Osi needs to stop talking, start playing

by Ed Valentine on Jan 24, 2008 7:21 AM EST in News Comment 17 comments

I love Osi Umenyiora, but let me succinct. The self-proclaimed 'Chief' needs to shut the hell up.

Osi went on HBO's Inside the NFL Wednesday night and accused New England left tackle Matt Light, whom he matches up against, of playing dirty.

From Ralph Vacchiano's Blue Screen, here is part of the transcript.

Osi Umenyiora: "It was a good matchup the last time (between him and Light). I mean, I think I got him a couple of times, he also got me a couple of times. It was a war out there and to be honest with you, I'm not quite sure that he thought that he was going to see me again because of some of the things he did and said during that game. But, you know, unfortunately he does have to see me again."

Bob Costas: "Trash talking is one thing. You seem to be implying that he made some dirty moves. Did something happen outside the pale?"

Osi Umenyiora: "He was doing a couple of things that you know he shouldn't have been."

Bob Costas: "Like what?"

Osi Umenyiora: "Hitting after the delay and trying to ... I don't know if he was trying to intimidate me, I don't know what he was trying to do, but he did a couple of things that he shouldn't have done and, you know, now we are really going to go at it this time."

I agree with Vacchiano, who asked "Whatever happened to "Talk is cheap! Play the game!" Wasn't that the Giants' motto?"

There is more to my anger with Osi than that, though. Before he starts running his mouth, maybe Osi ought to look in the mirror and straighten out his own house first.

Umenyiora was voted to the Pro Bowl by his peers this season, but as talented as he is I'm not sure he deserved the honor. Fact is, I believe he's been the Giants' third-best defensive lineman this season behind Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck.

Yes, he led the team with 13 sacks this season. Remember, though, six of those came in one game. So, that means he totaled a very pedestrian 7 sacks in the remaining 15 games.

Three times this season, Umenyiora played entire games without so much as registering an assist on a tackle, including last week against Green Bay. In a fourth game, he registered one measly assist.

In the Giants' first meeting with New England, Light held Umenyiora to three assists and no sacks. In the playoffs he has six tackles and no sacks in three games.

Those are not the kind of disappearing acts you expect to see from a Pro Bowl defensive end.

I have a suggestion for Osi. Shut up, go watch some film and make sure you show up on Super Bowl Sunday and actually make some plays. That's what the Giants need.

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wait a minute..

osi played last sunday against the packers?

you could've fooled me.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 24, 2008 8:13 AM EST reply actions

Exactly

by Ed Valentine on Jan 24, 2008 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

Osi

While I agree with you that Osi needs to show up in these playoffs, I don't agree that what he said was all that bad. He didn't come right out and say Light was a dirty player, only that he was pushing the line. This is hardly trash talking. And when he was asked if the Pats were a dirty team, he said that they weren't. The only one who will get all fired up about this is Harrison and someone could tell him they love him and he'd get fired up because they said it the wrong way.

by potroast on Jan 24, 2008 9:32 AM EST reply actions

Point is

Osi shouldn't be talking at all. He hasn't had an 'impact' game in weeks, and he needs to if the Giants are going to have a shot against the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Last thing he needs to do is give New England any bulletin board stuff.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 24, 2008 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

by potroast on Jan 24, 2008 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

I tought the reason for Osi's quietness was that

he was getting double teamed. I din't see it on TV, but just assumed that was the case. If he has been going one on one, then his oerformance certainly hasn't lived up to espectations. He didn't trash talk exactly, but, as you say, he should have held his tongue.

by george cronin on Jan 24, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

Osi

I think Strahan has been getting more doubles. I know against the Pats, Osi went one-on-one, and each of the Giants playoff opponents so far has said they were more concerned about Strahan than Osi. so, that tells you something right there.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 24, 2008 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

Memories

George, any time you want to send me a memories piece on SB/championship stuff go ahead. I've tried to e-mail you, but it keeps bouncing back. -- Ed

by Ed Valentine on Jan 24, 2008 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

offf topic and kinda gross

but did anyone else read this completed unsubstantiated rumor from KSK?

http://kissmesuzy.blogspot.com/2008/01/osi-umeryiora-wants-to-poop-on-you.html

no NSFW pics but the story is not for the squeamish. i laughed tho. sick!

by DieEaglesDie on Jan 24, 2008 10:35 AM EST reply actions

KSK

I know how popular that site is, but I hate it. It's garbage. I won't give it the time of day.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 24, 2008 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

"Trash"

I don't consider this 'trash talking', really. He's eluding to it, but not really biting.

Osi was held a lot in our last fight against the Pats, in case anyone hasn't looked at the tape. Say what you want - say that holding happens on every play or any of the other old bylines. I'm sick of the refs calling this at their own whims.

I do think, however, Tuck has been the best of the 3 throughout this season.

by GAgiantfan on Jan 24, 2008 10:39 AM EST reply actions

no, not 'trash' talking...

but alluding to something like that is a poor attempt to be subtle. not everyone is so filled with doubt that they don't believe the first thing they hear.

I suspect there is a very fine line between playing up to the very limit of what is allowed in the rule book, and playing dirty. if it weren't they wouldn't have had to make the rules and set the limits in the first place.

I agree it may not be 'nice,' but where is that line drawn? exactly where the rule book says it is. personally I lean towards being nice, but that is one among (an increasingly long) list of reasons that I'm not a professional football player. (or any other profession that requires being that way.)

I think I've said this over on pat's pulpit, but I've noticed some large parallels between what appears to be the patriots philosophy and that of the Japanese legend of Musashi Miyamoto. If you understand the latter, the former begins to make a lot more sense. if you read Miyamoto, it may all seem unfair, until you realize that a duel is a completely ridiculous thing.

on the other hand, you shouldn"t be so hard on Osi, the main reason people make statements like this is because they want the officials paying attention from the start. I'm betting because of what they might want to happen at the other end of the line...

by circusboy on Jan 24, 2008 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Handling the media

An interesting (at least to me) question is how does Coughlin handle his players talking to the media? Belichick's a bit of a control freak and carefully manages the message to the press. Rumors abound of him essentially "dictating" to players what they'll say every day leading up to a game. They all drink the koolaid and spout the same message.

by MaPatsFan on Jan 24, 2008 11:36 AM EST reply actions

Coughlin

Coughlin tried to do the same thing, but it didn't really work until he created his player council. Its a group of the leaders on the team (I think Strahan, Pierce, Eli, etc...) that talk directly to Coughlin and then filter everything back and forth. It seems to have been one of the reasons things have worked so well between Coughlin and his players. I also think that this council will get on a player if he spouts off and that's why they basically spout Coughlin's message.

by potroast on Jan 24, 2008 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

Osi is the one guy...

that still chirps a bit too much in the press. I also think Osi needs to be a little more focused, and play smarter. Case in point: second Dallas game where someone said Romo is most dangerous out of the pocket. Osi responds with it doesn't matter, I'll just chase him down. It's good to be confident, but you also have to play smart. I'm not knocking Osi, but I think if he can harness disipline with his talent, the sky is the limit.

www.billkohut.com

by bk0831 on Jan 24, 2008 12:05 PM EST reply actions

his Grandfather

was Prime Minister of Nigeria (I believe), so I guess he inherited the speaking gene from the politician side of the family.

by cjmulrain on Jan 24, 2008 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

The preseason started with

"the chief" mouthing off a bit too much and the regular season is ending that way too.Still give him a break he's a bonafide pro-bowler ,you can't say that the 6 sacks in one game count differently to his total and he's playing in the freaking SUPERBOWL......although it's agreed he was the third best lineman this year.

by big blue wrecking crew on Jan 24, 2008 6:05 PM EST reply actions