When reporters gathered inside the New York Giants' locker room Thursday, defensive end Osi Umenyiora was among the missing.
Chris Canty, a fellow key piece of the team's dominant defensive line, told NFL Network's Kim Jones that Umenyiora's absence wasn't a surprise.
Where's Osi? Said a smiling Chris Canty: "It's the offseason, so obviously Osi has a situation. We know he'll be here, ready 2 go" 4 season.
- Kimberly Jones (@KimJonesSports) February 14, 2012
Osi's ghost act conjures images of another offseason weighted down by contract bickering, which he specialized in last offseason. This time around, the hope is for a resolution, possibly in the form of a new deal.
"There's been a little bit of talk," general manager Jerry Reese told the New York Daily News. "It's on our plate."
A few other notes from the New York locker room:
There are three tiers of top-end prospects: Elites, blue chips
and red chips. Bucky Brooks breaks down the 2012 class. More
...⢠When an obscure player emerges from darkness to star on a Super Bowl-winning team, rest assured: That player isn't far away from contract talks. Reese told the Daily News a contract extension is likely ahead for wideout Victor Cruz.
⢠The Giants are weighing what to do at middle linebacker, with both Michael Boley and Keith Rivers slated as possibilities in 2012. Reese was quick to point out Boley spent time there in nickel situations last season.Â
⢠Justin Tuck says he's determined to stay healthy this year and may know why he couldn't last season: "Last (offseason) with all the uncertainty around football I may have laxed a little bit. I guarantee that won't happen this year." #NYG (sorry for the re-send. Auto-correct changed "laxed" to "laced". https://twitter.com/#!/TheBlueScreen/status/193015910108377089











