Osi The Season Is Over, Give It a Rest

Usi Umenyiora had a up and down 2009 season like all the Giants did.  Osi openned the season scoring a touchdown against the Redskins in his return to the NFL after missing the 2008 season with a knee injury.  It couldnt have started any better for the team either as they started 5-0 and for Osi who had 3 sacks in his first 4 games back. Things only got worse from there for the team and Osi has he lost his starting jobby the end of the year and the team only won 3 more games the rest of the way to end a promising season. 

In an interview with WFAN Joe Benningo and Evan Roberts, Osi said "I’m not going to be a back up player, I can promise you that,”. “I’ll stop playing football before I do that ever again." While Osi hasnt publicly asked or demanded a trade, the writing is on the wall. 

The Giants dont need another distraction going into the 2010 season. 2007 Michael Strahan enjoyed the month of August in California before coming back at the start of the season. 2008 offseason we waited and waited until Jeremy Shockey was shipped out just before the start of training camp and last year the Giants had to deal with Plaxicogate all over again. 

To me its pretty clear that Osi and Headcoach Tom Coughlin are not on the same page anymore.  Osi wasnt happy with being benched last year and from what we hear from the Giants beat writters it wasnt from former defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan.  No need to patch things up. Lets trade him now before the draft so we can start the season problem free.

There are plenty of teams that can use Osi, the Jets and Patriots to name a few.  Even if we cant land a first round pick, I'll be happy with a second rounder. With Umenyiora entering his 8th year in the NFL I think his best days are behind him.  Add the fact the Giants are on the hook for another 31 million over the next three years the time to move him is now. 

Lets face it, Osi is horrible against the run.  He was run over by Dallas, and teams run at him and away from Justin Tuck. The same was true when Michael Strahan lineup on the other side as well. Osi has also lost a step. Maybe its the year off the knee surgery but he has only shown flashes of his old self.  With all that its time to move on with Umenyoira and fix some of problems on defense with the pick he brings back.

After all we dont need another distraction going into the season. New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell needs to start with players that want to be here.  If you read between the lines you know the Osi doesnt.  Jerry Reese should do the smart thing and move him before he becomes another distraction.