The New York Giants have given permission to the agent of Osi Umenyiora to work out a trade for the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end, a league source told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio.
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The Giants want a first-round pick in exchange for Umenyiora, who continues to be unhappy with his contract status even after a meeting with team officials over the weekend, the source said.
Umenyiora's agent, Tony Agnone, began contacting teams on Monday. He and a spokesman for the Giants declined comment on Monday.
Umenyiora is expected to remain in training camp pending the trade.
In a sworn affidavit as part of the recent Brady vs. NFL lawsuit during the lockout, Umenyiora said Reese told him in 2008 that if the defensive end were still playing at a high level in two years, he'd reward him with a new contract or trade him to a team that would pay him like a top-five defensive end.
Umenyiora has two years remaining on his contract worth a total of $8 million. The two-time Pro Bowler is coming off a season in which he had 11.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles.
Umenyiora met with Giants general manager Jerry Reese on Sunday, and coach Tom Coughlin had said that he thought progress was made.
"Osi and I had a very good conversation and really that is all I am going to say about that," Reese said in an interview on the Boomer and Carton show on WFAN radio on Monday morning. "There are still some ongoing issues involved with that."
Umenyiora reported to camp on Saturday and underwent his physical on Sunday. Coughlin said Umenyiora was scheduled to visit with team doctor Russell Warren to get clearance to practice since Umenyiora has had issues in past with his hip, which required surgery in the offseason. Umenyiora watched practice from the sideline on Sunday night.
"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."
Id love to have Osi part of the rams squad but giving up a 1st round pick for him is way to much and will never happen with the rams.
-08-01-2011, 09:31 AM
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