Why Osi Umeniyora Has Played His Last Down for the New York Giants

As is seemingly the case each spring, New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora is once again unhappy about his lack of a long-term contract. However, there are a couple of new wrinkles in the Umenyiora situation that make it more likely than ever that the nine-year pro may have played his last down as a member of the Giants.

The 30-year-old Umenyiora, who had 25 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles in nine games last year, has been grousing about a new contract since what seems like the instant he signed the old one back in 2005.

Umenyiora held out briefly last year while claiming that New York general manager Jerry Reese had "promised him" a contract, only to turn down an incentive-laden contract and then struggle through an injury-marred 2011 campaign.

After that injury-plagued season, and given New York's depth along the defensive front, the team doesn't appear to be in a huge rush to break the bank for their defensive end.

Umenyiora became even more disgruntled when New York recently signed linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka to a three-year, $21.75 million contract extension. In fact, he even fired off an e-mail to the New York Daily News in which he lambasted Reese for trying to "make him look like a greedy pig."

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“Last year I was offered incentives. This year they offered me in guaranteed money, HALF of what they just gave Kiwi guaranteed. HALF,” Umenyiora wrote. “I’m not making that up. Then Jerry tells the world they offered me an extension and I turned it down. And I look like a greedy pig for turning it down. Hilarious.”

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Reese, for his part, stated recently that "all options" remained open with Umenyiora, including signing the two-time Pro Bowler to an extension. However, that's looking less and less likely by the day, as the team and Umenyiora are reportedly nowhere close to agreeing to terms. Umenyiora is understood to be hoping for a deal that will pay him more than $10 million annually with $15 million in guaranteed money.

The team was reportedly shopping Umenyiora during last week's NFL draft, with Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network speculating that he could be had for a third-round pick. Whether it was due to Umenyiora's contract demands or the compensation that the Giants were seeking, no deal got done and Umenyiora remains in the Big Apple for now.

Trade rumors have once again picked up steam as a result of the recent season-ending Achilles injury suffered by Baltimore Ravens defensive end Terrell Suggs. The Ravens reportedly explored trading for Umenyiora last year. Therefore, with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year sidelined, rumblings have begun that perhaps the team may look at that option once again.

However, as much as the Ravens might like the idea of bringing Umenyiora on board, Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com doesn't feel that a trade with Baltimore is likely. After all, it appears that the same thing that is keeping Umenyiora angry in New York is keeping him from leaving. That is, his price tag.

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The Giants didn't trade Umenyiora last year because teams like Baltimore balked at New York's first-round asking price. It's not in Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome's DNA to give up high future picks. Umenyiora is especially costly because he would require a big long-term deal to make the trade sensible.

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That said, if Jerry Reese really is dug in about not giving Umenyiora the money he's seeking, now may be the time to strike. The Ravens were one game from the Super Bowl a season ago and have to be reeling after the loss of one of their defensive leaders.

The Giants may not be able to get a first-round pick, but the third-rounder that was posited during the draft is a much different story. In any event, what New York gets now will be a fair bit more than what they're going to get at the end of this year, which is nothing.

If the New York Giants truly are prepared to move forward with Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Kiwanuka (who they could move back to the line) as their defensive ends, that's great.

As things stand now, though, the only thing that's being accomplished is keeping sportswriters busy (thanks, by the way) and increasing the animosity on both sides. The last thing Big Blue needs as training camp gets underway is the ugly distraction of one of their defensive stars becoming embroiled in a prolonged holdout.

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