Monday, April 19, 2010

NFP

Here's something from the National Football Post that indicates if the Giants get South Florida pass-rushing freak Jason Pierre-Paul, they'll start getting calls for their incumbent pass rusher Osi Umenyiora.

It's not outlandish, since they'll have a whole day between the first and second round to mull any phone queries, likely from St. Louis, Carolina, or Miami. But I'm sticking with my prediction that Umenyiora goes no place.

Remember, as Ernie Accorsi said when he surprised everyone and drafted Mathias Kiwanuka in 2006, "You can never have too many pass rushers." And, as to this idea that Kiwanuka's upcoming free agency at the end of next year could force the Giants to unload Umenyiora, who is signed though 2012, here's an idea. Let the two of them battle it out for the starting job in training camp, and then pay off big for Kiwanuka if he warrants it after the season. If Umenyiora responds with a big year, the value of keeping him around will rise higher than Kiwanuka's, anyway. And if Umenyiora doesn't respond with a big year, you can still probably get a third, fourth, or fifth-round pick for him after next season.

Better to put it all off until after next season, in other words. But then, I'm not the general manager.

EP

7 comments:

  1. Or Osi gets pushed off the line of scrimmage as much as last year, teams run right at him and teams realize he actually has lost it. Then the Giants get nothing for the big mouth small talent PUNK!

    How do so many people have Osi amnesia?

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  2. If you dump Osi, all you have is Tuck and Kiwi. If one of them gets hurt (and at least one DL gets hurt every year) you are left starting at DE the other and a rookie with 1 year of major college experience? Sounds like a really dumb plan and Reese is not dumb.

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  3. I think Ernie is right here, there is more value in keeping him around for another season then trading him right now. Unless we really can get a 2nd rounder (which I don't think will happen) then why not keep him, he is not being paid much so it's not a money issue.

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  4. Ernie, this is why we write and JR gets paid to make these decisions. Either way, it's fascinating.

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  5. I dunno, it's starting to smell like a draft day deal to me.

    Chris B.

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  6. Hi Ernie,
    Is it nuts to consider that the Giants and Redskins swap disgruntled defensive linemen -- Haynesworth to Giants; Osi to the Skins? We get a player that helps us up the middle and who wants to play in a 4-3 defense; Osi moves to the Skins where they could use an outside pass rusher. We take on salary and get back a 3 or 4th rounder. Thoughts?

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  7. I don't think anyone forgot how poorly Osi played last year, but I just don't want to get rid of him for the sake of getting rid of him. Everyone who has watched the Giants over the past few years knows that Osi has greatly been helped by having two All-Pro ends play the opposite side in Tuck and Strahan.

    But if you trade him that leaves the Giants with only two starting quality ends with Tollefson or maybe Canty as your main subs.

    It's not like you are looking to dump salary. He is paid relatively little. But if St. Louis is seriously offering the first pick in the second round for Osi you have to take it. Now, the validity of that offer may not be accurate. But to get basically what amounts to a late first round pick for an end coming off a down year. You have to do it.

    But I don't just want to trade him and take whatever we can get. What's the point of getting a fifth rounder for a guy who at his best is a 15 sack guy? And even in a bad year he's at least a pass-rushing specialist who will get his fair share of sacks.

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