The Falcons are inching closer to brokering a deal with former New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora.
“We’re in the process of having discussions with his representatives,” Falcons general mangaer Thomas Dimitroff told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. “There’s nothing new to report at this point. We have a solid relationship with CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and our discussions are fluid and amicable.”
CAA is the firm that represents Umenyiora, who was a major cog along the defensive line that help propel the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles. He is also the 10th active sack leader in the NFL. He visited the Falcons on Wednesday and stated his desire to play for the Falcons on the Jamie and Jerome Show on 92.9 The Game on Friday.
“New York fans definitely expect a lot out of you because of their history,” Umenyiora said. “There was nothing better than to be able to win there. The only thing I can think of that would be better than being able to win in New York would be to be able to win here in Atlanta. We’ll see how that plays out. Hopefully, it works out in a positive direction.”
It is unclear who Umenyiora met with on his visit to the Falcons because Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith were in Arizona at the league meetings. But the Falcons are in need of a pass rusher after releasing John Abraham before the start of free agency.
On their way to the Super Bowl XLVI title, Umenyiora and the Giants defeated the Falcons in the wildcard round after the 2011 season. He was part of the defensive line that dominated the line of scrimmage against the Falcons.
The Giants pass rush was also vital to them winning the Super Bowl after the 2007 season. Umenyiora had 13 sacks that season.
He watched last season as things fell apart in New York, while the Falcons made their way to the NFC title game before losing 28-24 to San Francisco.
Umenyiora has also played in 10 playoff games and has registered 5.5 sacks in those games.
Before reaching a prospective deal with Umenyiora, the Falcons have 58 players under contract, but under NFL salary cap rules, you count the first 51 players. Under the first 51 rule, the Falcons were $6.2 million under the salary cap.
Umenyiora had to come to grips with a down market for pass-rushing defensive ends on the wrong side of 30 years old.
Umenyiora is ready to put Giants’ 2012 season behind him, which included a 34-0 pasting by the Falcons on Dec. 16 at the Georgia Dome.
Umenyiora was part of the Giants’ defensive end rotation and made just four starts last season. He played 34 of 67 snaps (50 percent) against the Falcons. He had three tackles, one tackle for a loss and a quarterback hit.
Umenyiora stay with the Giants had some controversy. He vented about his contract several times and was a plaintiff in the lockout lawsuit, Brady et al v. National Football League.
During the course of the litigation, he made disparaging statements about Giants general manager Jerry Reese in an affidavit.
Umenyiora just finished a seven-year contract that paid him $41.5 million, which included an extension in 2005.
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