Giants Prove Osi Wrong

By Paul Brezo - InReeseWeTrust.com 8/3/11

Osi Umenyiora believes he is one of the Top 5 defensive ends in the NFL.  He also believes that he should be paid accordingly.  The Giants on the other hand seem to disagree.  Osi has made it loud and clear that he wants to either be paid what he claims he deserves or else he should be traded to a team that agrees with his opinion.  Jerry Reese however, has made it clear to Osi that he will not be receiving a pay increase and a new contract, not just because of his performance but also because the Giants simply cant afford to give him a new contract.  The Giants struggled this season to bring back Ahmad Bradshaw with the available cap so its not all personal reasons why Osi wont be getting a new contract.  From the beginning of the lockout the chess game between Osi and Reese has been on going.  Each side making a move, and the other side countering.  Osi says he is going to hold out; Reese counters with a fine etc.  However I firmly believe that the most recent move by Jerry Reese should have made it clear that Osi's argument wont get him very far.

Jerry Reese finally gave in at the beginning of the week and granted Osi permission to seek what he wanted, a trade to another team that will pay him.  The kicker is that Reese wants a first round pick from the opposite team.  Osi and his agent rushed frantically this week to find a trading partner that offered a first rounder, was a great fit for Osi, and also was interested in giving Osi a new contract.  Jerry let Osi get a feel for the market... and today his time expired.  So without receiving any first round offers Jerry Reese decides to stop Osi from talking trade with other teams.  Osi was however in high demand, being contacted and speaking with numerous teams.  Just not for a first rounder.  How exactly does this mean that Reese proved Osi wrong?  Number 72 wanted to be paid like a Top 5 defensive end.  By sending Osi out to the market there should have been SOME team out there that would want a top 5 defensive end for a first rounder, but there wasn't.  Osi cannot believe he is top 5 in the NFL if another team wont give a first round selection for him.  If players like Jared Allen, DeMarcus Ware, Julius Peppers, Mario Williams and even Dwight Freeney were put on the trade block for a first round pick there would be a team out there to trade for them in a heartbeat... but Osi went fishing and came back empty handed.  Osi cannot expect the Giants to possibly pay top 5 DE money if the rest of the league doesn't believe he is top 5 either. Jerry Reese, by letting Osi get a feel for the trade market, has proved that Osi is indeed wrong. We are still uncertain if Osi will be traded or even get a new contract.... but what we do know is that it wont be for a first rounder, and certainly not top 5 money.  

My suggestion Osi?  Stay in NY, and finish your contract playing at a high level.  Prove to the rest of the league that you are, in fact, top 5 at your position.  So that way when your contract is up, teams will be throwing money at you.  Unless of course.... you want a contract now because you know that your very likely to get injured again and not be able to perform like a top 5 defensive end within the next 2 years, because clearly, that is exactly how Jerry Reese feels.