Osi Umenyiora Wants To Return To Giants, But Thinks Jets 'Might Be A Good Fit'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Osi Umenyiora has been a Giant for 10 years, but it's no secret that he may have played his last game with Big Blue.
The defensive end acknowledged after the season that his playing days with the Giants were likely over, but he told reporters in New Orleans on Thursday that he could certainly see himself back with New York next season.
"There's a chance, absolutely," Umenyiora said. "Of course (there) is. Hopefully that'll happen. I prefer to finish out my career there. But there's a lot of things in play here. It's not going to be totally my decision. They're going to have some decisions to make, also. It's going to be a collective effort. My agent's going to have his say. Hopefully things will work out there. I prefer to stay there."
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Umenyiora is right about the matter being somewhat out of his hands. General manager Jerry Reese might not want to re-sign the impending free agent, so the 31-year-old made it clear that he's keeping his options open and his agent will reach out to other teams.
Could one of those teams be the Jets?
The two-time Pro Bowler isn't ruling out playing at MetLife Stadium for the other New York team next season.
"Rex Ryan, when I was coming out of college, he was with Baltimore at the time and he came down to work me out at Troy (University)," Umenyiora told the New York Post. "He came to Atlanta, just me and him. We had a pretty good time out there, so I've always enjoyed him as a coach and as a person. That might be a good fit. Hopefully it will be with the Giants.''
The two-time Super Bowl champion said that his decision about which team to sign with won't be "solely based on money."
"Honestly, man, I think not only do I want to get something financially, but I want a chance to prove I am who I say I am," he said. "Wherever I get the best opportunity to do that is, I think, where I'm going to go. Hopefully that'll be in New York. I feel like I'm a Pro Bowl player and I feel like I'm a starter in this league.
"Obviously that might be difficult to do in New York, but the door's still open there. It's something I would really relish -- that opportunity to finish my career there."
The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder played all 16 games for the Giants in 2012. He recorded 43 combined tackles, forced two fumbles and had six sacks.
Super Bowl XLVII will be broadcast on CBS, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
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