Osi Umenyiora Voices Frustration About Public Reaction To His Contract Situation In E-Mail To Associated Press

NFL fans are well aware of how unique this offseason period has been, but one of the residual effects of the lockout and the frenzied free agency period has been that there have been fewer holdouts by players looking for a new contract. Obviously there’s the issue of players perhaps being reluctant to hold out in the immediate aftermath of a long work stoppage in which both players and owners were labeled as greedy. There’s also the issue of players wanting and needing to get in to camp and begin preparations for the new season after not having OTAs or mini-camps.

There are, of course, several high-profile contract disputes, one being Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora’s with the New York Giants. The Pro Bowler has two years and $7.1 million remaining on his deal. Hardly chump change, but the 29-year old surely is looking around the league at some of the other monster deals being signed by defensive ends and feeling like he’s under-paid during the peak years of his career. He’s not incorrect either.

What Umenyiora’s most upset about though is the reaction to his situation. He’s received little sympathy from the media and fans and he thinks that’s not quite fair. He expressed his frustration with the public outcry in an e-mail to the Associated Press on Monday.

"I hope there is a chance (of working out something with the Giants)," he said in the e-mail. "But who knows? What really annoys me is the hypocrisy of people clamoring for my head for asking for a new deal or to be traded, saying I have two years left on my deal. These contracts only mean something to us? Where is (recently released center Shaun) O’hara? Where is (recently released guard) Rich Seubert? True inspirational football players. They were cut after being injured. They have years left on their deal. Why is (running back Brandon) Jacobs asked to take a pay cut? He has years left on his deal.

“The fact is in the business we are in, if you get injured, or they feel like you under-performed, they cut you without hesitation. But if you clearly out-play your contract and ask for something to be done, you’re a bad guy and not a team player. It’s ridiculous...."

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NFL Free Agency 2011: Ahmad Bradshaw Returns To New York Giants

[UPDATE, 08/01/11 4:33 PM EDT: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Bradshaw's deal is four year $18 million, with $9 million guaranteed. ]

New York Giants fans can breathe a little bit easier this afternoon. After watching the Philadelphia Eagles make several splashy free-agent moves, and worrying that the salary cap-restricted Giants were going to lose their best free agent, Giants fans got good news today when running back Ahmad Bradshaw re-signed.

It seems that Bradshaw, who had apparently been seeking an increase in the guaranteed money the Giants were offering, buckled to some strong-arm tactics by the Giants. He reportedly signed his contract while free-agent running back Jason Snelling, formerly of Atlanta, was meeting with Giants officials. Had Snelling signed with the Giants, Bradshaw likely would have needed to find a new team.

Financial terms have not been disclosed.

Bradshaw ran for 1,235 yards a season ago in his first year as the Giants starting tailback. Keeping the four-year veteran had generally been acknowledged as the Giants primary priority entering the 2011 season.

Giants Grant Osi Umenyiora's Agent Permission To Seek Out A Trade

One way or another, it seems like the Osi Umenyiora drama that has been surrounding the Giants Training Camp is going to come to an end. According to ESPN New York, the Giants have given Osi and his agent Tony Agnone permission to seek out a trade to another team, which will likely result in his ultimately being shipped out of New York.

"We'll do what's best for the New York Giants," Reese added when asked if he will rip up the defensive end's contract and give him a raise. "I don't have any comments about Osi until we get all the issues resolved."

But it might not happen right away because the Giants are reportedly asking for a first round pick in exchange for the defensive end. That's a lot for a team to give up for a player that so clearly wants to get out of town. In this situation, the team that would be trading for Osi would actually have a pretty significant amount of leverage. I don't think they will end up getting the first round pick they are looking for, but it never hurts to set your sights high to start.

So where might he end up? That's a different story all together. Our Giants blog Big Blue View has some potential options, headlined by the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens and our old friend Steve Spagnuolo with the St. Louis Rams.

We'll be keeping track of this drama as it continues to unfold.

New York Giants Training Camp, Day 4: Roster Shuffling Likely To Continue

Another day, more questions for the New York Giants. Free-agent running back Jason Snelling is scheduled to visit today, and there are a variety of reports that the Giants and the former Atlanta running back/fullback are serious about each other.

That, of course, could mean the end of Ahmad Bradshaw's Giants career. Bradshaw and the Giants are reportedly not close on a contract, and Bradshaw is drawing interest from other teams, reportedly Washington and Cincinnati right now.

These are anxious times for Giants fans, who have watched the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles get cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive end Jason Babin and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and the New York Jets sign Plaxico Burress.

Normally, teams have a mostly-settled roster when training camps begin. Due to the NFL Lockout and the compressed free agency period, though, rosters around the league are still being shuffled.

Tom Coughlin, the famously rules-oriented, highly-organized Giants coach seems to be dealing as well as can be expected with all of the comings and goings.

"We talked about this extensively and this might be one of those unusual years where you may have changes in your roster anytime throughout training camp. You go into it knowing full well, normally that's the case. This year, because of the last six months, who knows? There could be changes throughout camp." Coughlin said. "Yeah, you'd like it settled. Yeah, you want to get to work. Yeah, you want to have cumulative practice time. Hopefully that will be the case. To always try to improve and do better and create the competition you're talking about, I'd like to be able to do that, too."

More Giants Coverage

• Training Camp, Day 1
• Training Camp, Day 2
• Training Camp, Day 3
• Giants would ask for No. 1 pick if the trade Osi Umenyiora