Are we surprised by Umenyiora's comments?

Come on, Osi.

On Wednesday, Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora had some remarks about his future with the Giants that I’m sure raised some eyebrows. But I’m not buying it — at all.

APGiants DE Osi Umenyiora does not want to be a backup for New York in 2010.

Umenyiora told WFAN radio, "I'm not going to be a backup player, I can promise you that. I'll stop playing football before I do that ever again. This has been just the worst offseason of my entire life. I can't even think of a time when things were this bad during the offseason. You're supposed to be relaxing, but I can't relax because all I can think of is the things that took place last season, you understand? So for me it's not something that I'm going to do. If I'm asked to come back there and do that then I'll just stop playing football."

Really? Why does this sound like something we’d hear from one of our high school teammates who doesn’t like the coach?

Every offseason, players go through similar stages. They’re tired, they’re not satisfied with how their season turned out from a personal and team aspect (unless you’re the Colts or Saints) and they do what every pro athlete does at this time of year.

They bitch, but it’s usually kept off of the radio.

I understand that Umenyiora is angry about his role in New York, but I also understand, and always write, that production talks in this business. And Osi didn’t have huge numbers in 2009.

As the NFP’s Mike Lombardi wrote this morning in the Diner, Umenyiora is a pass rusher and someone who can come off the bench and get to the quarterback in the Giants’ sub packages (nickel, dime).

But the comments — made during Super Bowl week just like Joey Porter — are just that: comments caused to drive interest.

APHow will Umenyiora adjust to new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell?

And I highly doubt that new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell really cares. I played for Perry in Buffalo, and he’s not handing out positions to anyone, no matter how big a talent you think you are or how important you think you are to the Giants defense. You’ll run to the ball and you’ll play within the system of the defense or you’ll be on the sidelines. Everyone will start on the same line, and the players who start will show Fewell during the offseason, OTAs, mini-camp, training camp and finally the preseason games.

That will continue throughout the month of September and so on. You produce, you play. And if Osi wants to walk away, well, Fewell and the Giants’ defense will move on.

Sound simple? It should, because whenever players complain in the offseason, we should just shrug our shoulders and move on with our day. And it’s just beginning — with plenty more to come.

It’s that time of year. Time to listen to players bitch.

Get in line, Osi.

Follow me on Twitter: MattBowen41

Is Michael Vick on the move? If so, where are some possible destinations? Find out in this article from Bleacher Report.

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