New York Giants: The Young & The Restless Osi

March 26, 2010

The soap opera surrounding All Pro Giants DE Osi Umenyiora is becoming distracting. Giants fans are reading reports about him participating in the voluntary off-season program, otherwise known as, get to the stadium if you know what’s good for you. The coaches are giving him praise and have clearly said that they want him to remain on the team. Tom Coughlin not guaranteeing Osi a starting position is nothing new. Every year you can count on one thing when training camp starts and that is a sound byte of Coughlin saying that “competition is good”. Coach Coughlin believes in fair and honest competition and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I am on Coughlin’s side with this one. The only person on the team, who I think you can honestly say is guaranteed a starting position, is QB Eli Manning.

I think the media is turning Osi into an issue. I think Osi is very happy in New York and just needs to shrug off a bad year in 2009. It happens to the best of them and how he conducts himself from this moment forward, will show what his character is made of. It seems like these media guys are constantly trying to get a “money shot” or “money quote” from Osi. Leave the man alone and let him go about his business is what I say. These same media guys will be all over his jock when he gets 15-20 sacks this season and re-emerges as a top tier defensive end. The guy missed an entire season not too long ago and needed some time to get his mojo back. His ego was bruised with embarrassment because of his down year and that is why reporters got some crazy statements from him at the end of last season. I think he will prove a lot of people wrong this year and I am glad the Giants organization will be keeping him.

What do you think about the Osi situation?

RD – NYGReporter.com