Osi Umenyiora will return to practice with the New York Giants on Monday, ending a training camp standoff with the team that has seen him ride the exercise bike and watch practices, but not participate. Don’t mistake Umenyiora’s participation for happiness, however.
Umenyiora has been trying to get a new contract from the Giants, feeling he is worth more than the $7.1 million he is owed for the next two seasons.The Giants have offered incentives, but not a new contract. They have also refused to trade the disgruntled defensive end unless they can get a first-round draft pick in return.
Umenyiora had been claiming knee trouble, but doctors cleared him to return to practice late last week. In an e-mail to the Associated Press, Umenyiora said he would play under his current contract.
“No deal has been reworked,‘’ Umenyiora wrote in an email to the AP. "What has been offered has been unacceptable and shows they don’t really respect the fact I sacrifice my health for the franchise. I will play under my current deal because I love and respect my Coaches, my teammates, the fans, and myself. Not for those incentives."
Somehow, you get the idea that the dram between Umenyiora and the Giants is not over yet.