New York Giants’ Mathias Kiwanuka sympathises with Osi Umenyiora
When New York Giants gave a contract extension to linebacker, Mathias Kiwanuka, last month, his teammate, Osi Umenyiora, was going through a difficult time as the latter was also seeking a long-term deal from the management.
Osi is more experienced than Kiwi and the former’s deal issue has been in the limelight since a long time now and it was expected that the Giants would take care of Osi’s matter first before turning their focus towards other players.
However, that did not happen and Osi’s issue, which has not been resolved yet, was overlooked at that time and as Kiwi enjoyed a new deal that guaranteed his stay with the team through the 2015 National Football League (NFL) season, Osi waited for his turn.
Later, Osi also acknowledged that the Giants had offered him a deal, but maintained that the payout was even less than what Kiwi received from the team.
Some sections of media also reported that Osi was unhappy over Kiwi’s deal, but Kiwi does not think that Osi had any problems with him when the contract extension was signed.
In fact, Kiwi is feeling pain for Osi and thinks that he should be given a long-term, hefty contract extension.
According to the New York Daily News, Kiwi has asserted that he has good relations with Osi and that the latter was not angry when the former received the extension.
He said:
“I looked at what he said. There was nothing that he said that was outright disrespectful. I mean, Osi nd me, we have a relationship. I know that if something cape up I felt was out of line, I’d have called him up and we’d have handled it. But I didn’t think
there was anything that went that far.”
Kiwi also realises that Osi’s contract is set to expire this year and it will be difficult for the player to play the next season amid fears of losing his job.
Kiwi said of Osi:
“He’s been under contract in a bad deal for years now. Anybody who looks at the situation would say, ‘Well, this should’ve been taken care of a long time ago.’ For whatever reason, it hasn’t, so I understand his frustration.”
Osi might not be getting the desired response from the team management, but his teammates are certainly backing him. First it was Justin Tuck who supported Osi’s demand of getting a long-term contract and then it is Kiwi who has backed him.
However, the final call will be made by the team management.
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