It's the offseason, and naturally that means it's time for another round of speculation that defensive end Osi Umenyiora could be nearing the end of his tenure with the New York Giants.
Brandt: Final Hot 100 rankings
With the long pre-draft process finally over, Gil Brandt presents his final top 100 (with a bonus 25 prospects). **More ...**
Umenyiora, long dissatisfied with his contract, is entering the final year of his seven-year deal with the Giants, and he said during a Wednesday interview with Sirius XM NFL radio that there's "a chance" he could be an ex-Giant in the coming days, according to the New York Daily News.
"There's a chance (of a trade)," the 30-year-old defensive end said. "I would've liked to start and finish my career with the same team, but it's a business. The Giants have to do what's best for them and obviously I have to do what's best for myself at this point.
"I feel like whatever happens over this weekend happens."
Those comments mark a departure from Umenyiora's statement earlier this month that he is not looking for a trade and that his agent has not discussed a trade this offseason. It appears any Umenyiora trade talk is just that, as two NFL sources told the Daily News that there's no reason to believe a trade is "imminent".
Umenyiora also said Wednesday that he's more open to playing out the final year of his contract than signing a short-term extension with the Giants, according to the Daily News. Umenyiora is slated to make $3.975 million during the 2012 season.
That hasn't deterred his desire for a new deal, and his comments to WFAN-AM suggest he has a starting point in mind for any negotiations, as he mentioned Robert Mathis' four-year, $36 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts and Trent Cole's four-year, $48-million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
"Over the last couple of years I always came back and I've always done the right thing for the Giants," Umenyiora said, via the Daily News. "At some point you have to do the right thing for yourself."
Wherever Umenyiora plays in 2012, the defensive end is determined to reposition himself as one of the more dominant defenders in the league.
"When I see Jared Allen doing whatever he does, I want to see what I'm able to do," Umenyiora told Sirius XM NFL radio, via the Daily News, adding that he feels that he has two more years left as an every-down player.
"I want to break (Michael) Strahan's record. That's what I really want to do. I love Strahan, but I want to do that. I want to go for that."
