Osi Umenyiora Still a Giant?
Osi Umenyiora, defensive end for the New York Giants, is at a stalemate with his team due to pending contract terms.
According to the Star-Ledger, Umenyiora wants to be released into free agency, while the Giants would like to work out an incentive-based contract with him. John Mara, Giants Owner, said he is confident that the end result will keep Umenyiora on the team.
"Yes. I think it will be resolved and he’ll be a Giant this year," Mara said, according to NBC. "It’s something we can work out. We’re already talking to his agent to do something incentive wise with his contract to make him happy."
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Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported that some of these incentives would materialize if Umenyiora gets 13.5 sacks this season, a feat he only accomplished once during the course of his entire career. However there are other terms of Umenyiora’s contract that have yet to be worked through.
NFL Networks have reported that Umenyiora claims to have negotiated a contract with Jerry Reese, Giants general manager, for a $7.1 million base salary over the next two years. The deal also gave the defensive end’s agent the opportunity to seek a trade.
However, NFL networks reported that Reese changed his mind soon after. Despite the ongoing battle, Mara said the team needs to keep Umenyiora in a Giant's jersey.
“We want him on this team," Mara said, according to NFL networks. "He belongs here. He's had a great career here. He adds a lot to this team. I always say, the reason we were able to win Super Bowl XLII (in the 2007 season) was that they couldn't block our front. That was the first time all year Tom Brady faced that kind of pressure. That, to me, is the heart of our team. We're hoping we can work it out soon."
