New York Giants still open to negotiations with Osi Umenyiora – NFL News
New York Giants’ general manager, Jerry Reese, has said that the team management is still open to negotiating a contract extension with defensive end, Osi Umenyiora, who is not attending the team’s voluntary offseason workout, apparently to stress the need
of getting a long-term deal.
Addressing a pre-draft press conference on Thursday, April 19, 2012, the general manager said that an amicable solution of the issue could be reached, but at the same time Reese also asserted that both parties would have to make efforts to resolve the issue.
Reese said:
“There’s been a little bit of talk, but it’s a long way to go before we play and a lot of things still for us to do. That’s on our plate as well. … Osi has a year left on his contract. He’s not a free agent. We’ll try to address as many of those situations
– Osi’s situation and other situations that we have – moving forward.”
Osi has been playing with Giants since starting his professional National Football League (NFL) career in 2003. In 2005, he signed a six-year contract, which will end this year.
Osi’s performance has remained satisfactory and the team management has shown willingness in retaining the player.
Even the player himself has expressed hopes of continuing his association with the team, saying that he wants to retire as a Giant.
Despite the willingness from both parties, an agreement has not been reached on a new deal. Different reports have suggested that financial terms for the new deal have not been agreed upon by both stakeholders.
Despite the financial matters, there is something else that could hamper his contract negotiations.
Osi wants to play as starter rather than a backup in presence of Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul. Both players have been doing really well for the Giants and it will get really difficult for the management to give Osi the starting role.
No other details have been released by both stakeholders, leaving it difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the issue between the two sides.
The defending Super Bowl champions have already lost a couple of good players recently, and they do not want to lose Osi now. However, if a deal is not reached, they will have no other option.
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