OBJ’s separation from the Giants was an amicable divorce and OBJ was the Petitioner.

First, I am not an "angry" fan. OBJ is one of my favorite players. I was disappointed that he wanted to be traded but it’s his career and he has to do what he thinks is best for himself.

As for why the secrecy, neither the Giants nor OBJ want fans to know that OBJ asked to be traded. For the Giants, it’s embarrassing that a star player doesn’t want to be part of a rebuild and has lost confidence in the team. For OBJ, there is something inherently cowardly in quitting on your team and football players never want to be seen as running from a challenge (thinking of Kevin Druant). As we all know, it is perfectly acceptable to demand a trade to NY, but demanding a trade out of NY is unfathomable and unforgivable (my one joke).

The Giants have taken a lot of criticism for trading a star player in his prime who, according to Eli Manning, was "the most talented" Giant in over a decade. Since I believe the Giants had no choice but to trade OBJ as his trade demands increased over the years and they needed to get the most for him while they still could, I believe the criticism is unwarranted.

1. The Josina Anderson Interview

OBJ’s displeasure with the direction of the team surely started behind closed doors. However, after his frustrations grew, he scheduled an interview with Josina Anderson in which he proceeded to insult his quarterback, the coaching staff, the location, and essentially the entire franchise. Frankly, I don’t know how anyone can watch this interview and conclude anything other than he was putting pressure on the Giants to trade him by publicly airing his grievances.

The interview was calculated. It was not an interview in the heat of the moment after a loss. He scheduled the interview, he likely provided the questions and thought of the responses ahead of the interview. Josina Anderson works as a tool for the players, she gets her scoops from the players (not the teams), her trade is based on having players trust her, thus, she does not ask players questions that put them in difficult positions (more on her later).

Some of OBJ’s responses: "I don’t feel like I am being given the opportunity to be the very best that I can;" "He’s not going to get out of the pocket… cool catching shallow and trying to take it to the house but I want to go over the top of somebody;" and "I feel like I am being out-schemed. I got to take a slant and go 60."

2. We Are Not Giving Him Away

Immediately after the trade, Mara said to reporters on camera " I told DG we aren’t giving him away." DG then said on Good Morning Football that Mara told him "we aren’t giving him away." Peter Schrager should have asked DG, in what context did Mara feel it was necessary to tell you that? More directly, who was pushing the Giants to give away OBJ?

This slip up is classic example of why criminal defense attorneys tell their clients to not say a word. The narrative being peddled was that the Browns made the Giants an offer that was too good to be true. The possibility of the Giants "giving" away OBJ belies the expressed narrative and suggests that there was something else occurring.

I can only think of two reasonable contexts in which Mara would tell DG that we aren’t giving away OBJ. First, Shurmur demanded we trade OBJ. The other, OBJ was demanding a trade. Note that a many believe the Steelers, a month earlier, were forced to give away AB because of his trade demands.

The reports were that the Giants were going to trade OBJ prior to 2018 and Shurmur stopped it. It is highly unlikely that Shurmur would demand his bosses trade OBJ for many reasons: (1) it makes him look weak, like he can’t control his players; (2) coaches want talented players because coaches need to win or they will be fired. Coaches generally don’t have the luxury of having years for a turnaround. The turnaround usually ends with the hiring of a new head coach; (3) if you believe Shurmur helped stop the trade a year ago, Shurmur would look downright silly doing such a complete 180 on OBJ’s status as a Giant.

3. Didn’t Sign Him to Trade Him

DG said the Giants "didn’t sign OBJ to trade him" and we have all read or heard that quote recited a hundred times. The phrase is now used as unequivocal proof that DG tells outright lies. I start with the presumption that DG doesn’t tell bold-faced lies. If he traded OBJ because OBJ was demanding it, then he isn’t lying. I believe it DG’s implicit way of saying we traded OBJ because of other reasons.

We would have received better compensation had we traded OBJ prior to 2018. Thus, the economic circumstances suggest he wasn’t signed to be traded. Instead, he was traded because something else occurred; because OBJ demanded it.

I am aware that many will comment with perceived examples of DG’s lies.

4. Star Players Are Involved in Their Trades Because Not Speaking with them First is Reckless

The Browns expended approximately $70 million, the 17th and 95th picks in the draft, and J. Peppers in order to acquire an employee for 4 years. Business spends thousands of dollars on due diligence when purchasing a million dollar business. It’s unlikely the Browns make this acquisition without substantial due diligence that included speaking with OBJ’s team.

Some players are blindsided by being traded, usually because the acquiring team is not concerned with the leverage that the player will have after the trade. However, it is well known that star players are involved in their trades. Gronk blocked being traded to Detroit, AB released a tape of his discussion with his agent regarding him possibly being traded to Buffalo and others, and Mack agreed to a contract with the Bears prior to be traded to the Bears. These all occurred in the last 16 months. I am sure there are many more publicly known occurrences.

The amount the Browns expended to acquire OBJ gives him substantial leverage over the Browns after the trade. If OBJ just threatens to sit out if he isn’t given a raise, Dorsey would look foolish for the acquisition and would feel great pressure to cave immediately. Thus, I am sure the Browns and OBJ spoke before the trade.

5. Josina Anderson Tweet About AFC North Team

The story being told is that OBJ was having dinner in Europe when he was blindsided by learning that he had been traded. However, a few hours prior to the trade occurring, Josina Anderson tweeted that an AFC North team was inquiring about acquiring OBJ.

Anderson gets her scoops from players, not from the teams: She is the reporter to whom Eli Apple gave anonymous complaints about McAdoo; Landon Collins admitted that he told J. Anderson that he cleaned out his locker and said goodbyes in an attempt to get the Giants to say something about his future with the Giants; and of course the OBJ interview in point one. With all of the history of Giants players speaking with Anderson, usually about matters the Giants wish stayed private, it’s highly unlikely that the Giants (or the Browns for that matter) leaked to Anderson. What exists is a pattern of Giants players informing Anderson. With this pattern, we have strong evidence that the story of OBJ being blindsided at dinner is a farce. It is much more likely that OBJ told Anderson they were close to a deal.

6. Jarvis Didn’t Get the Memo (my favorite)

We all have at least one friend who can’t keep a secret or stay on script. OBJ has Jarvis.

As I have said above, OBJ’s management team spoke with the Browns prior to the consummation of the trade. At the first press conference Jarvis said "I guess a couple of weeks ago the ball kind of got rolling on it." Jarvis apparently forgot the script; that OBJ was blindsided by the trade. Jarvis basically told everyone at the first press conference he knew of the possibility prior to the "blindsiding" phone call. Thus, affirming that the "blindsiding" phone call is make-believe.

Clearly, the story of how the trade was consummated is not true. This calls into question everything else regarding the trade. With all of the above support, I think we can conclude that OBJ was traded because he demanded it. In fact, we pretty clearly saw the demand on TV.

I am sure OBJ has many friends in the Giants organization. I am sure he was emotional when the trade occurred. I am sure there are also some bad feelings. It was a divorce and OBJ was the Petitioner.

This is my first FanPost. Hope it doesn't make seem crazy.