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The damage is done and it is unimaginable it can be repaired.
The staunch refusal by Osi Umenyiora to play for his current salary makes it seemingly inevitable he’s headed for a divorce from the Giants that will not be amicable, resulting in the talented defensive end donning another uniform and menacing the quarterback for another team.
“I know what Osi means to this team so I haven’t even allowed myself to think of him not on this football team,” good friend Justin Tuck said.
Tuck can try to keep bad thoughts out, but reality is tough to combat. The Giants yesterday gave permission to Umenyiora’s agent, Tony Agnone, to seek a trade, but the Giants — cognizant of the caliber of the player — aren’t making it easy for the transaction to take place. They have insisted on a first-round draft pick as compensation. Plus, whatever team takes the bait must have enough salary cap space to negotiate a new deal with Umenyiora, who is looking for a big, big payday.
Umenyiora claimed in a sworn affidavit as part of an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL that general manager Jerry Reese did not live up to his promise to provide a new contract or else trade him. Although the two spoke on Saturday, the acrimony — at least on Umenyiora’s part — remains.
Simmering, Umenyiora, in an email to the Associated Press, responded with a blistering attack on a system he says is blatantly unfair.
“I hope there is a chance,” Umenyiora wrote of a possible return to the Giants. “But who knows? What really annoys me is the hypocrisy of people clamoring for my head for asking for a new deal or to be traded. Saying I have two years left on my deal. These contracts only mean something to [players]? Where is [Shaun] O’Hara? Where is [Rich] Seubert? True inspirational football players. They were cut after being injured. They have years left on their deal.
“Why is [Brandon] Jacob asked to take a pay cut? He has years left on his deal. The fact is in the business we are in, if you get injured, or they feel like you under-performed, they cut you without hesitation. But if you clearly outplay your contract, and ask for something to be done, you’re a bad guy and not a team player. It’s ridiculous.”
The ill-will is evident in Umenyiora’s non-participation in training camp practices. He’s held himself out and Tuck said it’s not because of health issues. Tuck called it “a strategy.”
Tom Coughlin confirmed that Umenyiora’s appearance on the sideline during practice is not injury-related. Umenyiora is digging in and, according to a source, is adamant that he will never again play for the Giants under his current contract. His arrival at camp the past three days means he avoids the $30,000 per day holdout fee, and he does attend team meetings. If a trade cannot be worked out, Umenyiora could refuse to take the field and the Giants could suspend him. This could get really messy.
“Right now to be honest with you it’s not [a distraction],” Coughlin said. “We wouldn’t want to go a whole lot further than this, obviously.”
Many teams could use a 29-year old player who last season registered 11 1/2 sacks, plus an NFL-record 10 forced fumbles. There could be interest from the Falcons, Seahawks, Raven and possibly the Rams — where former Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo runs the show — and Broncos.
The Giants likely are willing to bump up the remainder of Umenyiora’s six-year, $41 million deal — he’s scheduled to make $3.125 million this season and $3.975 million in 2012 — but not willing — and simply do not have the cap room — to give him what he wants. The Umenyiora camp noted the staggering deal defensive end Charles Johnson got to re-sign with the Panthers — six years, $76 million, with $32 million guaranteed — and believe Umenyiora is worth every bit as much as Johnson.
“How does a guy who had one good year (no disrespect to Charles Johnson) sign a deal and make more than both me and Tuck combined?” Umenyiora wrote in the email to the AP.
Defensive end is the strength of the team, with Tuck, Umenyiora, second-year behemoth Jason Pierre-Paul and recently re-signed Mathias Kiwanuka. Losing Umenyiora, though, would adversely affect the depth and rotation and remove from the roster a dynamic playmaker.
I hope there is a chance. But who knows? What really annoys me is the hypocrisy of people clamoring for my head for asking for a new deal or to be traded. Saying I have two years left on my deal. These contracts only mean something to us? Where is [Shaun] O’Hara? Where is [Rich] Seubert? True inspirational football players. They were cut after being injured. They have years left on their deal. Why is [Jacobs] asked to take a pay cut? He has years left on his deal. The fact is in the business we are in, if you get injured, or they feel like you under-performed, they cut you without hesitation. But if you clearly outplay your contract, and ask for something to be done, you’re a bad guy and not a team player. It’s ridiculous.
How does a guy who had one good year (no disrespect to Charles Johnson) sign a deal and make more than both me and [Justin] Tuck combined? It’s not right. Everyone in this business understands that is exactly what it is. Business. And just like none of us get upset when our teammates are released due to business decisions, the teams also don’t get upset when something
like this happens.
— Osi Umenyiora’s emailed statement
paul.schwartz@nypost.com