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
nygreporter.com 
UPDATE: 04-26-10
Both John Mara and Jerry Reese have publicly stated that the New York Giants will not be trading DE Osi Umenyiora. This is good news for Osi and good news for Giants fans. I expect Osi to have a much better season in 2010. You would have to think that former DC Bill Sheridan had a lot to do with Umenyiora’s sub-par year. They banged heads as far back as the 2009 training camp. I’m excited to see how new DC Perry fewell and Osi get along. I think everything will be alright.