Osi Umenyiora Calls LeSean McCoy a 'Chihuahua or Poodle'

New York Giants defensive end, Osi Umenyiora, is still making a lot of noise one day after leaking bits of an affidavit claiming that New York Giants GM Jerry Reese reneged on a verbal agreement to renegotiate his contract.  Now, when Umenyiora should be in some sort of spin control, he has stirred up more controversy by comparing Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy to a yapping, little lap dog.

After Umenyiora's story broke on Thursday afternoon, McCoy Tweeted that Umenyiora was "overrated n soft."  McCoy also called Umenyiora the "3rd best d-line on his team honestly."

In a phone interview with The New York Times, Umenyiora responded to McCoy's tweet.

"That little chihuahua or poodle in the backfield," steamed Umenyiora.  "He doesn't have to block me.  If you have something to say, say it man to man; you can't be a Twitter gangster.  That's easy to do, trying to be a tough guy.  Say it to my face, and we'll see what happens."

Or you can say it in an affidavit to be filed in Minneapolis next month.

Umenyiora goes on to say that the G-Men's defense has a pet name for McCoy: "Lady Gaga."  The Giants defensive end doesn't elaborate on how the nickname came about.

McCoy hasn't replied to Umenyiora's diss, but he might start by reminding him that the Eagles are 4-0 against the Giants with the speedster in the backfield and then go all Twitter gangster by throwing in a video of his game-winning run through Umenyiora's fingertips and the Giants defense last season. 

The G-Men's defense had so many holes against the Eagles in that epic New York fail last season, McCoy might think of calling them the Kardashians.

While Umenyiora goes off on McCoy, it looks like his stance against the Giants has softened.

According to the Times interview, Osi did an about face and revealed his deep love for the team from the Meadowlands.

Umenyiora said he'd be happy to return to New York, even after, in that sworn affidavit, called Reese a liar for going back on a two-year old verbal commitment to renegotiate his contract after the 2010 season.

"I love my teammates.  The owners of the team, Mr. Mara and Mr. Tisch, I'm really cool with both of them," said Umenyiora.  "They came to the hospital when I was injured...I don't have a beef with them per se.  At the end of the day, they're going to have to make the best decision for them."

Umenyiora's case is notable mostly because he is one of the plaintiffs named in the ongoing anti-trust case against the NFL.

Finally, some spinning and less stirring from the disgruntled Giant.  Stay tuned.

Osi Umenyiora Has Packed His Bags & Wants Out Of New York

If it's spring, it must mean another demand to be traded by New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora.  In what has become an annual grind in the Giants rumor mill,  Umenyiora is making allegations and mandates once again.  Only this time it seems like Osi really means it.

In a sworn affidavit to be filed in Minneapolis next month, Umenyiora makes it clear why he wants to leave New York by stating Giants general manager, Jerry Reese,  has failed to honor a verbal agreement to renegotiate Umenyiora's current contract.

According to ESPN,  Umenyiora met with Reese during the off-season after the 2008 season and the GM promised that, in two years, the Giants would reevaluate the two-time Pro-Bowler's contract.



"In early 2008, approximately two weeks before the start of the New York Giants off-season conditioning program, I, Osi Umenyiora, had a meeting with the general manager of the New York Giants, Mr. Jerry Reese," testified Umenyiora last April.  "If I was playing in the National Football League at a high level, we'd either renegotiate my current contract so it would be equal to the top five defensive ends playing or I would be traded to a team that would do that."

Umenyiora claims Reese has amnesia when it comes to the meeting.

"He [Reese] told me that he was an honest, church-going man and he would not lie."

The Giants defensive end has led the team in sacks in five of the last six seasons.  Umenyiora's last contract extension in December 2005 was for 6-years at $41 million.  He has two years left and he will be paid $3.5 million if the 2011 ever season starts.

This has been an ongoing drama between Umenyiora and the Giants for a long time and, frankly, Giants fans are getting a little ticked at the pushy 280-pounder.

During the 2009 season, after the second-round draft pick lost his starting job and threatened the Giants with trade demands.  The following spring he was stroked the wrong way and threatened to leave again.

The 29 year-old Umenyiora has been bothered by injuries over the past few seasons and played through some pain, but his song-and-dance routine is getting tired.

He missed the entire 2008 season after tearing up his left knee in an exhibition game against the New York Jets and is recovering from hip surgery from a lingering hip injury.  Umenyiora says his hip is fine right now and he is ready to bring it on.

This time, it looks like the tempestuous Giant is sticking to his guns about leaving the Meadowlands before--or when--the 2011 season begins.

Umenyiora has packed up his bags and moved his personal belongings to Atlanta, his home of six years, according to reports.

The New York Giants have not publicly commented on the situation, but it is unlikely they will back down.  Maybe they know something.

The current NFL lockout prohibits teams and players from discussing any disputes during litigation.

New York Giants Version of " The Decision": Jacobs or Bradshaw?

The New York Giants have made it clear that there are two things the team won't be losing.  Eli Manning will continue to guide the offense and Tom Coughlin--as announced by co-owner John Mara--will continue to call the shots as head coach from the sidelines.  Now if the team could find a way to get back some of the 45 turnovers they had last season.

The Giants will be spending the second off-season in a row, on their couches, watching the Seattle Seahawks--a team they beat 41-7--take their lowly 7-9 record into the playoffs, then watch the Chicago Bears--a team they crushed--in a playoff game next weekend.  The Giants can only wonder how they turned a 10-6 season into a bad dream.

They could start with the running game.  Brandon Jacobs and  Ahmad Bradshaw combined for over 2,000 yards but the Biggie-Small attack seemed to be ineffective in more games than not.

The remaining two-thirds of the vaunted and successful "Earth, Wind and Fire" Giants backfield of 2008 should be called "Dirt and Air" for the way Jacobs falls to the ground on too many short yardage situations and Bradshaw, because it seems like that is what he's carrying, after dropping the ball at the slightest touch from an opposing linebacker.

For all the gaudy numbers (Bradshaw, 1235 yards and Jacobs, 835 yards) this two-back system seemed like it stalled too many times.  Now Coughlin and GM Jerry Reese must consider their options.  Bradshaw is one of 21 Giant players not under contract for 2011--that is if there is a 2011 season--and Jacobs is in the middle of a four-year contract extension worth $25 million.

The last time Jacobs, 28, was seen he was storming out of the Giants locker room, carrying a torn garbage bag containing his gear like a 270 pound Grinch, cursing at photographers.  The surly and disruptive running back snapped back, "Click, click, click. You're all taking pictures of Brandon Jacobs leaving, wondering if he's going to return.  That will be your caption for tomorrow.  Well, f--- you all."  Maybe Earth knows something we don't.  Players who talk in the first person seem to get traded a lot.

Meanwhile, Bradshaw, 24,--the more versatile back--looked back at a season that fizzled out at the end.  He had two 90 yard performances in the final nine games and four of them were losses.  Never mind the six costly fumbles.  Turnovers--something the Giants (NFL leaders with 41)  can do without.  Eli had 25 but he's still has a job.

Coughlin sat both running backs at some point  during the season and, while Bradshaw took it in stride after he lost the title of No. 1 back, Jacobs turned it into a WikiLeaks conspiracy and pouted on the sideline.  It wasn't until Bradshaw's game-killing fumbles became more frustrating than the one-dimensional Jacobs 3-yard gains that Coughlin started the big man again with some success.

Reese now has to make a choice.  The two-back system seems to be in vogue around the NFL, but it doesn't always work.  It's been two years since the Giants made the playoffs and their tag-team running game doesn't seem as dominant as in the past.  This Yin and Yang was unreliable and seemed more like Stumble and Fumble in 2010.

The limited role Jacobs had played may have tweaked his ego and he became a disruptive force in the locker room last season.  He still occasionally goes head first into the turf like a larger version of Ron Dayne and has not lived up to his billing since his contract extension (despite injury concerns) in 2009.  He is due for some big money soon.

Bradshaw had the worst case of fumblitis since Dave Krieg and wore down as the season played out.  Although he is more of a receiving threat than Jacobs and has the ability to break open a game on every play, he was a M*A*S*H Unit of injuries--wrists, ankles--and it showed during that final stretch.  If Coughlin can rid Bradshaw of his poor ball handling--ala Tiki Barber--Bradshaw could be the complete back the Giants need, and one of the best in the league.

Jacobs and Bradshaw, as a duo, and their and down seasons are something the Giants need to address. It's like Superman stuck with Robin.  The big guy needs no sidekick.  Has a team or backfield looked so invincible one week only to fall faster than the Metrodome roof the next?

If the NFL and the player's union do negotiate a collective bargaining agreement, and there is a 2011 season, the Giants should hand the ball to Bradshaw.  Just make sure there is a little Stickum on it.