK? </P>




[:#]
</P>


At least SOMEBODY is listening!</P>

[Roswell777]

Osi has a skill set that few posses and the essence of the game is to get to the QB. He should be extended.

[ashleymarie]

I don't disagree with any of this.</P>


So everybody just shut up, hammer out a deal and lets go get another one, OK? </P>


</P>


</P>


[Y]</P>

[miked1958]

Pay the man

[chizz]

i want osi to retire a giant

[Rat_bastich]

My problem isn't with Osi wanting a new contract and its not about what he feels about Reese or whoever. My problem is that the last couple of years he has taken it to the public.

When dealing at least with the Giants, Packers, Steelers and organizations of similar caliber you keep it in house. That way you don't have to eat crow...or look like a greedy pig after a deal may be reached.

In my opinion Osi does look bad in this whole situation and by his words reaching any medium that either does or does not want to hear them, he seems to be in a state of panic. By the same token, the Giants for the most part have been mum. That is something a professional organization does.

He doesn't seem to have learned from last year. Teams are not going to trade a high draft pick for a guy closer to the end of his career than the beginning. One that has had injury issues.

For all we know, Reese may have offered an extension to Kiwi to shore up a spot there and been working towards Osi next. Hopfully cooler heads prevail, but as I said in other posts, Osi has nothing behind him except his play.

He cannot sit this year because he is playing for his next contract. He has to get out there and prove that he is injury free and can still play at a high level. Yeah he did have a good run when he did play last year, but still he hasn't played a full season in a few years.

[rainierjef]

I don't disagree with any of this.</p>


So everybody just shut up, hammer out a deal and lets go get another one, OK? </p>

^ Fair enough to me

[BlueReign]

Here's how to maximize the situation: Let him play half of the season under his current contract, you know he'll be playing hard to get that big deal in the offseason, then during the bye week, extend him. That will give him the extra push to finish off the season strong.