During a press conference Friday at the NFL Combine, New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he expects defensive end Osi Umenyiora to remain a Giant during the upcoming season.
Umenyiora, who has clashed with Giants management over contract issues in the past and considers himself underpaid entering the final season of his contract, recently told ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike in the Morning" that he did not know whether he would be traded prior to the 2012 season.
The 30-year old was bothered by injuries in 2011 and played only nine regular-season games, but still managed to record 9.0 sacks. It was Umenyiora's clean slate of health later in the season that helped propel the Giants into the playoffs and ultimately to the Super Bowl title, as he notched 5.5 sacks (including playoffs) after returning to the lineup for the regular season finale.
The Giants blog Big Blue View cautions that the Giants should only consider a Umenyiora trade if it would net a big return: With one year remaining on his contract at $3.975 million, Umenyiora is still a force on the defensive line, and keeping him could be New York's best option.
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