Osi Umenyiora: ‘I Love Playing and Was So Happy to Be Out There.’
September 17, 2009 – 11:00 am by Jimmy ShapiroSRI is currently working in new writers. This post is courtesy of Tim Gunter of 790 the Zone in Atlanta. The New York Giants are stocked up with athletes this season to make another run at the Super Bowl. Giants GM Jerry Reese has a philosophy that you can never have enough pass rushers. With Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora at defensive end, they added Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty through free agency to shore up the rest of the defensive line. That D-line already includes some great run-stoppers in Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins. With a defense like that, the Giants are sure to be one the elite teams in the NFL again.
Osi Umenyiora joined The Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio to talk about what it was like watching from the sidelines last season after winning the Super Bowl, whether he compares his defensive unit with others from around the league, whether he pays close attention to the other NFC East teams, and on Michael Strahan’s TV show.
On what it was like watching from the sidelines last season after winning the Super Bowl:
“Disappointing. I mean it was a very, very rough time for me. Thankfully I have a good family and good friends around me that allow me to get through that. Besides that, it was probably one of the worst times in my entire life.”
On whether he compares his defensive unit with others from around the league:
“Not necessarily. As you mentioned, Pittsburgh is an outstanding team defensively. Baltimore likes to create turnovers and any time you create turnovers in the game, your chances to win skyrocket. That’s what we try to do and we focus on and we try to accomplish that.”
On whether he pays close attention to the other NFC East teams:
“You have to. I think in the NFC East you have the best teams in football. The most physical teams and the most talented teams in football. You have teams like that playing against each other two times a year. You have to focus on those games because winning those games gives us the chance we needed to go to.”
On playing three road games in a row:
“We don’t really think about that. We like to go on the road. We have the record for most road wins so it kind of brings us together when we get out on the road. We focus more on the game. We actually enjoy it.”
On Michael Strahan’s new television show:
“We will watch it and laugh at him. I think that is what we are going to do. We are happy for him. That’s huge.”
Listen to Osi Umenyiora on ESPN Radio with Scott Van Pelt
Tags: Michael Strahan, New York Giants, NFC East, Osi Umenyiora, Osi Umenyiora scores defensive touchdown in first game back from injury
