Posted: 05:54 PM ET June 01, 2012
By Ryan Wilson | NFL Blogger
Umenyiora says he's 'happy.' (Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com) After recently parting ways with his longtime agent, Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora finally saw some movement on a new deal that he's been seeking for some two years now. Coincidence or not, it appears to be good news for all parties involved. The team announced Friday that the two-time Pro Bowler had agreed to restructure his current contract, which is not strictly "new" but is "different."
The terms weren't disclosed, but ESPN's Andrew Brandt tweeted Friday night that negotiations took place directly between Umenyiora and general manager Jerry Reese, and in the restructured deal the Giants can't tag Umenyiora in 2013. "Deal appears to be one-year band aid to soothe some discontent," Brandt wrote.
Either way, Umenyiora sounded both pleased and relieved.
“I'm just happy, I'm happy all that's over with,” Umenyiora said, according to the team website. “It's time to get back to work. It was definitely frustrating (not being on the field this spring), but hearing some of the things they said, whether it was Kiwi or (Justin) Tuck or JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul) or Antrel (Rolle) -- hearing the way they supported me -- it made me want to come back even more and be around them. Those guys really stepped up for me. I really appreciate it, and I'm happy to be here with them.”
Last offseason, the Giants and Umenyiora were so far apart in negotiations that the team allowed him to temporarily seek a trade. He ended up having arthroscopic knee surgery in August before returning to the team for their run to the Lombardi Trophy.
"Money can't be a motivator for you on the actual football field," Umenyiora said back in October. "That's not the way I've ever been. We'll have the offseason to think about that. But not right now."
And his patience has paid off, even if not quite as handsomely as he had hoped.
“I appreciate Osi's patience and effort through this process,” Reese said Friday. “We talked it out, and it makes sense for everybody involved. We are very pleased, excited and looking forward to seeing number 72 on the field at Monday's OTA.”
Umenyiora, 30, says he's in great shape and is looking forward to joining his teammates. “I'll be there,” he said. “I can't wait. I'm all in. Like Antrel says, 'I'm all in.'”
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Tags: Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, Ryan Wilson, New York Giants, NFL
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