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Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - Dyoshot - 06-16-2011 11:01 AM
Osi Umenyiora says promises brokenEmail Print Comments24 By Adam Schefter
ESPN
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In a sworn affadavit to be filed in federal court in Minnesota next month as part of the players' antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora spells out why he has wanted out of New York.
Osi Umenyiora Affidavit
"In early April 2008, approximately two weeks before the start of the New York Giants offseason conditioning program, I, Osi Umenyiora, had a meeting with the general manager of the New York Giants, Mr. Jerry Reese.
"After about an hour of discussing my current contract, as well as the contracts of other defensive ends currently playing in the National Football League, Mr. Reese told me that two years from the start of the 2008 league year, if I was currently playing at a high level, we'd either renegotiate my current contract so that it would be equal to that of the top five defensive ends playing or I would be traded to a team that would do that.
"Before leaving the meeting, I asked Mr. Reese twice if he was absolutely sure that would be the case. He then told me that he was an honest and church-going man and that he would not lie, which I believed to the be the case. Under the penalty of perjury these statements are true and accurate."
Umenyiora states Giants general manager Jerry Reese did not follow through on promises to renegotiate his contract, which the Pro Bowl defensive end still has not forgotten and could contribute to his departure before the 2011 season, whenever it begins.
"In early April 2008, approximately two weeks before the start of the New York Giants offseason conditioning program, I, Osi Umenyiora, had a meeting with the general manager of the New York Giants, Mr. Jerry Reese," Umenyiora testified this past April.
"After about an hour of discussing my current contract, as well as the contracts of other defensive ends currently playing in the National Football League, Mr. Reese told me that two years from the start of the 2008 league year, if I was currently playing at a high level, we'd either renegotiate my current contract so that it would be equal to that of the top five defensive ends playing or I would be traded to a team that would do that.
"Before leaving the meeting, I asked Mr. Reese twice if he was absolutely sure that would be the case. He then told me that he was an honest and church-going man and that he would not lie, which I believed to be the case. Under the penalty of perjury these statements are true and accurate."
The NFL Players Association feels Umenyiora has suffered irreparable harm, which is one of the main reasons it sought out Umenyiora as one of the plaintiffs in the Brady vs. NFL antitrust case, which the former union filed shortly after decertifying. The NFLPA plans to file the sworn affidavits of select plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
The Giants declined comment due to the ongoing litigation.
Whenever the lockout is lifted, the Giants will face a critical decision on Umenyiora, who has two years left on a contract that is scheduled to pay him about $3.5 million this season.
For now, it appears as if the 29-year-old Umenyiora has made up his mind. He recently moved out of his New Jersey home with plans to take up full-time residence in Atlanta, where he has spent much of his time over the past six years.
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This offseason, Umenyiora underwent surgery to have a piece of bone removed from his hip, an injury that bothered him throughout last season, when it felt as if he was being jabbed on each play. Umenyiora is said to feel fully recovered and ready for football.
He repeatedly has sought a contract extension or a trade to a team willing to give him one. Umenyiora certainly no longer sounds confident it will come from the Giants, who used their top pick last year on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.
In 2008, Umenyiora suffered a season-ending left knee injury in the preseason. In 2009, Umenyiora started 16 games, registered 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Last season, he started all 16 games and had 11.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles. Umenyiora's last contract extension came in December 2005, when he signed a six-year, $41 million contract.
RE: Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - pauliwood - 06-16-2011 12:08 PM
If this was any city other than Atlanta, I would say that this is a dead giveaway that he will be a Falcon, however, Atlanta has become a Mecca for professional athletes (especially football). This was made obvious by the Oakland Raiders holding their "OTA's" here in Atlanta( almost as far from Oakland as possible). All that being said, it would thrill me if we got Osi.
It would be interesting to see how the TD haters (we all know who) would try to spin this to make Osi look bad
RE: Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - phalcon phil - 06-16-2011 01:27 PM
(06-16-2011 12:08 PM)pauliwood Wrote: If this was any city other than Atlanta, I would say that this is a dead giveaway that he will be a Falcon, however, Atlanta has become a Mecca for professional athletes (especially football). This was made obvious by the Oakland Raiders holding their "OTA's" here in Atlanta( almost as far from Oakland as possible). All that being said, it would thrill me if we got Osi.
It would be interesting to see how the TD haters (we all know who) would try to spin this to make Osi look bad
anyone who would hate on this move or TD for doing it is a fucking idiot.
RE: Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - Polar Bear Jones - 06-16-2011 01:37 PM
Dont know if they would release him but they do have JPP and could resign Kiwi. May take a second or 3rd round pick. A pick for a disgruntled New York defensive end. Worked last time.
RE: Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - Paulitik - 06-16-2011 01:57 PM
He'd be a great fit in our DL rotation.
RE: Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - pauliwood - 06-16-2011 01:59 PM
(06-16-2011 01:37 PM)Polar Bear Jones Wrote: Dont know if they would release him but they do have JPP and could resign Kiwi. May take a second or 3rd round pick. A pick for a disgruntled New York defensive end. Worked last time.
Sure did!
RE: Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - JRid - 06-16-2011 02:30 PM
(06-16-2011 01:57 PM)Paulitik Wrote: He'd be a great fit in our DL rotation.I saw an interview with Osi last year and he was saying that he does not like being in a rotating system. He likes to stay in more so he can set up his opponent and so he can get into a groove. When I saw that I wrote him off for Atlanta because he seemed very serious about not liking a rotating system and not playing for a team that uses it.
If he has changed his mind about that somewhat then I would be all for getting him. He has gotten a little older so maybe he would enjoy limiting his snaps so he can play longer.
RE: Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - phocis850 - 06-16-2011 03:22 PM
Osi is not a guy you want to rotate often. Abe is on the field a lot. Osi would be as well.
RE: Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - nativefalcon - 06-16-2011 05:30 PM
Hey that coulld be the reason WHY we didn't grab a DE in the draft, GOOD LORD I would be in heaven if we got him. If hes stays in Atlanta for the last 6 years hes going to have buddies on the falcons ala ABE?
RE: Osi says Giants lied to him. Any chance he becomes a Falcon??? - JRid - 06-17-2011 12:08 AM
Here is the interview I saw last year. He starts talking about rotating around 3:30.
Osi interview